By Bob Robinson
There’s lot of talk about the new “green” economy and a much of it is focused on the harmful effects of petroleum and fossil fuels. But there’s a lot more to it. Present technology is available that will enable us to make a large number of products economically and efficiently from corn, wood fiber, and soy beans. If Michigan is to move forward with agriculture as a major industry, we must raise awareness for the virtues of producing goods and products from renewal farm crops.
One example is a drinking water product, Primo Water, produced in a plastic bottle made from corn. The clear plastic bottle is produced from corn starch that has been processed into a resin that can by polymerized; a process that condenses molecules into a heat resistant and water proof plastic. The bottles are recyclable, burnable and, believe it or not, compostable. Once you drink the water you can throw the bottle into a compost bin, cap and all, and it will break down into its natural substances. You can then throw it on your garden or flower beds.
Some institutions such as hospitals and universities are using such products including biodegradable straws, cups, bowls, and flatware that can be composted within 90 days and sold for commercial use. You may be displeased to know that a lot of these products are being imported from China when it’s possible to make it affordably in the U.S. And it would be a great way for Michigan to integrate its agricultural industries with its manufacturing sector to create home grown jobs for Michigan citizens (pun intended).
Most plastics today are produced from petroleum or natural gas. But literally everything you see made from petroleum based plastic can be made with renewable agricultural product. Think about it. All the components in your car, trash and grocery bags, the tables you sit at, and the appliances in your home, all made from Michigan corn or soy. This could be a terrific boost to our economy.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s oil from Saudi Arabia or corn from Michigan,” says Dr. Ramani Narayan, university distinguished professor at Michigan State University, “all plastics are made on a backbone of carbon. Carbon is extracted and then plastic is made with it. The carbon cycle for oil is millions of years; the cycle for corn is about 10 years. There’s no reason we can’t make our plastic materials today from bio-based, renewable sources like corn and soy. It can be made with little retooling and often with the same equipment and processing that is used with petroleum plastic.”
Narayan has developed 7 patents using the technology.
There’s concern that using corn in plastics would increase food costs but it’s more fiction than fact: A misnomer that may be attributable to special interest interference. Yes, we need to understand its impact on food sources and other elements of the financial system. But price increases for corn used in plastic production would not be prohibitive and would serve to stimulate Michigan’s floundering economy. We could end the need to subsidize farm crops and help alleviate our dependence on foreign fuels. I’d rather pay $1.20 for Michigan grown corn that created Michigan jobs than $1.00 for something made with foreign oil any day.
Corn plastic production could be the basis for a large number of new jobs in Michigan as we move into a post-industrial economy, but first we need good public policy to support it. We’ve failed to do this in Michigan for more than a decade. We need to adopt a bio-preferred products policy for our state and region that promotes the use of plant based products. With vision, insight, and a plan, we could be a leader in renewable products made in our own factories from our very own Michigan crops.
Robinson is a citizen candidate for the office of State Representative of Eaton County, District 71, who is not seeking lobby money for his campaign. He is an internationally accredited public relations professional and author of the Random House book, “Freelancing: Using the Internet to Find a Job”, which chronicled the history of organized employment in the United States. Bob lives with his family in Vermontville, Michigan, and is involved in his community. For information, go to www.district71.com or his Facebook page at http://facebook.dj/district71.
Editor’s Note: We contacted www.micorn.org and inquired about Michigan companies that currently make plastic with corn and they advised us there were none.
