Plastics have invaded our homes, our soil and even our oceans and rivers to such as extent that it looks almost apocalyptic.
Ordinary plastic, including some sugarcane plastics may be recyclable but not thoroughly biodegradable. Some countries such as India which have difficulties in recycling have attempted to ban plastics already. While eliminating plastic products is the ideal solution, we can get closer home by creating more environment friendly bio-plastics.
Here are a few alternatives:
- While using banana leaves for plates is an ancient tradition, in India leaf plates or ‘donas’ have been used since centuries as bio-degradable and environment friendly utensils that are very affordable.
2. Potato Starch can be used to create edible bags and cutlery.
3. Edible cutlery made of wheat, millet and rice can be either eaten or decomposed
4. Cassava or Tapioca starch can be fashioned into plastic bags too
5. Hemp Plastics can replace ordinary plastic to create a range of products
6. Corn Plastics are already being used in a range of products to replace non-biodegradable plastics
7. Sugarcane Bagasse is a waste product of sugarcane that can be fashioned into eco-friendly plastic-ware too
8. Rice plastic has also been developed
9. Peels of fruits such as oranges and bananas could also be used for manufacturing plastic
Swati Prakash 