Biodegradable plastics to save oceans, a US$3.4 billion market in 2020 although still in its infancy.
‘Biodegradable‘ is defined as a material that can be degraded by microorganisms-such as bacteria, or fungi-into water, natural gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane), or biomass.
Biodegradability is strongly related to environmental conditions, such as temperature, presence of microorganisms, oxygen and water. Therefore, the concept of ‘biodegradable material’ is only appropriate when in relation to a standard that specifies conditions and timescales for its biodegradation.
Biodegradable plastics currently account for less than 1 percent planetwide. Its applications involve shopping bags (so-called shoppers), agricultural mulching films, loose packaging, bottles, disposable tableware. High cost is an obstacle to their diffusion. Nonetheless, the growing attention of consumAtors and the environmental policies adopted by some governments provide great stimulus for research and development in this area.
The global market-now worth just over US$2 billion (2015 data)-is thus expected to grow to US$3.4 billion by 2020. (1) Western Europe is the leading market for biodegradable plastics, expressing more than 45 percent of global demand (2014 data).
Because of the pronounced environmental consciousness of its people.
Environmental policies adopted in various EU countries have had a major influence on this development. Incentives for the use of biodegradable plastics have in fact gone through stringent legislative measures. The use of petroleum-based plastic bags has been banned in Italy and subject to specific taxes in other countries, such as Ireland and Germany.
What biodegradable plastics?
PLA (polylactic acid-based plastic), due to remarkable mechanical and processing properties, has reached 45.1 percent of the total biodegradable plastics market (2015). Second only to starch blends, whose production costs are significantly lower.
Starch blends-of which Mater-Bi®is the national champion-are made by processes similar to those used to produce thermoplastics. To make pure starch (2) water-resistant and/or processable, blends are made with natural substances with special technological functions.
Other types of biodegradable plastics under current research include:
– plastics based on polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHB, PHBV, etc.),
– plastics based on aliphatic aromatic polyesters,
– Cellulose-based plastics(cellophane),
– Lignin-based plastics.
What applications? Overhead packaging
Packaging is the leading application area for biodegradable plastics (60.3 percent of the global market, 2015).
Shopping bags, cutlery and disposable tableware are the focus of the production of disposable packaging materials with biodegradable plastics. Due to the increasing attention of consumAtors to the environment. But also because this is precisely the first area for improvement. Expectedly, the bulk of plastic in Europe-about 40 percent-is used in boxes and wrappers. For packaging food, drinks and clothing.
Recycling to date affects less than 15 percent of packaging, less than 5 percent of plastics in general. Basically, it needs to be reversed. As soon as possible.
Luca Foltran and Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) See report Biodegradable Plastics Market by Type (PLA, PHA, PBS, Starch-Based Plastics, Regenerated Cellulose, PCL), by Application(Packaging, Fibers, Agriculture, Injection Molding, and Others) – Global Trends & Forecasts to 2020
(2) Pure starch, conversely, is used in other applications. Such as capsules for pharmaceutical use