I originally intended this post to offer up earth friendly picnicking ideas, but a little research took me in a different direction. I’ve heard a lot about corn-based plastics, but have only come across them once or twice. As it turns out, there is some debate about the true environmental impact of these “bioplastics.”
If you’ve ever held a cup made from corn in your hand, you may have wondered, “How’d they do that?” Apparently, bioplastic is created when bacteria is combined with sugars from corn, sugarcane or grains. Basically, the bacteria eats away at the plastic until it is hard.
So what’s the controversy? The biggest issue seems to be that these items claim to be compostable, but in reality, they need to be composted at an industrial composting facility that most people don’t have access to. Additionally, they look identical to plastic cups, so it’s difficult for people to properly separate them. When corn-based cups are sent to the recycling plant, they can damage the quality of traditional plastic recycling. On the positive side, these cups do require less oil to produce and eventually will decompose, with less chemical leaching, at a landfill.
While it may seem like I’ve just thrown a wrench in your picnic plans, there are still options. Pick up a set of reusable plastic cups or glass mason jars that you can take home and wash. With reusable containers, you can leave your picnic spot and your earth exactly the way you found it.
Environmental topics always seem rife for debate. What topics are you passionate about? Which would you like to see more info about?