Bioplastics (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability) | Science

Starter quiz

Which of these are materials?
- wood ✓
- fabric ✓
- ice skate
- plastic ✓
Which of the toys in the images are made from plastic?
- toy car
- bucket and spade ✓
- toy dinosaur
Which of these materials woud it be best to make tyres for a car from?
- wood
- metal
- rubber ✓
Which of these materials would be best to make a water bottle from?
- wood
- plastic ✓
- rock
Which of these materials are suitable to make a greenhouse?
- wood
- plastic ✓
- clear glass ✓
- brick
______ is a greenhouse gas released when fossil fuels are burned. It is used by plants and exhaled by humans.
- 'Carbon dioxide' ✓

To __________ is to break down or decay.
- debuild
- decompose ✓
- decompress
- debug
How long does it take for plastic to decompose?
- up to 5 days
- up to 5 weeks
- up to 5 years
- up to 500 years ✓
What is the impact of discarded plastics?
- They are quickly broken down by micro-organisms.
- They quickly decompose in the land.
- They cause problems in our seas and on our land, for animals including humans. ✓
Who has discovered ways to make bioplastics or biodegradable plastics?
- paper companies
- fruit and vegetable sellers
- scientists ✓
- supermarkets
How could scientists find out how long it takes bioplastics to decompose?
- by growing alternative sources of starch
- by observing traditional plastics over time
- by collecting bioplastics over time
- by observing bioplastics over time ✓
Which of these can you make bioplastics from?
- stone
- starch ✓
- coal
- oil

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It takes up to 500 years for plastics to decompose.
Discarded plastics are causing problems in our seas and on our land, for animals including humans.
Scientists have discovered ways to make bioplastics or biodegradable plastics.
Bioplastics can be made from starch.
Scientists can observe bioplastics over time to find out how long it takes them to decompose.

Bioplastics do not cause any environmental problems.

Teaching slides explain what the limitations of current bioplastics are, and that scientists are still working on their development.

Plastic - Plastic is a material which is made from oil and can be moulded.
Decompose - To decompose is to break down or decay.
Degradable - If something is degradable, it can be broken down into the simple parts that made it.
Bioplastic - A bioplastic is a plastic made from materials which come from sustainable sources such as plants.
Observe - To observe is to look very closely and use other senses too.