WHAT ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC HAVE BEEN EXPLORED

Plastics are utilised in many different contexts and in many different forms.  Hence any alternatives must enable a particular function of the plastic to be effective.

Examples of alternatives are:

• Stainless steel.glass,bamboo, ceramics, natural fibre cloth, seaweed, fungi, fibrous waste from wine and beer making, polyester, wood, beeswax (howstuffworks.com)

Alternatives must be easily available and functional without addition of harmful chemicals e.g. formaldehyde.

This is added to the bamboo cups substituting for plastic ones and  is released when the cup is disposed after use. 

Disposal of the alternatives to plastic should be safe without risk to the human health or the environment.

In addition the use of alternative materials is more likely to be taken forward by manufacturers and retailers if an equivalent financial profit is made so use of an alternative should not create greater expense in collection, processing and manufacture.

Several successful business enterprises have been set up in order to provide items and materials  made out of alternatives to plastics. An example is seaweed. This is being used as seaweed plastic. Seaweed farmers  incomes  are boosted and carbon emission and plastic waste are reduced.(boldbusiness.com) Another example is beeswax. (Wrappy organic reusable beeswax food wrap.An alternative to cellophane). 

A further example is that of fungi which can metabilise plastics and fungal mycelia which can be used to make parts for electronics vehicles and sports equipment(the verge.com)(fungiproduct.com)

So several alternatives are already the basis of successful business  enterptises.