In Episode 148 of the Disruptors for Good podcast, Causeartist contributor
Rafael Aldon, speaks with
Tommy Tjiptadjaja, Co-Founder and CEO of
Greenhope, on redesigning the future of plastic through biodegradable plastic technologies.
Plastic is one of the best modern human inventions, bringing unparalleled benefits to humankind, democratizing items at a mass scale, drastically reducing transport cost and fuel consumption, prolonging and preserving food from farm to tables, extending the food shelf life in supermarkets, and many others.
All of which done at an unmatched low conversion cost and energy (relative to paper). How is that possible? Because plastic polymers are made of
byproducts of oil and gas production.
The Challenges of Plastic Waste
When contemplating material sustainability for our lives, we need to think and consider the holistic picture: Source (renewable vs. non-renewable), Conversion cost (in terms of energy, money, other resources required to produce the item), and End of Life/Waste.
Plastic scores very well in terms of Conversion cost, better in the most matrix than paper.
However, Plastic scores the worst in End of Life/waste management, because the durability becomes a double edge sword once its useful life ends… it takes 500 years up to 1,000 yrs to degrade back to nature.
This is the most urgent challenge we need to address.
Countless debates, perspectives, analysis, research, on solving the plastic waste challenge are often biased and not balanced, too idealistic, not accounting for local economic reality and socio-cultural aspect, and/or impractical altogether.