Researchers create #plastic alternative that's #compostable in home and industrial settings

Story by Isabelle Butera, August 7, 2023

"The team worked with #polylactic acid, or #PLA, which has been used in packaging for over a decade. Instead of #petroleum (like typical plastic), it uses plant sugars and breaks down into water, carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

"But PLA can only break down in the heat of industrial #composters, not home composters. Even in industrial composters, PLA doesn't always break down quickly or completely.

"It can take as much as 20 days before PLA starts to be digested by microbes in an industrial compost setting, researchers said.

"To accelerate this process, the team incorporated what's called a 'thermoplastic starch' into PLA. This carbon-based starch helps the microbes in compost more easily break down the bioplastic.

"Adding the thermoplastic starch will not compromise the quality of PLA, such as the strength, clarity and other desirable features, researchers said in the release.

"Additionally, the bioplastic can be composted alongside food scraps. That means you wouldn't have to rinse food out of takeaway containers or coffee out of a disposable cup before throwing it out."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/researchers-create-plastic-alternative-that-s-compostable-in-home-and-industrial-settings/ar-AA1eUVo7?rc=1&ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=01880b7d92d94edcf8a04253ffe86689&ei=7

#PFAS #PFOS #WaterIsLife #FoodPackaging #Solutions

Researchers in Michigan are saying they've found a way to make bioplastic PLA more compostable. (Apparently the secret is starch.)

Good news if true... we need biodegradable alternatives for items that absolutely must be made from some sort of "plastic." We also need to realize that we can easily (and happily!) make do with a LOT less "stuff" in our lives.

Experience over things!

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-starch-bio-based-polymer-bioplastics-compostable.html

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#biodegradable #compostable #plastic #sustainability #environment

Dissolving circuit boards in water sounds better than shredding and burning https://arstechnica.com/?p=1957869 #compostable tech?

My #Slurpee straw says 100% compostable. That got me wondering, so I found this:

Why Those #Compostable Straws May Not Be As Green As You Think | HuffPost Impact

#compost #environment

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/compostable-straws-twist_n_5b460643e4b0c523e264f9a7

I have finally created a blog on the fediverse that will talk about compost https://paper.wf/compost/

Because so many people have answered the poll about how to create a worm bin, I have created my first article about it.

If you have questions feel free to answer this post.

https://paper.wf/compost/how-to-set-up-a-worm-bin

The read is 5 minutes long. Enjoy.

#compostodon #compost #gardening #garden #worms #wormbin #wormcasting #wormodon #composting #compostable

"A sustainable solution: Compostable wind turbine blades."

#Compostable #Wind #WindTurbines #Renewables #Energy

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-05-sustainable-solution-compostable-turbine-blades.html

I have found exactly one company that's making 100% compostable toothbrushes for a North American market.

I ordered 12.

https://www.gaiaguy.com/products/natural-bristle-bamboo-toothbrush-6-pack

#ZeroWaste #LivingLightly #Compostable

I'm volunteering at the #portfairyfolkie where most waste is now #compostable. It's so satisfying to direct people to the green bin. Been having interesting conversations. Highlight so far was a mum whose 10 yo son has taught himself to fold origami to avoid sticky tape because he learnt about #marineplasticpollution in school.

While I try to shop locally for zero waste items, it’s hard to beat Kinsfolk Shop. Pricing for dish brush heads are half of the local shop here and how cute are these sponge cloths?! Trying out a plastic free mineral sunscreen stick (which from reviews have said to work quite well)! Also, Attitude has a factory in Sherbrooke so I’m still supporting local!

#zerowaste #plasticfree #cardboard #sunscreen #spongecloth #compostable #recycling #lesstrash

Stop putting stickers on fruit.... #nomorefruitstickers #compost #compostable #blackearthcomposting

Finally moved to the server @regenerate.social that I wanted to join for a while now.

It is a great place to talk about regenerative agriculture and composting practices.

In this profile, I talk about how to make compost to create beautiful gardens.

