ECOPASS

move with a green choice

Nowadays one of the biggest problems that humanity is going through is the agglomeration
of waste that, due to the long time it takes for its degradation, increases its rate in a worrying
way. Human activities generate vast amounts of waste, including plastics, food waste, and
paper. The accumulation of waste in landfills can contribute to soil and water contamination,
which can harm wildlife and human health.

On one hand, in the case of paper not only the waste agglomeration is an environmental
problem, but also its production is unfavorable because it requires a significant amount of
water, energy, and chemicals, which can lead to water and air pollution. Besides, the logging
of trees to produce paper contributes to deforestation, which can have negative impacts on
biodiversity, soil erosion, and the global climate. On the other hand, the increasing use of
plastic products and their improper disposal have led to significant environmental and health
concerns. It is known that about 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean every
year, which can cause devastating consequences for marine life and the ecosystem.
Microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic that are difficult to see with the naked eye, are now
present in every ocean and even in our drinking water and food. Furthermore, food waste is
a significant problem in many parts of the world. According to the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, about one-third of all food produced globally is
lost or wasted. This waste not only has economic costs but also has significant environmental
and social impacts.

That is the main reason why recent research has been focused on the reuse of waste of natural
or artificial origin that allows prolonging the useful life of materials to reduce the amount of
waste generated and the polluting gases that its production implies. With this purpose, the
idea of making ecological cards for transportation made from recycled plastic materials and
organic waste from corn waste was born with the purpose of replacing conventional paper
cards. This idea is intended to get value added in wastes with non-conventional use. The
proposed solution is based on the elaboration of blendings, working as long-term cards, for
urban bus and tram lines. The cards proposed will be made from organic material, Polylactic
acid- PLA, obtained from corn, and plastic waste and Polyethylene terephthalate- PET, by
an extrusion process at a controlled temperature.

Creating transportation cards made of the named components can have various benefits for
the environment, society, and the economy, contributing to achieving sustainability. This
solution benefits the environment by being a product generated from waste contributing to
lower carbon emissions and to reduce the overall pollution of the country. It generates social
welfare because it simplifies people's lives with this easiest technology, the use of bioplastic
as the main component of our product helps to reduce the negative impacts of traditional
plastics on human health, particularly for workers involved in the production and disposal of
plastics, and also, it creates environmental awareness in our society. And finally, it generates
a positive economic impact since it promotes the circular economy by using waste as raw
material, and by creating new markets and employment opportunities. In this sense, this
project is committed to the environment, society, and economic pillars of the agenda 2030
for Sustainability of the United Nations.

In conclusion, the creation of ecological cards for public transportation with a mixture of
polymerization of bioplastic and recycled plastic is an innovative idea that promotes
sustainability and reduces the environmental impact of public transportation. It has the
potential to create a positive impact on the environment and promotes sustainable and circular
economies by reducing waste, increasing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable
consumption.