Went for a talk on polystyrene this afternoon after my Chemistry lecturer suggested it to us. Had to skip about a hour of Physics class though but it was worth it. The speaker was Douglas Tan from… err… some company called Eco--- Forgot the name of the company. Well, he gave a talk on the negative effects of the usage of polystyrene, usage of paper products which isn’t exactly that good either and the alternatives for polystyrene.
Polystyrene basically contains styrene, a benzene structure with an ethene group attached to it and traces benzene itself. It’s harmful as it is carcinogenic… in other words cancer-causing. We Malaysian often ‘da bao’ food from hawker stalls and want it hot. We use polystyrene packaging to keep our food because it keeps heat in. A great invention actually, cheap, sturdy and durable. However, storing hot food in these polystyrene box causes the organic compound polystyrene is made out from to enter our food much faster! So, we’re kind of eating benzene and styrene everytime we eat ‘da bao’ food. Polystyrene is not biodegradable. Some scientist say it takes 500 years to degrade but the actual fact is, no one actually knows! So, consider carefully before you decide to ‘da bao’.
Some people believe that using paper products.. or cardboard, as packaging is suitable in replacing polystyrene packaging. You know all those paper cups and plates you use in a party? They are actually plastic disguised as paper product!!! Seriously! Think of it, paper is porous. When you spill water on you homework, would the paper get wet? Strangely for some certain reason, paper cups can contain water! So how is it possible! Answer is, there is actually a thin plastic coating in the inner layer of the paper cup. So, it’s not very much paper after all. Also, manufacturing paper products uses a lot of water. 10 litres of water is required to make one 80gsm paper. Hey, that’s a lot. Furthermore, the white paper we use has undergone multiple washing processes and bleaching too with chlorine! So, it isn’t that environmentally friendly.
Among the alternatives for polystyrene are those polymers made out of natural materials such as sugar cane, rice husk and corn starch. Hmm… amazing how they make a cup with rice husk. It contains 99% rice husk and 1% sap… of something… that’s what he said. Well, Mr Tan’s company manufactures materials out of corn starch. He showed us how their ‘plastic’ spoon could be bended and twisted and still wouldn’t break. It even returns to its shape after bending it… although a little more flexible now. It’s now completely indestructible though. Of course, it breaks. It’s totally biodegradable. Oh, i forgot to mention, biodegradation isn’t that good also. Plastic bags like the one Jusco gives is said to biodegrade but what does it degrade into i ask? Smaller bits of plastic! Which is actually as dangerous as the plastic itself. Still, biodegrading natural materials are still much better compared to plastics and polystyrene although pollution can never be totally overcome.
Well, in conclusion, we should try not to use polystyrene. Reduce the usage of polystyrene. Use other more eco-friendly materials like the ones made out of sugar cane, rice husk and corn starch. 20 spoons and forks for only RM3.10. One polystyrene box may cost 5 cents and one ‘corn starch’ box may cost 20 cents, but in the long run, it’s totally worth it.
Polystyrene basically contains styrene, a benzene structure with an ethene group attached to it and traces benzene itself. It’s harmful as it is carcinogenic… in other words cancer-causing. We Malaysian often ‘da bao’ food from hawker stalls and want it hot. We use polystyrene packaging to keep our food because it keeps heat in. A great invention actually, cheap, sturdy and durable. However, storing hot food in these polystyrene box causes the organic compound polystyrene is made out from to enter our food much faster! So, we’re kind of eating benzene and styrene everytime we eat ‘da bao’ food. Polystyrene is not biodegradable. Some scientist say it takes 500 years to degrade but the actual fact is, no one actually knows! So, consider carefully before you decide to ‘da bao’.
Some people believe that using paper products.. or cardboard, as packaging is suitable in replacing polystyrene packaging. You know all those paper cups and plates you use in a party? They are actually plastic disguised as paper product!!! Seriously! Think of it, paper is porous. When you spill water on you homework, would the paper get wet? Strangely for some certain reason, paper cups can contain water! So how is it possible! Answer is, there is actually a thin plastic coating in the inner layer of the paper cup. So, it’s not very much paper after all. Also, manufacturing paper products uses a lot of water. 10 litres of water is required to make one 80gsm paper. Hey, that’s a lot. Furthermore, the white paper we use has undergone multiple washing processes and bleaching too with chlorine! So, it isn’t that environmentally friendly.
Among the alternatives for polystyrene are those polymers made out of natural materials such as sugar cane, rice husk and corn starch. Hmm… amazing how they make a cup with rice husk. It contains 99% rice husk and 1% sap… of something… that’s what he said. Well, Mr Tan’s company manufactures materials out of corn starch. He showed us how their ‘plastic’ spoon could be bended and twisted and still wouldn’t break. It even returns to its shape after bending it… although a little more flexible now. It’s now completely indestructible though. Of course, it breaks. It’s totally biodegradable. Oh, i forgot to mention, biodegradation isn’t that good also. Plastic bags like the one Jusco gives is said to biodegrade but what does it degrade into i ask? Smaller bits of plastic! Which is actually as dangerous as the plastic itself. Still, biodegrading natural materials are still much better compared to plastics and polystyrene although pollution can never be totally overcome.
Well, in conclusion, we should try not to use polystyrene. Reduce the usage of polystyrene. Use other more eco-friendly materials like the ones made out of sugar cane, rice husk and corn starch. 20 spoons and forks for only RM3.10. One polystyrene box may cost 5 cents and one ‘corn starch’ box may cost 20 cents, but in the long run, it’s totally worth it.
