Climate Resilience and Global Polyethylene Bag Pollution: Exploring Synthesis of Biodegradable Plastic Bags from Cassava (Manihot esculenta) as a Solution

Abstract

Plastic bags are polymers of ethylene and are used in almost every aspect of everyday life across the globe for a variety of functions. After their use and disposal, plastic bags have no end-of-life time because of their non-degradable nature, leading to environmental contamination and pollution. As a way of disposing them, thermal treatment is employed but this leads to emissions that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, eventually contributing to the climate crisis. Therefore, synthesis of biodegradable plastic bags offers an environment-friendly alternative for conventional plastic bags. A biodegradable plastic bag prototype was synthesized using renewable raw materials with lower carbon footprints. Among such materials was starch obtained from wasted cassava, glycerin and vinegar which served as plasticizers to make the bag flexible and less brittle. The use of renewable raw materials (cassava) with lower carbon footprints in the production of biodegradable plastic bags can therefore be considered as instrumental in reducing plastic bags waste contamination and pollution of the environment thereby contributing towards achieving climate-resilient cities.