5. Extension: Environmental Sustainability
5. Extension: Environmental Sustainability
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Evaluate the impact of different materials on the environment
Identify alternatives for materials that are harmful for the environment
Our Earth does not have an endless supply of resources, and with more and more people on the planet, it is very important to use resources wisely. Being environmentally sustainable means looking after our planet so that we can get what we need now without compromising for the future generations.
Materials play a central role in the journey toward sustainability. Everything around us, from the buildings we live in to the products we use daily, is made from various materials. The ways we choose, use, and dispose of these materials can either contribute to environmental degradation or help us build a more sustainable future.
Fig. 5.1 Environment Sustainability
The things we use every day, like the clothes we wear, the things we buy, and the items we use at home, can affect the environment in different ways.
Here are some key effects to consider:
Fig. 5.2 Impact on Environment
Many everyday materials come from natural resources like minerals, trees, and fossil fuels. Overusing these resources leads to their depletion.
When fossil fuels are used to produce and transport things, a lot of energy is used in the process, which might have an impact on climate change.
The manufacturing and disposal of materials can release pollutants into the air, water, and soil, harming both the environment and human health.
Improper disposal of materials results in waste accumulation in landfills and oceans. For instance, plastics can take a very long time to break down, causing pollution.
Over harvesting of materials from nature can lead to a decline in species and ecosystems. For example, clearing land by cutting off trees for wood can harm forest biodiversity.
Understanding how the materials we use daily affect our planet is complex. Choosing and using materials in a way that doesn't harm the environment is very important. We need to think about where materials come from, how they're made, how we use them, and how we throw them away. This helps keep our planet safe and clean for the future.
In our modern world, materials surround us in various forms, serving as the building blocks of everything we use and interact with daily. These materials can be broadly categorised into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Understanding the difference between these two types of materials is important as it has significant implications for our environment, sustainability, and the future of our planet.
Fig. 5.3 Classification of Materials
A product or material that degrades quickly by bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms or by abiotic factors like, temperature, oxygen etc. naturally without causing pollution is said to be biodegradable2.
They are quickly absorbed into the soil after being broken down to form nutrients or elements3.
Example:
During autumn plants shed leaves. These leaves decompose over a period of time by the action of microorganisms. Weather, worms, bugs and fungi also help the process of decomposition.
Fig. 5.4 Decomposition of leaves
Some common biodegradable materials are
Plant-based products, such as paper, cotton, wood, fruits, and vegetables.
Biodegradable plastics are made from plant-based materials .
Natural fibres, such as wool, jute, hemp, and silk.
i. Impact on the Environment2
Microorganisms break down biodegradable materials into simple elements. However, biodegradable materials can harm the environment if not correctly disposed off. Some implications include:
1. Water Pollution:
When biodegradable materials are not properly disposed of, water sources can get contaminated. Biodegradable materials can be broken down by microorganisms in water bodies resulting in too many nutrients into the water, causing lots of algae and underwater plants to grow. This makes the water dirty and takes away the oxygen in the water.
2. Soil Contamination:
The growth of plants and other creatures that depend on the soil for survival might be affected by the release of poisonous chemicals and gases into the soil as a result of the breakdown of the substances.
An example of soil contamination caused by biodegradable substances can be found in improper disposal of food waste. When large amounts of food waste are not properly managed, they decompose and release methane gas and other toxic substances into the soil.
3. Air Pollution:
Global warming and air pollution are both caused by release of high levels of gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when biodegradable materials break down.
4. Landfills Overload:
Biodegradable materials are frequently disposed of in landfills, which can easily become overburdened by the amount of waste. This can make the ground and water dirty and release unwanted gases into the air.
Materials that last for a long time in the environment but cannot be broken down and degraded by living things are non-biodegradable materials.
Non-biodegradable materials are used more often because they are easily accessible, simple to use, and inexpensive. However, instead of being recycled into the environment, they transform into solid waste that is dangerous to human health and the environment because it cannot be decomposed. Therefore, they are considered toxic, pollution-producing, and not eco-friendly4.
Examples:
Plastics made from petroleum, glass, metals like steel and aluminum, synthetic fibres such as nylon and polyester, batteries and other electronic equipment
Although sunlight, moisture, and heat can break down these materials, the process can take decades for metals and hundreds of years for plastic bottles. These materials degrade and emit toxins into the land and water that may be dangerous for people, plants and animals5.
Fig. 5.6 Rate of Decomposition of Non biodegradable materials
i. Impact on the Environment2
1. Littering:
Some things that don't break down easily, like plastic bags and bottles, often end up as trash in nature. This can hurt animals and where they live.
2. Marine Debris:
Plastic trash in the ocean can be bad for sea animals like turtles, whales, and birds. They might think it's food and eat it, which is not good for them. Also, it can hurt coral reefs, which are super important homes for many sea creatures.
Fig. 5.7 Corals affected by debris
3. Soil Pollution:
Chemical fertilisers and other nonbiodegradable compounds can contaminate the soil, reducing its fertility and having negative impacts on plants and other wildlife that depend on the soil for survival.
4. Water Pollution:
Things that don't break down easily, like oil spills, can make water dirty. This can hurt the animals that live in the water and make the water not safe to use.
