Sustainability

Econews

As its production grew, so did the problems of contamination and it has been believed for many years that we cannot live without it.

But today the various options for its replacement are not distant or unattainable alternatives, the reflections thanks to the work of activists, plus the demand of consumers to reject plastics; and not only of a single use, has driven the birth of new materials without ecological or health problems. We comment on some of these most used and recognized options:

Bioplastics: Built from plants, their biomolecules are complex like potato, corn, cellulose, and as for their useful life, they have similar qualities to the usual plastic.
Lactoplastics: As its name indicates, based on milk, exactly from casein. Although its hardness is not so strong, it has worked for small objects and decorative order, such as jewelry, buttons, among others. Mostly used to replace ivory and tortoiseshell. Discovered in 1987 by scientists Spitteler and Krische.
Biodegradable plastics: Although not made from renewable resources, they degrade within six weeks, thanks to composting, so they could be disposed of in homes without industrial processes.

While it is true that some existing plastics are recyclable, more and more microplastic fibers are found in the rain, so the process to degrade them must be extremely careful to prevent these particles from leaking into water areas.

Under this premise many consumers prefer to opt for the option of zero plastic when making purchases, use alternatives and digital applications that tell them where to find products or suppliers that are ecological and sustainable.

A widely used option is a website "Waste Not" (https://wastenot.world/) that classifies its ecological companies worldwide according to four parameters or criteria that are the soul of the platform: Measurably biodegradable product, Compostable and/or compostable product at home, Renewable and recyclable material and Dissoluble material.

In addition to the option of subscribing to the newsletter via email, this website has its own open source structure, so users can suggest new features or corrections.

There are no longer excuses for choosing green options and being informed when making purchases or offering new products to the market. Our planet will thank you.

29 de Diciembre, 2020