What began as two graduate students exploring the usage and degradation of laundry and dish detergent pods, has now turned into an effort to ban these popular consumer products. How did we get here?
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The pods are coated by a unique plastic polymer, called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). What makes it unique is how it feels and what it does once it interacts with water. The plastic itself is what we call &#;hydrolzyed&#;, meaning water can disassemble the plastic coating, releasing the detergent into water. The concern begins when we ask what happens to that plastic coating. It&#;s water soluble, just like sugar or salt, which once added to water, disappears in time, but as we can taste, still very much remains within the water itself.
This concept of out of sight, out of mind has led many to believe that PVA is biodegradable. Couple that with the fact that the EPA designates polyvinyl alcohol to be of, &#;low concern based on experimental and modeled data&#;, data we have never been provided, and now companies have gone to lengths to say that the pods are &#;ecofriendly&#;, &#;biodegradable&#;, and even &#;plastic free&#;. Are these true? Mostly, no.
When water leaves your house after a wash, for those of you in bigger cities, it will travel to a wastewater treatment plant. These plants are built to remove smells, pathogens, and more, to either create a very rich fertilizer for crops, called biosolids, that can also be landfilled, or incineration. Regardless, it&#;s meant to be safe. One of the major aspects of the wastewater treatment process relies on microorganisms within the plant attacking the solids, thus lowering their volume, and adding to the nutrients of the solids.
Polyvinyl alcohol was used often as a binder in the textile industry. These textile plants would put out so much of the material in their wastewater that the microorganisms in the wastewater treatment plants downstream became adapted to them and could break down the material very efficiently. This helps give us insight into what conditions can make polyvinyl alcohol actually biodegradable, but more importantly, we&#;re able to learn why it isn&#;t biodegradable in most of the US or around the world.
Certain conditions are necessary for hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol to biodegrade, as demonstrated by copious amounts of scientific research. Not only are specific microorganisms needed that have been adapted to the material, but the amount of time they spend with it, as well as the correct temperature and pH are essential as well. For example, studies show that if the correct microorganisms are exposed to PVA for up to 60 hours, a significant amount of degradation can be seen. The problem is water stays within conventional wastewater treatment plants for hours to a few days, at most. There are also varying temperatures and pH levels in these treatment plants as well, making biodegradation that much more difficult.
The research I conducted with Varun Kelkar, with support from Blueland, aimed to gather all the papers looking at PVA degradation within these treatment plants. We found that only about 25% of the material breaks down, with 75% passing through into ecosystems beyond. This leads to an estimated 8,000 metric tons of PVA surviving the wastewater treatment process. To give you an idea as to how much that is, an elephant or great white shark weigh roughly one metric ton.
So how does PVA behave as a pollutant? Is it like other conventional plastics that can adsorb dangerous chemicals, get stuck in tissues/organs, or travel the heights and depths of the planet? We don&#;t know, but we&#;re working on it.
We&#;re currently collaborating with the University of Maine and others to better understand how PVA acts as a pollutant. Until there is more certainty, cities like NYC are more comfortable banning the use of the pods. You might be thinking, &#;well, these pods have to be better than the plastic jugs, right?&#;. Eh. Plastic jugs have a chance at getting recycled, and if they aren&#;t, they&#;re most likely heading to a landfill. These pods become a plastic solution instantly after use and reach the environment much more quickly, in hours or days. Think of them like the plastic microbeads that President Obama banned in .
I never try to poopoo something new too quickly. Maybe these pods can be transitioned into being made from a material that is natural, like seaweed. There are rumblings of this occurring. Until then, there needs to be better truth in labeling, more research on PVA as a pollutant, and transparency for consumers.
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CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR NONPROFIT SCIENCE THAT FOCUSES ON THE INTERSECTION OF HUMAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.In today's world, where there is a growing concern about the impact of plastic waste on the environment, eco-friendliness has become a top priority. PVA or Polyvinyl Alcohol is a water-soluble synthetic polymer that is gaining popularity due to its eco-friendly nature. In this article, we will explore what PVA is, its properties, and its eco-friendliness.
