GAP Australasian Dentist Sept Oct 2020

Category 82 Australasian Dentist bio-plastics, for example, cellulose, castor oil plant, and sugar cane; however, a bio-based plastic does not necessarily generate a smaller footprint than a fossil-based plastic, which the LCA shows. For example, a conventional plastic wrapping in the form of a toothbrush flow pack made from fossil-based polypropylene has a GWP of 3.3 kg CO2eq/kg. The same wrapping can, without any technical changes, be made from biobased cellulose-film, which has a higher GWP, 5.05 kg CO2eq/kg. In many industries, it will take significant investments as well as innovative techniques to shift towards renewable raw materials. Different materials behave differently, and sometimes existing machines and moulds can be utilized, but in many cases, the development and purchase of new devices will be needed. Another factor to consider is the relatively high difference in price between fossil and renewable materials. The renewable option of polymer polyethylene (PE) is almost double the cost of fossil polyethylene, a common material in products and packaging. However, with rising demand for biobased plastics, both accessibility and affordability will increase. Recycled and biodegradable plastics Why not just use recycled plastic? It is applicable in many cases, for example in packaging materials, but is problematic to use in oral hygiene products. Strict regulations dictate 100% control over product contents by the manufacturer, and recycled plastic that comes from different sources runs the risk of containing hazardous chemicals. A varying standard of plastic also affects the product quality. Could bio-degradable plastics be an option to reduce plastic waste? Biodegradable plastics can be degraded by microorganisms but are not necessarily bio-based; they are often made from oil in the same way as conventional plastics. These kinds of plastics should be used only when there is a specific need for decomposition after use, as in certain kinds of food packaging, or for agricultural and medical use (for example, sutures, capsules). The best way to help save the planet is to save energy and improve methods of recycling and recovering all plastics. It would be a mistake to focus on making it easier to discard plastic products irresponsibly in the name of the environment. Designing for a sustainable future Renewable plastics is the future, but as you now know, true sustainability can only be achieved by looking at the full life cycle of a product. Let’s take another example from the world of oral hygiene: a toothbrush handle made from bio-based polyethylene. Bio-based polyethylene made from sugar cane, a never-ceasing, renewable resource, has a footprint that is nearly negligible: firstly, because the sugar cane is cultivated and the plant absorbs CO2; secondly, due to the processes involved in turning the sugar cane into ethanol and then into polyethylene; after that, because of how the plastic is transported, how the toothbrush is manufactured (using Green Energy, for instance, from solar panels) and then transported to the end-user. After use, it is disposed of in the household waste, which is ultimately incinerated (and ideally turned into district heating). Throughout the toothbrush handle life cycle, 95% of the carbon is recycled, meaning that its contribution to global warming is minimal. A step towards a sustainable future has been taken – without compromising on quality. A mutual responsibility Of course, the above conclusions regarding the footprint of bio- plastics assume safe and responsible disposal of the products after use. Producers who take their environmental responsibility are dedicated to working with constant environmental and social improvements and taking measures to minimize the use of energy and materials in products and packaging. However, it doesn’t end there. Dental professionals advising their patients have the opportunity to impact the choice of high-quality and longlasting products, but also to influence what happens to the products when their purpose is fulfilled. Waste that does not belong in our oceans should be prevented from ending up there by any means – and this is a responsibility for everyone. u References: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency. Life Cycle Assessment of grocery carrier bags. Environmental Project no. 1985, February 2018. https:// www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2018/02/978-87-93614-73-4.pdf (Retrieved 2018-09-01) E4tech & LCAworks. 2013. Environmental assessment of Braskem’s biobased PE resin – Summary of the life cycle assessment, land-use change and water footprint reports. 2013. http://www.braskem.com.br/Portal/Principal/ Arquivos/ModuloHTML/Documentos/1204/20131206- enviro-assessment- summary-report-final.pdf (Retrieved 2018-09-01) European Bioplastics e.V. What are bioplastics? 2018. https://www.european - bioplastics.org/bioplastics/ (Retrieved 2018-09-01) Futamura Group. Carbon footprint. 2018. http://www.futamuracellulose. com/sustainability/carbon-footprint/ (Retrieved 2018-09-01) International Organization for Standardization. Environmental management -- Life cycle assessment -- Principles and framework (ISO 14040:2006). https://www.iso.org/standard/37456.html (Retrieved 2018-09-01) IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. Hazardous substances in plastics – ways to increase recycling. 2017. https://www.ivl.se/download/18.3 016a17415acdd0b1f47cf/1491996565657/C233.pdf (Retrieved 2018-09-01) United States Environmental Protection Agency. Understanding Global Warming Potentials. 2017. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/ understanding-global-warming-potentials (Retrieved 2018-09-01) Ying Jian Chen. Bioplastics and their role in achieving global sustainability. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2014,6(1):226-231. http:// www.jocpr.com/articles/bioplastics-and-their-role-in-achieving-global- sustainability.pdf (Retrieved 2018-09-01) sustainability