Disposable plastic tableware is widely used in takeout and catering industries and is popular due to its low cost and ease of use. However, most traditional plastic tableware is made of petroleum-based materials such as polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP), which are not biodegradable and can remain in the natural environment for hundreds of years.As use has soared, discarded plastic tableware has become one of the main sources of "white pollution".
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Specific Environmental Impacts of Plastic Tableware
1. It does not degrade for a long time and forms persistent pollution
Most plastic tableware takes more than 200 years to decompose, and some even exceed 1,000 years.
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Residues in the soil will lead to soil compaction, affecting the absorption of water and nutrients by crops, resulting in reduced production.
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If landfill treatment is carried out, it will not only occupy a large amount of land resources, but also may leak harmful substances to pollute groundwater.
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2. Polluted water bodies and Marine ecosystems
Discarded plastic utensils often wind or rain into rivers, lakes and oceans.
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Marine organisms such as seabirds, turtles, fish and other accidental ingestion may lead to asphyxiation, digestive tract obstruction and death.According to research, about one million seabirds and tens of thousands of sea turtles die each year due to accidental ingestion or entanglement in plastic waste.
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Plastic gradually breaks down into microplastic particles in the environment and has been detected in the most remote areas of the world, such as the summit of Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench, indicating that pollution is everywhere.
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3. Incineration causes secondary pollution
When disposed of by incineration, plastic burning releases toxic gases (such as dioxins) and greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide), contributing to air pollution and climate change.
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Especially some chlorinated plastics (such as PVC) are more likely to generate carcinogens when incinerated.
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4. Agricultural and food safety are under threat
Agricultural mulches and irrigation equipment are also mostly plastic products, and debris enters the farmland after aging, forming "plastic soil".
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According to statistics, the annual pollution of agricultural mulching film in China reaches 1.45 million tons, which seriously affects the quality of cultivated land.
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Microplastics can be enriched through the food chain and eventually enter the human body, and the potential health risks are still under continuous research.
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The Importance of Finding Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Single-use Plastic Tableware
Reduce environmental pollution
Disposable plastic tableware is often discarded at will after use, which is difficult to degrade and will pollute soil, water and air. Seeking environmentally friendly alternatives can effectively reduce the generation of plastic waste and lower its negative impact on the environment.For example, tableware made from degradable materials can be decomposed in the natural environment without long-term pollution to the environment.
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Promote sustainable development
The use of environmentally friendly alternatives conforms to the concept of sustainable development.By using tableware made from renewable resources or degradable materials, the dependence on limited resources can be reduced and the recycling of resources can be promoted.For example, bamboo tableware is made of natural bamboo and forged by high temperature sterilization. It has the advantages of toughness, strength and biodegradation, which complies with the global plastic ban and double carbon policy.
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Enhance public environmental awareness
Finding and using environmentally friendly alternatives can increase public awareness of environmental protection.When people are exposed to these alternatives in their daily life, they will pay more attention to environmental protection issues and thus pay more attention to environmental protection in their behavior.
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Promote technological innovation
The search for eco-friendly alternatives requires continuous technological innovation. This will promote the development of related industries and facilitate the research and application of new materials and new processes.For example, edible tableware is made from edible materials (such as rice, wheat, corn, seaweed and other natural plant ingredients) and can be eaten directly or biodegraded after use, avoiding environmental pollution problems caused by traditional plastic tableware.
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Meet market demands
With the improvement of environmental awareness, consumer demand for environmentally friendly products is increasing.Finding and providing environmentally friendly alternatives can meet the market demand and bring new business opportunities for enterprises.
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With the increasingly serious problem of "white pollution", traditional plastic tableware is difficult to degrade, causing long-term damage to soil and Marine ecology.Biodegradable disposable tableware has emerged as an environmentally friendly alternative. Its raw materials are mostly from natural or bio-based materials such as corn starch, polylactic acid (PLA) and bamboo pulp, which can be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms under certain conditions.Such products not only conform to the global trend of plastic limit, but also meet consumers' pursuit of green life.
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Benefits of Biodegradable Disposable Cutlery
Reduce environmental pollution
Biodegradable tableware can be decomposed by microorganisms in the natural environment, avoiding the "white pollution" caused by long-term accumulation.For example, cornstarch-based tableware can be degraded into carbon dioxide and water after 90 days when buried in soil at appropriate temperature and humidity, without causing pollution to soil and air.By contrast, traditional plastics take hundreds of years to break down.
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Renewable and recyclable
Raw materials such as corn starch are renewable resources, inexhaustible, and the production process saves oil and forest resources.The degraded products can also be used for compost or deep processing of animal feed to realize closed loop utilization of resources.
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Superior safety and health performance
Most of the degradable tableware is made of food-grade raw materials, non-toxic and harmless, in line with national food safety standards. The production process is low-pollution and low-emission, ensuring that the products are clean and hygienic, and suitable for direct contact with food.
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Contribute to the carbon neutrality goal
Bio-based materials produce lower carbon emissions during their life cycle.For example, PLA is derived from plants, and CO? released from its incineration or degradation can be re-absorbed by plants, forming a carbon cycle and helping to alleviate the greenhouse effect.
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The biodegradable disposable tableware industry will enter a period of rapid growth under the multiple promotion of policy drive, environmental awareness and technological progress. The global market size is expected to grow from 12.2 billion US dollars in 2024 to 18.6 billion US dollars in 2034, and the Chinese market will continue to lead the world.
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The biodegradable disposable tableware industry is currently at a critical stage driven by both policy dividends and market demand. In the future, it will develop towards diversified materials, large-scale production, standardized standards, and international applications.With the technological breakthrough and further decrease in cost, it is expected to gradually replace the traditional plastic tableware in the next 5-10 years and become the mainstream choice of catering packaging.
Guangdong Shiteng Wisdom Technology Co., Ltd.
