What are some alternatives to plastics?
There are some uses for plastic that make life a lot easier, such as sanitary products. Many plastics have alternatives from renewable sources and more products are coming onto the market that claim to be biodegradable. Examples of alternative products: • sugarcane fibre bowls, plates and cups • clearpolyactide (PLA) cups and straws • cornstarch bags • cornstarch cutlery Most of these products can be recycled in your compost bin. However, many are sourced from biological products grown on land that could be used for growing food, particularly in developing countries. And most of the products are manufactured and shipped from overseas – perhaps including packaging that isn’t biodegradable or from renewable sources. With this in mind it’s best to only use these products where absolutely necessary, e.g. for large events.
