Could this be the beginning of the end for plastic?
International beverage giants Carlsberg and Coca-Cola have pledged their support to an innovative new plant-based plastic currently being developed by Dutch biochemical company Avantium.
Avantium states that it is a "pioneer in the emerging industry of renewable and sustainable chemistry," and is currently working to produce "sustainable alternatives for fossil-based chemicals and materials include plastic bottles for drinks, films for food packaging and electronics, fibers for textiles and even material used in toys."
Now, the company has devised a planet-friendly material, capable of decomposing in just one year.
The plastics in question would be made from plant sugars as opposed to fossil fuels, and would be used to line a cardboard bottle - creating a protective layer on the inside. As a result, the bottles would be totally recyclable and significantly reduce the carbon footprint imposed by drinks manufacturers.
It is hoped the new beverage vessels will hit shelves by 2023, potentially revolutionizing the industry.
Per The Guardian, Avantium’s chief executive, Tom van Aken says: "This plastic has very attractive sustainability credentials because it uses no fossil fuels, and can be recycled – but would also degrade in nature much faster than normal plastics do."
Trials have demonstrated that the material can decompose within the year within a composter, or within a few years if left outside in standard conditions.
Van Aken is hoping to greenlight a major investment by the close of the 2020, with the project remaining on course despite the ongoing pandemic. Avantium is expected to announce partnerships with other food and beverage companies later this summer.
As per statistics provided by Surfers Against Sewage, plastic pollution is now present on ever single beach across the world.
In 1950, a global population of 2.5 billion produced approximately 1.5 million tons of plastic. And in 2016, a population of more than 7 billion produced over 320 million tons of plastic.
This figure is predicted to double by 2034.
Avantium will create the sustainable plastics by breaking down sugars from corn, wheat, and beets, and rearranging their chemical structures into this new material.
To begin with, the project only aims to manufacture a relatively low 5,000 tonnes of plant-plastic annually - but production is anticipated to increase in line with growth in demand.
So the production of plant-based plastic does not negatively impact the global food supply chain, Avantium intends to use plant sugars from sustainably sourced biowaste as the project progresses.
