A UK-based startup has claimed to develop a technology that can transform the state of plastics and make them biodegradable.
- The company calls the process “biotransformation”.
About Biotransformation
- The start-up claims the technology would digest the plastic packaging waste naturally with the help of microbes and biodegrade the waste without leaving behind any microplastics.
- Biotransformation technology is a novel approach to ensure plastics that escape refuse streams are processed efficiently and broken down.
- Plastics made using this technology are given a pre-programmed time during which the manufactured material looks and feels like conventional plastics without compromising on quality.
- Once the product expires and is exposed to the external environment, it self-destructs and biotransforms into bioavailable wax.
- This wax is then consumed by microorganisms, converting waste into water, CO2, and biomass.
- Food packaging and health care industries are the two prime sectors that could use this technology to reduce waste.
Plastic management initiatives in India
- The Government of India has introduced a plastic waste management rules 2016 to help tackle the ever-growing plastic pollution caused by single-use plastics.
- The Government of India imposed a ban on single-use plastics to bring a stop to its use in the country.
- The National Dashboard on Elimination of Single Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management brings all stakeholders together to track the progress made in eliminating single-use plastic and effectively managing such waste.
- An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal helps in improving accountability traceability, and facilitating ease of compliance reporting in relation to EPR obligations of the producers, importers and brand-owners.
- India has also developed a mobile app to report single use plastics grievances to check sale, usage or manufacturing of single use plastics in their area.
Plastic alternates
- A switch to jute or paper-based packaging could potentially cut down plastic waste.
- The wooden packaging is yet another alternative, but that will make the packaging bulkier and increase cost.