#compost #composting #compostable #gardening #gardens #garden #nodig #farming

If I had to recommend only one tutorial on how to make a hot #compost pile, I strongly recommend this video from the youtube channel:
discover #Permaculture with Geoff Lawton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tk_melmv14

#compostodon #composting #compostable #gardening #sustainability #growyourown #diy #homestead #farming

#Canada federal #plastics #ban creates 'unintended consequences' for #compostable #alternatives — Some compostable products are included in ban, leaving businesses in the lurch

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costofliving/federal-plastic-ban-compostable-1.6723337

Last January 1st I started this #CompostAtHome bin https://mastodon.social/@nicole2g/109614334432851292

The results of this bin for the month of December and January gave me 20 gallons of #compost.

I will keep half of it to feed my worms and start some new bins. The other half will be used to make no-dig garden beds.

#compostodon #gardening #nodig #growyourown #composting #compostable

My view on #compostable products is simple. If you don't know what it is made of don't use it.

Do you know if it is brown or green and the imbalance it can create? Do you know if there is any chemical or toxic substance in it and can you get rid of those?

There is way too much we do not know so if the companies can't be transparent on those issues then it is just a wasteful product.

The implosion of #RedCycle has really made me hyper-aware of how much waste the household is putting out. I know that #Recycling has been in crisis for a few years since China stopped accepting a lot of our plastics, and my local council stopped accepting glass at the curbside, but REDCycle really brought it home.

Our household has multiple #spoonies (people with disability and limited capacity to cook etc) so we use quite a lot of convenience foods. As my #MentalHealth is getting better (vs where I was a year or two ago) I’m slowly trying to shift things more toward homemade, unpackaged, buying in bulk, minimally processed foods, etc.

We’re never going to be #PlasticFree for so many reasons, but I’d like to hope we could halve our #PlasticWaste, or better.

I’m/we’re already:

- drinking kombucha, iced tea, home-made cordials and/or soda stream soda water instead of buying bottled drinks
- saving jars and bottles for #preserving,, then using them for condiments, jams, pickles, and canned fruit and veg to save buying them
- #baking bread, crackers and sweet treats (when we can)
- buying dry goods in bulk, using our own containers where possible
- getting meat from our CSA, wrapped in paper and/or #compostable vacpacks
- getting fruit and veg from the garden, foraged, or unpackaged where possible (we still get some canned and frozen)
- making stock, soups, stews, and other meals to freeze for later convenience
- #composting food waste and paper

#sustainability

@kdnyhan agreed, and packaging in general should be labeled #compostable or not.

US #FDA FAILS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AGAIN!

"Food packaging, like takeout containers and wrappers, pizza boxes, french fry containers, hamburger wrappers, and microwave popcorn bags are all common means of #PFAS food contamination. Even supposedly environmentally-friendly #compostable bowls sometimes contain PFAS. The Food and Drug Administration has not restricted use of PFAS in food packaging, leaving it up to states and the public to protect consumers."

https://www.ehn.org/what-are-pfas-2656619391/whats-the-difference-between-pfas-pfos-pfoa-ptfe-and-genx

So I see a lot of videos now of people #cooking #eggs in their #airfryer. Wondering if I should get one to cook eggs, cause the way I’ve tried cooking egs don’t really work for me. I tried #panfrying which is too oily and too much cleaning, boiling, which I always overcook the eggs to the point it gets grey in the middle, tried #microwave #frying eggs which leaves too much residue in the bowl afterwards. Even tried products like the #eggpod, which I find too difficult to disassemble and reassemble as well as an electric #eggboiler on #Amazon, which I unfortunately returned cause it was leaving burnt water at the bottom after each use that I had to descale every time. The air fryer looks way easier to use as you only seem to need parchment paper. Hopefully they make some #compostable parchment paper though, cause I really hate making more #landfill #waste.

Confused by teabags?
#PlasticFree #biodegradable #compostable #PLA #BioPlastic #GMFree
This article "Biodegradable Tea Bag Paper" by @TeaMerchant@twitter.com ticks all our boxes.
https://www.northern-tea.com/biodegradable-tea-bag-paper/
Get 'loose' tea bags from our Community Food Hub or sample at events with #FoodByVeggies