this project is implemented through the central europe programme … · 2019-12-14 · “plastic...
TRANSCRIPT
1
This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF
2
3
This document has been prepared within the PLASTiCE
project and is a part of the
WP4—Framework conditions for stimulating market demand,
WP4.2 Transnational Advisory Scheme
4
5
Table of contents:
Preface 6
1. Introduction 7
2. Polymer materials - Basics 11
3. Plastics 13
3.1. Plastics classification 13
3.2. Classic petrochemical plastics 15
3.3. Biodegradable plastics 19
3.3.1. Biodegradable plastics from renewable resources 20
3.3.2. Biodegradable plastics from fossil resources 21
3.3.3. Oxo-degradable plastics 22
3.4 Plastics from renewable resources 23
3.5. Bioplastics manufacturing capabilities 24
4. Products in accordance with sustainable development policy and evaluation criteria 25
4.1. Sustainable development policy evaluation model for plastics 25
4.2 Assessment criteria of environmental aspects 27
4.3. Assessment criteria of social aspects 29
4.4. Assessment criteria of economic aspects 30
5. Evaluation system for selected criteria of plastics 31
5.1. Compostable plastics certification 31
5.2. Biobased content certification 35
5.3. Summary of the certification chapter 37
5.4. Carbon Footprint - Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction 38
6. Conclusion 41
Appendixes:
Appendix A: List of the applications of bioplastics already used 42
Appendix B: Transnational R&D Scheme 54
6
FOREWORD
It is hard to imagine that the world one century ago contained almost no plastics whereas a mere
100 years later they have infiltrated nearly all aspects of our lives from food packaging and medical
uses to car parts and toys. Plastics make our food stay fresh longer and be transported longer
distances, they keep our medical supplies sterile through the packaging of needles, blood and saline
among other things, they make our cars lighter and more fuel efficient, and they delight children
whether in the form of Legos or Barbies – to name but a few of plastic’s uses today. This is particularly
impressive since plastics are the only major group of materials that are entirely man made.
However, the great success of plastics in bringing major benefits to our lives has a darker side. The
kind of plastics we use and how we dispose of them have serious implications for human health and
the environment. For example, BPA used in food and beverage containers has been found to act as an
endocrine disruptor thereby contributing to developmental abnormalities and cancers and the “North
Pacific Garbage Patch” was found to contain huge quantities of plastic waste floating freely in the
ocean. Both cases have raised major concerns among the public about plastics . Books such as
“Plastic – A toxic love story” (S. Freinkel), “Plastic Free – How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too” (B. Terry), or “Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain's Chance Discovery Launched a
Determined Quest to Save the Oceans” (C. Moore and C. Phillips) highlight these concerns and
question our use - and abuse - of plastics today.
The transition to plastics that are neither harmful to human and animal health nor to the environment
while still fulfilling our needs is the key issue. Science and industry, as well as public policy, have to
work towards the introduction of policy guidelines and materials that can do this. Our life and our
health, as well as that of the environment we inhabit may depend on it.
The PLASTiCE project represents a step in this direction. Its main concern is creating acceptance of
new plastics with lower environmental burdens. To this end, PLASTiCE works with a number of
partners ranging from industries, NGOs, and governmental agencies to users, retailers, and scientists.
Our experience is that all of these groups are interested in participating in the search for an
economically feasible and environmentally benign future for plastics. The question is how to bring their
varying interests together in a productive way. Interestingly, what all sides seem to desire is clear,
unbiased information and reliable contacts to turn to with their questions about plastics.
This handbook was prepared in the hopes of fulfilling some of these needs and to overcome the
current roadblocks that prevent us from using plastics that offer new functionalities with fewer negative
environmental and health effects.
doc. dr. Andrej Kržan, PLASTiCE coordinator
7
1. Introduction Dear Reader,
The purpose of this guide is to collect a comprehensive and objective suite of information that will
hopefully give you better understanding about sustainable plastics, no matter from which part of
plastics industry value chain you are from.
Authors of this guide – partners of Central Europe project PLASTiCE have a substantial experience with
sustainable plastics and are approached by companies from whole plastics value chain daily.
Based on that experience we generated a list of 10 most frequently asked questions in this field.
The Questions
1. What products can be produced from bioplastics?
2. Is it feasible to produce bioplastic based products from the economic point of view?
3. Is it technologically feasible to produce bioplastic products?
4. Does my company have the right competences?
5. Does my company have the right equipment and processes in place?
6. Why certify bioplastic products?
7. How to convince clients to buy bioplastic products?
8. Where does my company find the right resource materials (polymers, pigments, etc)?
9. Where to look for partners?
10. How do I start?
This guide is designed in a way to give answers to all of them. Below you will find short answer to all
of them along with references where in the guide you will be able to discover more.
The Answers
1. What products can be produced from bioplastics?
Bioplastics, just like traditional plastics have multitude of uses and applications and offer many
functional properties such as easy printability, gas, water vapour and fats permeability that can be
tailored to specific applications. More details on properties can be found in chapter 3.
Currently bioplastics are most commonly used in packaging and food sector, with products such as
shopping bags, food trays, yogurt cups, cutlery etc. One can observe an increasing
popularity of bioplastics in medical applications, agriculture, consumer electronics, sports and even
automotive applications.
