Malaysia lacks infrastructure to sort , recycle and compost solid wastes and has resulted in accumulation of plastic waste , which ends up in landfills

BY HAZLEEN ANUAR , MOHD ROMAINOR MANSHOR AND ADEKUNLE ALLI YAKUBU

Kulliyyah of Engineering International Islamic University Malaysia

Plastics ’ stability and durability have improved over time , and they are now considered resistant to a wide range of environmental influences . Plastics such as polyethylene ( PE ) and polypropylene ( PP ), which are primarily used for single-use packaging , cause environmental concerns due to their longevity and stability in the environment .

As a result , environmental pollution caused by synthetic plastics is recognised as a significant concern . Malaysia ’ s lack of suitable infrastructure for sorting , recycling , and composting solid wastes has resulted in the accumulation of plastic waste , which ends up in landfills .

WHY ARE PLASTICS NON-BIODEGRADABLE ?

Thermoplastics and thermosets are two types of plastics . Thermoplastics , as the name implies , can be repeatedly softened and hardened by heating and cooling . Since the backbone is composed of long-chain carbon atoms , thermoplastics resist chemical bond degradation or hydrolytic cleavage .

As a result , thermoplastics are classified as non-biodegradable plastics . Examples of thermoplastics include PE and PP , which are major packaging players . Thermoset , on the other hand , solidifies after being heated . The transition from the liquid to the solid state is an irreversible process that forms a highly

Hazleen Anuar

Mohd Romainor Manshor

Adekunle Alli Yakubu

Figure 1 : Global production capacities of bioplastics 2022 ( by market segment ) ( source : https :// www . european-bioplastics . org ) cross-linked structure . Since the main chain of thermoset plastics comprises heteroatoms , they may be susceptible to degradation by hydrolytic cleavage of chemical bonds .

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC TREND

The trend of biodegradable plastic is increasing astronomically worldwide , and it seems to favour the Asian continent . Bioplastics , for example , account for only a small portion of the over 390 million tonnes of plastic produced each year . Global plastic output stalled in 2020 , owing mainly to Covid-19 , but has increased since 2021 .

This trend is being driven forward by a combination of rising demand and the introduction of more complex applications and goods . European Bioplastics , in collaboration with the nova-Institute , has compiled the most recent market data on the bioplastics industry , predicting a rise in global bioplastics production capabilities from around 2.2 million tonnes in 2022 to more than 6.3 million tonnes in 2027 ( Figure 1 ).

More than half ( about 1.1 million tonnes ) of the world ’ s bioplastics production capacities are currently devoted to biodegradable plastics like polylactic acids ( PLAs ), polyhydroxyalkanoates ( PHA ), starch blends , and others . Strong advancement of polymers , such as PLAs and PHA , is anticipated to expand biodegradable plastic manufacturing to over 3.5 million in 2027 ( Figure 2 ).

Biobased , non-biodegradable polymers account for over 1.1 million tonnes or more than half of global bioplastics production capacity . Drop-in replacements include biobased polyethylene , polypropylene , polyethylene terephthalate , and polyamide ( PA ). By 2027 , their share is expected to drop to around 44 per cent .

It is also worth noting that Asia currently produces more than 41 per cent of all bioplastics , cementing the region ’ s position as a significant production hub to expand regional capacity . Europe currently accounts for slightly more than a quarter of all manufacturing facilities .

However , Europe ’ s and other global regions ’ share will decline significantly over the next five years . In comparison , projections for Asia ’ s production capacity by 2027 indicate that the region will grow by approximately 63 per cent .

Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering Research Unit ( AMSERU ) at the

Figure 2 : Global production capacities of bioplastics 2022 ( by material type ) ( source : https :// www . europeanbioplastics . org )

Kulliyyah of Engineering , International Islamic University Malaysia ( IIUM ) has dedicated a significant focus of its research to developing alternative and green materials for various applications , including bioplastics . The team also participated in diverse community engagement to educate the young generation on the importance of recycling for a sustainable future .

To highlight an example , the team participated in the Global Clean up Congress ( GCC ) 2022 at the IIUM Cultural Centre ( ICC ) on Sept 20-21 , 2022 . CRC CARE organised this GCC 2022 with the global CARE Alliance™ , the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in Malaysia , and the International Islamic University of Malaysia ( IIUM ).

The primary goal of the two-day event was to increase people ’ s knowledge and understanding of the positive effects of recycling on the environment . Students from various institutions around the IIUM campus were invited to participate in the two-day workshop . AMSERU members , post-graduate students and collaborators from Green Waste Selangor ( GWS ) and Persatuan Saintis Muslim Malaysia ( PER- INTIS ) took part in the exhibition and workshop .

Finally , based on the presented statistics above , the current generation in Malaysia must act quickly to reduce the ecological footprint by altering how goods are produced and consumed and prudently managing the resources for sustainable development , as Malaysia is blessed with abundant oil and gas resources that contribute to economic growth .

This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG ) under Goal 12 of the United Nations ( UN ) Agenda 2015 focused on responsible consumption and production . Thus , we would implore the Malaysian government with all humility to invest and channel resources into the bioplastics industry . It is essential to mention that biodegradable plastics can be broken down naturally . What is more ? Biodegradable plastics can help create a society more reliant on renewable resources , reduce CO2 emissions during production , and provide new end-oflife options with little to no environmental impact .

Let ’ s go green and keep our beautiful environment clean by adopting biodegradable plastics ! – @ green