Essay: Green Chemistry

Sannidhi Bosamia
863 words
September 26, 2014

Sannidhi Bosamia 11Y

Approximately 10.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emission is produced in

China (National Geographic, 2014). For reasons of pollution and degradation of the Earths
environment green chemistry is useful; in the mid-20th century, many of humans
advancements created environmental hazards, thus, measures were taken to improve the
quality of life on Earth (American Chemical Society, 2014). Green Chemistry is the design of
chemical products and processes that eliminate and reduce the use or generation of hazardous
substances (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). Green chemistry is also applied
across the life of a chemical product, inclusive of: its design, manufacture, use, and disposal.
Green chemistry is also known as sustainable chemistry (ibid).
Biodegradable plastics are made from the field of sustainable chemistry.
Biodegradable plastic is plastic that can be broken down by microorganisms (bacteria or
fungi) into water, carbon dioxide and bio-material. However, not all biodegradable plastics
are made from plants; in fact, some are made from oil (like normal plastic). Currently,
biodegradable plastic is used for eating utensils, food containers and compostable bags.
Because plastic is harmful to the environment if thrown into landfills (because they cannot
decompose), biodegradable plastics would be extremely useful, as normal plastics can only
be recycled and never truly decomposed, whereas biodegradable plastic decomposes and can
decompose into the Earths environment. In fact, several companies are working to develop
plastics that are made from renewable and ecofriendly sources. These biodegradable plastics
are made from cassava starch and calcium carbonate or microorganisms which convert
cornstarch into a resin that is as strong as the rigid petroleum-based plastic, which is used for
various types of containers such as lunch boxes.
Even though this type of plastic is biodegradable, decomposing these plastics takes a
lot of time (two to five years in the open UK environment (The Telegraph, 2010)). It is
believed by many that it takes very little time (few days) but that is not true (Gilson, 2009).
Ramani Narayan1 says due to absence and lack of oxygen in landfills, the biodegradable
plastics decompose a greenhouse gas 23 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide. If
biodegradable plastics are implemented in daily use, many of these plastics may end up in
landfill spaces and produce extremely potent greenhouse gases which would increase the
emission of greenhouse gases instead of reducing it (which is the main idea behind green
chemistry). The single country of United States of America produces more than 5,496 tons of

A professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at Michigan State University.

Sannidhi Bosamia 11Y

carbon dioxide and thousands of tons of other greenhouse gas emissions (United Nations,
2009). If biodegradable plastics are thrown in landfills, the amount would significantly
increase which is not good for the Earths environment.
Additionally, there are various limitations for green chemists. The technology
required to fully implement green chemistry may remain out of reach due to costs and other
barriers. Another challenge faced by green chemists is that the assessment of metrics for
hazard of chemicals is not yet universally applicable. Additionally, evaluation of
toxicological and other scientific data is extremely complex and time-consuming. It requires
the input from highly skilled toxicologists and environmental health scientists. Since there are
no robust processes for translating results of toxicological evaluation into articulated design
rules that can be applied by bench chemists, it is difficult for green chemistry practitioners to
determine the appropriate levels of toxicity that are operationally acceptable to human and
environmental health. The problem which impedes the progress of sustainable chemistry is
the simple act of getting started and the cost of implementing the new technologies.
Moreover, permitting policies that set acceptable limits on emissions extend the current
pollution instead of eliminating them because they ignore the global accumulative effect of
chemicals in the environment2.
Despite environmental implications and factors that impede the progress of green
chemistry (in general), the usage of biodegradable plastics is advantageous to the Earths
environment. When properly decomposed biodegradable plastic is good for the environment
than conventional plastics; they produce very little greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide.
Recycling them takes less energy, too; better than standard plastic. By reducing the pollution
produced, the pollution levels would go down even though green chemistry is not focused on
the removal of pollution, but in fact helping the levels decrease. If every industry implements
the concept of green chemistry, landfill wastes would decrease and through the uses of
biodegradable plastic, there would be no need to be afraid to use plastic. Also, as a basis of
sustainable chemistry, all materials and products made using this method are eco-friendly,
which is great for the environment.
To conclude, to ensure that biodegradable plastic is properly decomposed, various
measures have to be taken otherwise intoxicating greenhouse gas emission is guaranteed.
2

Said by Joe Thornton, a member of the department of biological sciences and the Earth Institute at Columbia
University.

Sannidhi Bosamia 11Y

This emission would extremely harm the Earths environment and is horrendous as the
environment is already contaminated and would harm the Earths environment further. By
ruining the environment and polluting Earth further, Earth becomes a worse place to live in
than better. The advantages of biodegradable plastics do not outweigh the disadvantages as
humans are careless by nature and the carelessness would in fact ruin Mother Nature.
Ultimately, I have to say that biodegradable plastic is good however if used carelessly, it
would be extremely harmful.

Sannidhi Bosamia 11Y

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