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Biodegradable plastic bottles
Plastic bottles and other containers litter roadsides almost everywhere you go. Biodegradable plastic bottles might be a solution to this litter problem.
Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in the natural environment. Bioplastics are often made of renewable materials such as corn. It is also possible to make bioplastics from genetically engineered microbes that convert corn sugar into polymers in a fermentation process. Another possibility under research is the research for a crop that actually grows plastic inside its leaves and stems, but that product is still a few years away. Technology to manufacture plastics from plant starch and microbes already exists.
The cost of making bottles from bioplastics is currently a little higher than that of manufacturing regular plastic bottles. At the moment bottles made from starch cost roughly 5-10% more than regular plastic bottles, bioplastic made with microbes is about twice as expensive as regular plastic. Possible price increase of oil might tilt the cost structure in favour of bioplastics by mid 2010’s.
Advantages of bottles made of bioplastics are manifold. Bottles are light, they won’t break easily and they are hygienic. Bioplastic bottles can also be designed to contain natural antioxidants that help protect the product inside. The most serious challenge to increased use of bioplastics in the short run might be the availability of starch, also possible concerns of producing starch have to be addressed.
http://www.science.org.au/nova/061/061key.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_plastic
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/2008-12-25-biodegradable-plastic_N.htm
Opportunity: environmentally friendly containers that replece oil in plastic production
Threat: Producing strach for bioplastics might replace food production thus decreasing food supply
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Comments
Finally, it has been shown for decades, that people are not able to see own actions in big picture. What consequences would the introduction of genetically modified microbes in production have when released to the environment? How would it effect on their pathogenic characteristics and on the food chain? Such important long term questions are unfortunately often forgotten.