Watch this video to understand how plastic a biodegradable material affects the environment:6
Vid 5.1 Effect of materials on environment
In our world, avoiding non-biodegradable materials can be pretty challenging. Discovering alternatives for everyday things like plastic bottles and plastic packaging is becoming more and more convenient, and this is happening at just the right time to help our planet, which is overwhelmed by these materials.
1. Plastic7: According to a UN Environment report, a sizable amount of the plastic that is flowing into our oceans is made up of plastic packaging and other single-use items. Plastic is dangerous to our health as well as the environment. The plastic packaging's toxins enter into your food, and when you consume the product, you also consume the chemicals.
Alternatives to plastics are a need we must prioritise.
Fig. 5.8 Alternatives to Plastic
Watch this video to see how some students are playing a role to keep the environment sustainable:8
Fig 5.2 Actions towards Environment Sustainability
Stainless steel: We can use it to replace single-use containers, kitchen storage, lunch boxes, and other items.
Glass: Glass is affordable, and eternally recyclable, despite not being biodegradable. Additionally, since many foods are packaged in glass, repurposing glass jars as food storage is an inexpensive way to update your food packaging. You may add jars from jam, honey, pickles, nut butters, and a lot more to your zero-waste shopping toolset. They can also be decorated and used to make homemade gifts, or they can be reused to keep leftovers and homemade drinks.
Natural fibre cloth: Natural cloth bags can replace plastic bags
Wood: Wood can replace plastic in everyday home items like cleaning brushes, kitchen utensils, and cutting boards because it is a renewable resource.
Fig 5.9 Paper based alternatives to plastics
2. Textile Materials9: The type of materials used in our clothing has the biggest influence on the environment. Harmful ways of getting materials from nature, like cutting down too many trees, drilling for oil, and farming in ways that hurt the environment, using strong chemicals to make materials like plastic, bleach, and dyes makes sustainability a growing problem.
For example:
About 65% of the fabrics used to make clothes are made from synthetic materials that come from fossil fuels. Polyester is the most common one and is a type of lightweight plastic. When polyester clothes are washed, tiny plastic pieces called microplastics can get into the water. Plus, it can take more than 200 years for polyester to break down in the environment.
Cotton, which makes up about 20% of all fabrics, is a natural material and is somewhat better for the environment. However, growing cotton uses a lot of water. For example, it takes over 700 gallons of water to make just one cotton shirt. Also, cotton crops use a lot of pesticides, making them the biggest pesticide-consuming crop in the world.12
After we use clothes, they often end up as waste, creating a lot of trash because there aren't always good ways to get rid of them.
By simply opting for eco-friendly fabrics, you're making a significant stride towards creating a more sustainable wardrobe.
Fig 5.10 Sustainable clothing
The materials that are sustainable are: organic cotton, recycled polyester and recycled cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo linen, silk, sheep wool, cashmere, etc.
Watch this video to know the ways we can contribute towards sustainability:
Vid 5.3 Sustainablity: What does it mean to be Green?10
Glossary
sustainability: taking care of the earth by using natural resources in a way that protects them for future generations.
algae: simple, plant-like organisms that live in water. they can be green, red, or brown and are important for making oxygen.
debris: pieces of waste or remains, like trash or broken objects.
landfills: a system of trash and garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth
depletion: reduction in the number or quantity of something
fungi: organism that include microorganisms such as yeast mushrooms and moulds
hemp fibre: a natural plant fibre made from the stem of a plant
fertilisers: a natural or artificial substance added to the soil to provide major nutrient that plants need
Summary
Materials used in everyday life can have various environmental effects, like resource depletion, energy consumption, pollution, waste generation, and biodiversity loss.
Biodegradable materials like plant-based products, biodegradable plastics, and natural fibers naturally degrade by microorganisms or abiotic factors without causing pollution.
Environmental impact of biodegradable materials when not disposed of correctly, including water and soil pollution, air pollution, and overloading landfills.
Non biodegradable materials do not break down and degrade over time, e.g; Petroleum-based plastics, glass, metals, and synthetic fibres.
Impact of non biodegradable materials on the environment includes littering, marine debris, soil pollution, and water pollution.
Alternatives to harmful materials like plastic include stainless steel, glass, natural fibre cloth, and wood.
Textile materials play a significant role in environmental impact, and sustainable options include organic cotton, recycled polyester and cotton, hemp, and more.
References
1 Natural Resource Use and Environmental Impacts. One Planet, n.d, link
2 Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Substances. PW, 2023, link
3 Biodegradable & Non Biodegradable. Mocomi, n.d, link
4 Difference Between Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Substances. Bio Differences, 2020, link
5 Britannica Kids. n.d, link
6 How plastic is destroying our environment and what to do about it. Youtube, n.d, link
7 The Best Eco-Friendly Alternatives for the Plastic in Your Life. Eartheasy, n.d, link
8 Environmental Sustainability - BTN Special. Youtube, n.d, link
9 31 Sustainable Fabrics For The Most Eco-Friendly Fashion. Sustainable Jungle, 2023, link
10 What does it mean to be green? Youtube, n.d, link
1118 Eco Friendly Alternatives To Plastic In Your Life. Greenfeels. 2022, link
12 Sustainable Fabric Alternatives That Are Gaining Attention. Blacksmith International, n.d, link
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