According to PlantSwitch: the solution for combating microplastic pollution, is plants.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), microplastics (MPs) can be found everywhere in the environment including the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Scientists have found microplastic particles in rivers and lakes on remote islands, the clouds above Mount Fuji, and the snow in Antarctica, emphasizing their ubiquitous presence across the globe.
But what are they? What are these micro-nuisances that are creating a macro-problem?
MPs are categorized as fragments of man-made, long-chain polymeric material (plastic) that are less than five millimeters long – the size of just one grain of rice. Their longevity spans thousands of years when MPs form as smaller fragments and break away from larger pieces. This can happen during commercial product development or during the degradation of plastic products like tires, water bottles, and packing of beauty products.
Sometimes, MPs are deliberately produced as resin pellets and repurposed in the manufacturing of various items such as disposable cutlery, toys, sunglasses, and even furniture. Despite efforts to recycle these items, MPs are still being ingested by animals and humans at an alarming rate.
On average, humans consume the rough equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic every single week – about 5 grams. Think about it:
A plastic bag from your nearest supermarket flies out of a car window on the highway, catches some major air and makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico. Here, it breaks down into smaller pieces over time and is eaten by the local community of red snapper.
You decide to take your family out for a delicious meal at a local restaurant to celebrate a birthday and guess what is listed as the “catch of the day”? Yes, that red snapper.
MPs can also be found in drinking-water and can have a serious effect on human health. Scientists believe that once ingested, MPs can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorder, immune response, and neurotoxicity…just to name a few.
How do we stop this? According to Dillion Baxter, CEO and Cofounder of PlantSwitch, the solution is plants.
At PlantSwitch, our mission is to replace all petroleum-based single use plastic with plants,” said Baxter. “We upcycle agricultural residues, such as rice hulls and wheat straw, into a plant-based resin that can be used to make nearly all types of plastic products.
PlantSwitch, which opened a manufacturing facility in the US, works with local farms to turn agricultural residues into compostable pellets. That bioplastic resin is then used by manufacturers to make everything from eating utensils, cosmetics containers, toothbrushes and coffee pods.
Using their proprietary technology, PlantSwitch has found a way to create a low-cost, bio-based material, with properties that resemble traditional plastics, that is backyard compostable. “It’s been a long road to get here,” said Baxter, “but we’ve been able to work with technology, financing, and development partners that have helped us along the way to create a product that is truly sustainable, and we are proud of.”
They started commercial production with a 50,000-square-foot commercial manufacturing facility with a 25,000-ton-a-year capacity. The Siemens ecosystem played a crucial role in launching their first site:
Siemens Financial Services (SFS) supported with a $5 million credit line to acquire equipment for the new facility including grinders, a conveyor system, and extruders.
Siemens Digital Industries (DI) has helped get the new facility up and running as well as working directly with PlantSwitch to ensure all equipment has a Siemens specification and spare part services.
Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI) has helped source an alternative for switchboards after PlantSwitch experienced delays getting power to the new facility.
“The Siemens team has been an extremely valuable partner in helping us build the future of plastics. We began our collaboration at a critical inflection point for PlantSwitch, and they are a major reason for our success. They have provided support across an array of different objectives and demonstrated a high level of expertise in each category,” said Baxter of PlantSwitch’s partnership with Siemens.
As PlantSwitch ramped up production, their goal is to use their hundreds of formulations to compete in every market. They’ve secured contracts with clients across various sectors, including foodservice, gastronomy, and retail. Their remarkable growth has led to the establishment of a new factory in Asia, strategically designed to cater to the burgeoning global demand.
For more information on PlantSwitch, visit their website.
For information on Siemens, visit USA.Siemens.com.
