Bagasse vs. Plastic: Which is Better for the Environment?

Plastic is widely used because it’s disposable, sturdy and less costly than traditional metal and glass tableware, however, the downsides to using single-use plastics are much more as they have great environmental impacts. More than 430 million tons of plastic are produced each year, two-thirds of which is cast aside as waste after just one use.

Eleven million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean alone each year, in addition to the estimated 200 million metric tons that already flow through our marine environments, per data from the Ocean Conservatory.

At the current rate of production, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by mid-century, according to Nikola Simpson, Head of the United Nations Development Programme’s Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Blue Economy Accelerator Lab.

“We just keep producing, producing, producing plastic,” she says.

As the use of single-use plastics has become a significant environmental concern due to the amount of waste they generate and their non-biodegradable nature. Alternatives to plastic products are being explored to reduce the environmental impact, which are disposable yet biodegradable and compostable, unlike plastics. There are many such alternatives which are sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly including Sugarcane Bagasse, Bamboo Fiber, Hemp, Cotton etc. We at EcoFibre use Sugarcane Bagasse and Bamboo Pulp to manufacture our eco-friendly disposable tableware and industrial and medical lineup. Our Tableware Lineup includes Clamshells, Burger Boxes, Plates, Bowls, Cutlery and similar eco-friendly and disposable items, all of which are organically manufactured and leave no carbon footprint. As we move forward, comparing both plastic and bagasse, let us first explain what Bagasse is and how it is renewable, sustainable and more environmentally friendly.

What is Bagasse?

Bagasse is a renewable and biodegradable raw material obtained after extracting juice from sugarcane crops. It is the main component used to manufacture EcoFibre moulded bagasse products. Until recently, sugarcane bagasse was usually disposed of or left to rot. Today, it is used as a leading renewable resource to produce tableware, medical and eco-friendly consumer packaging.

The sugarcane crop had earlier been used only to produce sugar products and there was no use of bagasse afterwards. However, due to its eco-friendly and sustainable attributes, bagasse is now widely used in the food packaging industry to replace single-use plastic, paper, and kraft products that have negative environmental effects. We shall now compare the environmental impact of bagasse and plastic and determine which is better for the environment.

Make a choice: Bagasse or Plastic?

Biodegradability

The sugarcane residue known as bagasse serves as an eco-friendly and biodegradable alternative to plastic. While plastic may barely decompose even after a few centuries, products made from bagasse can make their way back into nature even if thrown away. As organic matter, they effortlessly reintegrate into the ecosystem without causing further pain to Mother Earth.

Resource Usage

Bagasse is a byproduct of sugarcane production, and using it as a raw material reduces waste and the need for additional resources. On the other hand, plastic is derived from non-renewable fossil fuels, oil and petrochemicals and the production process not only requires significant energy and water usage but is also exhausting limited natural resources that are not renewable and will eventually end one day if we carelessly consume it to produce single-use plastics.

Recyclability

Bagasse and some plastics are recyclable plastic, however, recycling plastic is still a challenge, and a significant amount of plastic waste ends up in landfills or the ocean. Recycling bagasse also involves processes, however, if thrown away, one can be sure that it will not pollute the environment as it’s biodegradable and will return to nature eventually becoming part of the earth.

Landfill and Ocean Pollution

Plastic waste is a major contributor to landfill and ocean pollution. It does not biodegrade, and single-use plastic products often end up in the environment, where they can harm wildlife, marine life and ecosystems. Bagasse, on the other hand, is biodegradable and does not contribute to landfill or ocean pollution. While it might seem something trivial, it is not anymore, and we all need to consciously make eco-friendly choices and protect the ecosystem.

Cost

While the price range of bagasse items is in line with plastic products, special circumstances may cause them to be marginally costlier. Nevertheless, paying heed to environmental repercussions casts plastic merchandise as a non-negotiable bane compared to using eco-friendly bagasse options that can appreciably mitigate long-term environmental disasters and save natural resources for future generations.

In conclusion, bagasse is a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic due to its biodegradability and lower environmental impact. Ultimately, the choice between bagasse and plastic will depend on the specific application and environmental impact, but it is clear that reducing the use of single-use plastics is essential for the health of our planet.