A recent Wall Street Journal article titled “Does Everything in Your Blue Bin Really Get Recycled? You Would Be Surprised” unveils eye-opening truths about plastic recycling in the United States. Despite widespread efforts to recycle, only about 9% of plastic actually makes it through the recycling process. The article highlights numerous reasons for this discouraging statistic, from contamination issues and complex sorting processes to a lack of infrastructure for processing certain types of plastics. The unfortunate reality is that much of what we assume will be recycled ends up in landfills, creating an ever-growing environmental burden.
At Biodegradable Future, we recognize the need for solutions that go beyond traditional recycling. Our Biodegradable Future Additives (BFAs) are designed to meet this critical need. Specifically developed to work with any polymer product, our additives ensure that plastics biodegrade in a responsible way, without disrupting the recycling stream. Even more, they serve as a crucial “insurance policy” for plastics that inevitably escape recycling. Once these products reach environments like landfills, oceans, or industrial composting facilities, BFAs enable them to break down into fertile biomass, which can enrich the environment rather than pollute it.
Why BFAs Are Essential for Sustainable Plastic Management:
• Seamless Recycling Compatibility: Our BFA-treated products are fully recyclable, supporting the overall recycling infrastructure. BFAs allow brands to maintain the recyclability of their products without sacrificing sustainability, giving consumers confidence that they are making environmentally sound choices.
• Targeted Biodegradation: For the overwhelming majority of plastics that evade recycling (estimated at 91%), BFAs ensure that these products will still break down safely. Designed to activate in microbial-rich environments—such as landfills, oceans, and industrial composting facilities—our additives transform plastics into fertile biomass rather than persistent pollutants.
• Global Relevance: The environmental impact of plastic waste isn’t confined to one nation. With most of the world’s waste accumulating in landfills or oceans, untreated plastics continue to wreak havoc on ecosystems, affecting everything from marine life to soil and water quality. BFAs provide a degradation solution tailored to minimize these impacts, ultimately helping to restore and preserve our natural world.
In light of the insights from the Wall Street Journal, it’s clear that traditional recycling alone cannot solve the plastics crisis. There is an urgent need for innovative, dual-purpose solutions that support recycling while addressing the fate of unrecycled plastics. By incorporating BFAs into your product lines, you are taking a proactive step in plastic accountability, ensuring that your materials support recycling systems and degrade safely if they end up in natural environments.
For more details on these challenges and the impact of plastics on our environment, I encourage you to read the Wall Street Journal article here.
We invite you to join us on the journey toward a more sustainable, responsible future. If you’re interested in how BFAs can fit your sustainability goals and reinforce your commitment to the environment, please feel free to reach out.
Together, we can transform the approach to plastic waste and support a healthier planet.
