Sustainable Development

Goal 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Target 12.5: 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

Plastic waste has a profound impact. From the biological level, garbage and plastic in the ocean pose a serious threat to all Marine life. From the human health level, Marine litter and plastic waste also threaten people themselves. Open incineration of plastic waste, seafood contaminated by plastic, pathogenic bacteria on plastic surfaces, and toxic and carcinogenic substances released from coastal waters will have a serious impact on human health. From the economic level, Marine litter and plastic pollutants pose a serious threat to coastal communities' sources of income, as well as to shipping and port operations.[1]

• Driving the circular economy: Starch-based biodegradable plastics can cycle faster in the ecosystem. At the same time, the source of raw material for the production of this plastic - sweet potatoes - is also renewable, thus helping to promote the shift from a "take-make-waste" model to a circular economy model.

Accenture's feature paper, "The Path to a Circular Economy: Towards Sustainable Development", predicts that the overall size of the global circular economy market is expected to reach $4.5 trillion by 2030. Based on the baseline scenario, the overall market is estimated to maintain a high growth rate at a CAGR of 10.7%.[2]

• Promoting research and development of sustainable production technologies: The development and application of such genetic engineering and bio-based materials can provide a template for other fields, encouraging more research and innovation into sustainable production technologies.
• Increasing consumer awareness: With the promotion of this biodegradable plastic, consumers may become more aware of the importance of sustainable consumption and may choose more environmentally friendly products.
• Enabling policy development: This innovation can provide governments and policymakers with empirical data to support their policies and regulations that are more conducive to sustainable production and consumption.

Goal 13: CLIMATE ACTION

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

The greenhouse gas emission intensity of urban sewage treatment plants in Shanghai is close to the level of developed countries, but from the individual level of a single urban sewage treatment plant, the greenhouse gas emission intensity of most urban sewage treatment plants is still higher than that of developed countries. [4]

• Reduce the loss of carbon sinks: Traditional plastics decompose very slowly in the environment and can cause pollution to land and water bodies. Land and ocean pollution can lead to the loss of carbon sinks. Starch-based biodegradable plastics can decompose faster under certain conditions, thus reducing this pollution and the loss of carbon sinks.

Traditional plastic products are not easy to degrade, landfill method will occupy a lot of land resources and affect the soil and groundwater environment; The incineration law will produce toxic substances, which will cause serious harm to the atmospheric environment. [5]

• Contribute to the transformation: Such innovations can encourage more research and industry to focus on and participate in the research and development of low-carbon, sustainable materials and technologies, and further promote society from dependence on fossil fuels to more environmentally friendly and low-carbon production and consumption methods
• Affect public awareness: With the promotion and application of such environmental protection technologies, public attention and awareness of climate change issues can be further enhanced, and the whole society can take joint action to achieve climate goals.

Goal 14: LIFE BELWO WATER

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce all forms of Marine pollution, in particular those resulting from land-based activities.

micro-plastics entering the ocean come from textiles, making them the number one source of micro-plastic pollution.After that, there are car tires (28%), urban dust (27%), road signs (7%), ship paint (3.7%), personal washing products (2%) and plastic particles (0.3%).These tiny plastic particles are distributed in the global sea, and are often eaten by Marine organisms, which will cause irreversible harm to the health and survival of Marine biological populations. The study found that micro-plastics can affect the digestive, nervous and reproductive systems of Marine organisms, resulting in a series of reactions such as reduced survival rates.

• Reduce the risk to Marine life: Traditional plastic waste in the ocean can be ingested by Marine life, resulting in gastrointestinal blockage, suffocation or ingestion of plastic-related harmful substances. Using biodegradable plastics can reduce this risk because they break down faster in the environment.
• Maintaining the balance of Marine ecology: Reducing Marine plastic pollution not only helps to protect Marine life, but also helps to maintain the balance of the entire Marine ecosystem. For example, sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs are threatened by plastic pollution, and the use of biodegradable plastics can help reduce this threat.

Goal 15: LIFE ON LAND

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Micro-plastics in soil affect the structure of soil mainly by affecting soil accumulation density, water holding capacity and composition elements.It was found that the water holding capacity of 0.01% ~ 0.4% polyester fiber soil was 0.32 ~ 0.35 g per gram, and the water stable aggregates were significantly reduced by 28%±5%[7].

• Reduce ecological disturbance: Traditional plastic waste may cause disturbance to the habitat of wildlife, causing it to lose its living space or become unsuitable for survival. The use of biodegradable plastics can reduce this disturbance, helping to protect and restore ecosystems
• Reduce resource occupancy: The production of traditional plastics often requires large amounts of fossil fuels and other resources. By using renewable sweet potatoes as a raw material, the production process of starch-based plastics could potentially be more resource-efficient and reduce pressure on certain critical ecosystems( such as rainforests, which include areas of oil extraction).
• Support biodiversity: Reducing plastic pollution and ecological disturbances on land can better protect biodiversity and provide more suitable conditions for endangered species, thereby supporting the overall health of ecosystems

Project practice and promotion

The aim of our team is to promote the widespread use of starch-based plastics by modifying natural starch. While realizing our plan through engineering and technological means, we have also carried out a series of social activities to make people better aware of the harm caused by excessive use of traditional plastics to the sustainable development of the environment and society, and better promote people's concept of sustainable development. Let people deepen the development advantages of biodegradable plastics, especially starch-based biodegradable plastics, and promote the comprehensive application of sustainable biodegradable products. Below is a list of some of the activities we have carried out, details can be found on our Education and Human Practice page:

1. Zhejiang and Hangzhou Science and Technology Activity Week Exhibition, 2023
2. Joint public announcement online with other 7 teams
3. School popularization of science
4. Science promotion in Mars Laboratory
5. Sheshan Public welfare publicity: plastic waste cleaning and biodegradable plastics promoting
6. We-media operation and release
7. Development of public science games
8. Consumer questionnaire survey
9. Interview with industry experts
10. Visit and research of garbage disposal site

Reference:

1. The United Nations warns that plastics are changing the global carbon cycle and that plastic in the oceans will double by 2040 https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_15420926
2. Circular economy, win-win choice https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20230323A010MT00
3. Climate conditions in 2021: extreme events and major impacts
4. Qian XY, Hu , Li D et al.. Calculation and characteristics of greenhouse gas emission from urban wastewater treatment plants in shanghai. China Water & Wastewater,38 (21): 39-44.
5. High technology and industrialization: http://www.las.hitech.cas.cn/fmzt/wqzt2/202002/202007/t20200713_568317.htm
6. Crisis and Turning point: The changing tide of Marine plastic pollution control - biodiversity conservation and green development: https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1768751549807108864&wfr=spider&for=pc
7. Shao YY, Chen PR, Liu B et al. (2021) Current situation research on microplastic pollution in terrestrial soil ecosystems . Journal of Shandong Jianzhu University, 36(6): 75-82.