Benefit:
Using fewer items and more readily biodegrade materials like paper can reduce plastic waste pollution.
Limitations:
Some items need plastic-like functionalities such as waterproof, good oxygen barrier (prolong food life). We also need to avoid cutting more trees (for paper) to mitigate climate impact.
Benefit:
Reusing, refilling, and/or reconstituting the items for different functions can reduce virgin plastic usage.
Limitation:
Many items need to be hygienic therefore not suitable for Reuse. The infrastructure, carbon footprint, water, energy required to recollect, wash, reuse, can be prohibitive.
Benefit:
Recycling the plastic waste into recycled resins to be made into other products can reduce waste and virgin plastic.
Limitation:
Plastic items that are too small, contaminated, flexible films, multi-layer, etc. often are not economically viable for recycling. Massive water usage during the process produce and leak microplastics if not treated properly.
Return to Earth is the critical missing piece, that offers Biodegradable and Bio-based solutions to solve both plastic waste pollution and climate crises:
The Return to Earth, material solutions is suitable for replacing plastic items that are too small and contaminated, neither suitable for reuse nor economically viable for recycling. For those real unsalvageable "plastic waste". For post-consumer items that are net negative in terms of energy, water, time, money, to try and save.
Plastic has greatly influenced our modern lives, offering affordability, food protection, lightweight convenience, and more. However, its widespread use also leads to environmental pollution, contaminating soil, waterways, and food supplies, posing risks to our health.*
Source: weforum.org, theguardian.com
Plastic requires centuries to fully decompose: Initially fragments into harmful microplastics for a long while, seriously threatening our environment and health before able to be biodegraded by bio-organism.
The problem can only get bigger until we solve it: Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean due to human actions and poor waste management. This amount is projected to increase as global plastic usage rises.
*Source from: researchgate.net
Sustainable plastic use involves carefully considering its entire life cycle: where the material comes from, how it's made, and what happens to it when we're done. We can't tackle plastic pollution by emitting more carbon emissions, which only makes climate change worse.
Less Ego More Eco is needed; No single “R” or solution is adequate to solve this. Local context and holistic approach matter in creating technically and economically viable as well as scalable solutions. Collaboration is critical.