Why is biomass getting so much attention?
That’s because it has the power to solve global environmental problems!
Environmental problems faced by our Earth
While our lives are seeing more and more abundance, the environmental problems faced by our Earth are becoming more and more serious.
One of those problems is the increase in global average temperatures due to the massive release of “greenhouse gases” into our atmosphere.
In response to this problem, efforts are being made worldwide to achieve “carbon neutrality.”
What is carbon neutrality?
It means “achieving net zero emissions” by subtracting the amount of emissions absorbed as a result of afforestation and by forests from the amount of emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (which causes global warming).
- ※*Prepared by processing data from “Decarbonization Portal | What is Carbon Neutral?” [Ministry of the Environment] (https://ondankataisaku.env.go.jp/carbon_neutral/about/)
- ※*Source: Ministry of the Environment website, Decarbonization Portal: (https://ondankataisaku.env.go.jp/carbon_neutral/about/)
Let’s use biomass-based plastic!
“Biomass-based plastic” is attracting attention as part of the effort to make carbon neutrality a reality.
Plastics are usually derived from petroleum, but biomass-based plastics are made with “renewable organic resources derived from living organisms” by removing fossil resources.
If the biomass is derived from plants, the amount absorbed by the plants used as raw materials equals the amount of CO2 generated when the biomass is disposed of, thus helping the achievement of carbon neutrality.
Biomass-based plastics are in fact something very familiar to us
Biomass-based plastics have been used for all sorts of things we often see around us, such as convenience store bags, food packages, and even clothing and bags. If you take a closer look at them, you will see that they have a certification mark signifying the presence of biomass-based materials, especially in Japan.
There are actually a lot of biomass-based plastics used in the world around us. Let’s take a look at the mark!
For example, ThreeBond 3049 uses a 45% blend of biomass-derived raw materials (dry weight) for the adhesive to conserve petroleum resources and curb increases of CO2 emissions that cause global warming.
What each one of us can do
First, it is important to understand that the active use of environmentally friendly materials can help solve major problems. It is also important to take action based on that understanding. In order to protect the global environment, each and every one of us should be conscious of the actions we take!