What is PVA?
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer that is produced by the partial hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate. It is a colorless and odorless solid, and it is commonly used in various industries, such as paper, textiles, adhesives, coatings, packaging, and more.
PVA is known for its excellent film-forming properties, which makes it a popular choice for coatings and packaging films. It is also used as a binder in paper and textiles and as an adhesive in a range of applications. Additionally, PVA can be modified with different additives to improve its properties, such as its strength, water resistance, and flexibility.
PVA is a non-toxic and biodegradable material, which makes it an eco-friendly choice for many applications. However, its biodegradability depends on the conditions of the environment in which it is disposed, and it may take a long time to decompose in certain conditions.
Is polyvinyl alcohol the same as PVA glue?
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA glue are related but different substances. PVA glue, also known as white glue or school glue, is a water-based adhesive that contains polyvinyl acetate (PVA) as its main ingredient. PVA glue is commonly used in arts and crafts, woodworking, and other applications where a strong, flexible, and water-resistant bond is needed.
PVA is not an adhesive like PVA glue and does not have the same bonding properties. Instead, PVA is valued for its biodegradability and other physical and chemical properties. While both PVA and PVA glue contain PVA polymer, they are formulated differently and serve different purposes.
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What is PVA commonly used for?
PVA's unique properties make it useful in a variety of applications, including paper coatings, adhesives, textiles, and films. It is also commonly used in the food packaging industry due to its oxygen barrier properties, which help to preserve the freshness of the packaged products.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is also sometimes used in laundry detergent as a water-soluble film that dissolves during the wash cycle to release other active ingredients in the detergent. This type of PVA film is called a "unit dose" or "single dose" film, and it is used to improve the convenience and efficiency of laundry detergent by providing pre-measured amounts of detergent that dissolve quickly in water.
How eco-friendly is PVA?
One of the key benefits of PVA is its biodegradability and water solubility. When exposed to moisture and microorganisms, PVA breaks down into non-toxic components, making it a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. However, PVA is not completely biodegradable and can take several months to break down under the right conditions.
Compared to other plastics, PVA has a relatively low environmental impact. It is non-toxic and does not release harmful chemicals when it degrades. However, it still requires energy and resources to produce, and its biodegradability is not perfect.
According to Michigan State University, "We don't always have to sacrifice what's easy for what safe for our health and best for the environment. PVA ingredients are an excellent example of an ingredient positively transforming industries."
However, it is important to note that some countries have regulations in place regarding the disposal of PVA products to prevent environmental pollution. For example, in the European Union, PVA is subject to the Waste Framework Directive, which sets out rules for waste management and disposal to protect human health and the environment. The Directive requires that PVA products be disposed of in a way that minimizes their impact on the environment, such as through composting or in dedicated waste treatment facilities. It is possible that some countries may adopt stricter regulations or bans on PVA in the future if concerns arise about its environmental impact.
Recommended products with and without PVA
Despite its downsides, PVA is still a sustainable solution. There are several eco-friendly laundry detergents and dish soaps that contain PVA, which can help to reduce plastic waste. Additionally, there are other sustainable packaging options available, such as biodegradable plastics made from plant-based materials.
Several companies, such as Dropps, TruEarth, and Kind Laundry, have recognized the importance of reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability by adopting PVA-based packaging for their laundry detergents. These companies are taking a step in the right direction by offering eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastic packaging.
However, there are PVA-free options available, such as Meliora Laundry Detergent, which uses biodegradable paper packaging and natural ingredients.
Consumer choices play a crucial role in reducing plastic waste. By choosing products that contain PVA or other sustainable alternatives, we can help to minimize the environmental impact of our daily lives.
Making Informed Choices for a Sustainable Future
In conclusion, PVA is an encouraging development as a sustainable solution. It has unique properties that make it useful in a variety of applications, and its biodegradability and water solubility make it a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. However, it is not a perfect solution, and there are still downsides that we need to be aware of. As consumers, we can make a difference by choosing products that are more sustainable, and by advocating for more eco-friendly solutions in the products we use every day.
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