UN report provides alternatives to plastic

 

Alok Gupta

Replacing plastic straws with ones made from bamboo pulp and making toothbrushes from wood are some of the alternatives to single-use plastics detailed in a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ahead of the World Environment Day on Tuesday. 

The UNEP said that natural fibers, biomass-based compostable synthetic biopolymers and reusable durable non-plastic materials can potentially reduce plastic waste littering seas and overflowing landfills. The 127-page report assesses biodegradable materials and innovation that are replacing plastic with biodegradable daily life products.    

The report elaborates on 25 innovations providing conventional alternatives to plastics using disposable materials like paper, cotton, and wood. Innovators have also used technology to make products from algae, fungi and pineapple leaves to replace plastics. 

Some of the innovations mentioned in the report include replacing disposable plastic plates with plates made from leaves of sal trees, using 16 million tons of orange peel for animal feed and cosmetics, and compostable coffee cups. 

Just 14 percent recycled

“Making the switch from disposable plastic to sustainable alternatives is an investment in the long-term future of our environment,” Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment said. “The world needs to embrace solutions other than single-use, throwaway plastic.”

Globally, around 300 million tons of plastic are manufactured annually, but only less than 14 percent of the total amount gets recycled. The UN estimated 8,300 million tons of virgin plastics had been produced to date of which 6,300 tons of plastic waste had been generated as of 2015. 

Barely nine percent of this plastic waste has been recycled. Nearly 12 percent has been incinerated, and 79 percent is piling up in landfills or littering the natural environment. Massive plastic waste including micro-plastic is taking a toll on oceans and marine life. 

Globally, over 150 million tons of plastic waste pollutes oceans every year. As a result, one million birds and over 100,000 sea mammals die after consuming or getting tangled in the plastic litter. 

A gory incident revealing the impact of marine litter was reported from Thailand last week. Rescuers tried in vain to save an ailing pilot whale which was choking after swallowing more than 80 plastic bags. Around eight kg of plastics was recovered after the autopsy.  

Peter Kershaw, the lead author of the report, pointed out packaging and other single-use items form a large proportion of the plastic litter leaking to the ocean. 

“The report is intended to encourage society to question our current use of plastics and consider the adoption of alternative approaches, especially for those items which can be characterized as designed for single use, such as packaging,” he said. 

The UNEP last year “declared war on plastics” and announced “Beat Plastic Pollution” as the theme for this year’s Environment Day. “Science can help business develop green and innovative solutions,” said Jian Liu, chief scientist at UN Environment.

 “There are major business and job opportunities in the development of new alternative materials that can replace single-use plastics.”

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