Esther Pedro discusses the environmental costs of eco-friendly materials that are invisible to the public eye.
‘Green’ materials can be simply defined as materials derived from sustainable sources that are meant to have less of a harmful impact on the environment. They are considered as green because they result in less reliance on fossil fuels which leads to less carbon emissions. Labels such as ‘biodegradable', ‘recyclable’ and ‘carbon neutral' can be seen used to market and define these materials. Because of this, there is a misconception that green materials are the ultimate solution, although this may not be the case. There is an environmental cost for these biodegradable, recyclable, and bio-based materials which can only be seen when you factor in their entire life cycle.
Viewing their entire life cycle from production to recycling provides a more comprehensive look as to why these materials may not be as environmentally friendly as they are advertised to be. Focusing on ‘biodegradable’ plastics, their life cycle can do more harm than good in the long run.
They are linked to concerns related to land use and the overuse of pesticides and fertilisers in their cultivation process. The overuse of pesticides then could potentially end up in the neighbouring bodies of water (eutrophication). For these plastics to do as advertised, ‘biodegrade,' certain criteria must be met which requires infrastructure that is not widely available. Because of this, the majority of biodegradable plastics do not come into contact with the conditions necessary for their proper breakdown.
The products are labeled as eco-friendly when in fact only one step in its production might be considered remotely sustainable.
The bio-based materials in items such as bio-plastic makes recycling such products more difficult. The different recycling process of each material can even result in a loss of quality rendering it nonreusable if recycled incorrectly. The methods required to recycle such things correctly, for example chemical recycling, requires much energy and chemicals that can potentially harm the environment and the humans working with the chemicals. Their complexity also makes them harder to adopt in new places.
By far the greatest issue with ‘green materials’ is greenwashing and what is actually made with ‘green materials’. Companies market their products or operations as sustainable and eco-friendly through the use of vague descriptions and buzzwords. The products are labeled as eco-friendly when in fact only one step in its production might be considered remotely eco friendly. There is not a standardised eco-label system of regulation which makes spotting greenwashing difficult. This is most prevalent in clothing retail.
It’s safe to say these systems can be improved upon, for the betterment of our environment. Cracking down on false greenwashing labels and coming up with a widely implemented system of eco-labelling would be a start, giving a clear guideline as to what is sustainably sourced and eco-friendly. The nutri-score system that can be seen on food products would be a great example to use and work from. Proper waste management through schemes like the deposit return scheme and the promotion of refillables in stores have already been successful implementations. By looking at what we already have and perfecting those systems we can work towards a more sustainable future.