for . Following the small changes that have recently made their way into our shopping carts, we must prepare for the moment when our legislation will also significantly restrict the use of plastic packaging and single-use plastic products.
Following cotton swabs, plastic spoons, and plastic bags, the packaging materials for most goods in our stores will change. We will no longer see plastic utensils and packaging at fast-food stands.
Even today, we are encountering a new type of packaging made from materials that are gentle on our environment.
Bagasse is a new type of material made from sugarcane waste. Sugarcane is a heat-loving and highly resilient tropical plant used to produce sugar. After the sugar is extracted and processed from the plant, the remaining plant material—which until recently was considered waste—is left behind. Today, the plant material is mechanically crushed, washed with water, and pressed into sheets, similar to paper. These sheets are then processed into useful items such as:
• disposable plates and trays•
disposable
cutlery• french fry
cups• cups for hot beverages•
soup
bowls• portable food containers
Products made from bagasse can be stored in the refrigerator and freezer; they are suitable for hot food but not for use in the microwave.
Bagasse is suitable for industrial composting, where optimal temperature, moisture, aeration, and soil bacteria are ensured. It biodegrades within ninety days.
PLA is a bioplastic made from corn starch, which is heated to extract glucose. This glucose is fermented into lactic acid and polymerized into polylactic acid (PLA). This product is biodegradable, contains no petroleum, and contains none of the chemicals found in conventional plastic. The energy required for production is
65% of that needed for conventional plastic.
PLA cannot yet withstand high heat, so it is mainly used for:
• cups for cold beverages
•
food containers • packaging material
for goods • drinking straws
Bioplastic is also suitable for industrial composting. It is not recommended for home composting, where conditions are not optimal and decomposition may take longer.
What about you? Do you already bring your own bread bags, fruit bags, and canvas bags to the store?