It is important to notice that the bioplastics sector is in the process of development and is expected to
grow very quickly within the next couple of years, and so the number of possible applications will
expand. Appendix 1 lists most common applications of bioplastics.
2. Is it feasible to produce bioplastic based products from the economic point of view?
Although bioplastics are generally more expensive than traditional alternatives, in recent years the
market of bioplastics has developed substantially in terms of costs competition and legislative support
8
from authorities (existence of standards, certification and in some national cases even bans on usage
of traditional plastics in some applications – like shopping bags). Demand on bioplastics is mostly
observed in the following sectors: packaging, automotive, toys and consumer electronics. Many
global corporations have made bioplastics a substantial part of their long term growth and innovation
strategies. Advancement of bioplastics is multidimensional. On one hand material producers develop
new materials and additives and end products manufacturers observed a huge potential to innovate
and diversify their offer previously based on traditional plastics. More on this topic can be found in
chapter 3 and chapter 4 where different sustainability assessment criteria are listed.
3. Is it technologically feasible to produce bioplastic products?
Bioplastics that already exist in the market can be used for a wide spectrum of applications.
Bioplastics can undergo the same processing as traditional plastics - thermoforming, extrusion, blow
moulding etc. Differences in processing of bioplastics in comparison with traditional plastics lie in
different parameters that have to be chosen on plastic processing machines. Those parameters are
listed in bioplastics specification sheets available from all producers. In general, from the point of view
of technological complexity, bioplastics are not much more difficult to process than traditional plastics.
More on this in chapter 3.
4. Does my company have the right competencies?
Competencies refer to capabilities, abilities, skills, proficiencies, expertise and experience. There are
two types of competences – technical and non-technical. From the full life cycle view of processing,
industrial use, consumer use and waste management, the competences necessary for handling
bioplastics are mostly technical and very similar to those needed for traditional plastics. Bioplastics
can be processed on the same machinery than traditional plastics, their industrial and consumer use is
determined by bioplastics properties which can be found in data sheets for particular materials and
ever growing literature. Waste management issue of biobased plastics is equal to the waste
management of their conventional plastics analogues and in the case of biodegradable plastics the
waste management is different. Compostable bioplastics can be composted with organic waste – the
so called organic recycling route.
All bioplastics also offer great possibilities of marketing and PR – these though have to be handled
with care and tailored to specific materials and applications.
This guide is designed in a way to facilitate the identification of competences needed to handle
bioplastics and train in those areas where certain non-technical competences may be lacking.
5. Does my company have the right equipment and processes in place?
As in the case of any material it is imperative that properties of bioplastics are tailored to the specific
application of the product that a company wants to manufacture. Some bioplastics (especially so
called green traditional plastics from renewable resources) offer identical properties as their fossil
resources analogues (for example PE and Green-PE). Other bioplastics can offer totally different
properties which can be exploited creatively. As already answered in question 3, bioplastics can be
processed on the same machinery as traditional plastics.
9
6. Why certify bioplastic products?
It is impossible to imagine the modern world without plastics. However these versatile materials are
often seen to be in conflict with an increasing focus on environmentally friendly lifestyles leading to a
search for more acceptable alternative materials. One of the most visible and promising solutions are
bioplastics. As bioplastics are not readily distinguishable from regular plastics, it is necessary to
provide a mechanism ensuring their quality and labelling. This is done through standardization and
certification systems. Even though certification is entirely voluntary, there are various benefits to
certification of products and materials. A certificate distinguishes bioplastics from traditional plastics
and proves that a material conforms to standard requirements. This is a clear advantage over other
products that do not have the certificate. Products that bear certification logos give consumers a
beyond-doubt proof of product/material properties. The certification logo for compostable plastics
enables simpler sorting of waste and correct handling and it provides a guarantee about the product's
quality.
Very detailed and specific information about different forms of standardization of bioplastics can be
found in chapter 5.
7. How to convince clients to buy bioplastic products?
Bioplastics are new and innovative materials that can be used to manufacture a wide range of
products, and are a substitute for traditional plastics. Even though, in the same application most of
bioplastics look virtually the same as their traditional plastics counterparts, they can be promoted
differently using variety of marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and PR practices. Most
bioplastics are made from renewable resources and have number of advantages that can be
marketed very easily and clearly to all target markets. Bioplastics exclusive properties such as
biodegradation can also offer a competitive advantage if used properly.
Generally speaking bioplastics are very successful in niche markets such as organic food and luxury
items, most often in form of packaging. Producers can also take advantage of the constantly
increasing market of environmentally conscious people.
Bioplastics can fit very well into the concept of sustainability. Chapter 4 is entirely dedicated to
sustainable development and more specifically into various measures and method that can help to
assess the sustainability of the bioplastic product and in turn can be used in marketing, PR and CSR.
8. Where does my company find the right resource materials (polymers, pigments, etc.)?
Both appendices of this guide include a comprehensive list of bioplastics application possibilities and
the R&D scheme with the list of institutions that can be contacted when help with information about
bioplastics is needed. The R&D Scheme is one of the PLASTiCE projects core outputs.
The list of applications of bioplastics was prepared to help you find an idea how to use bioplastics in
your company and to show you that the use of bioplastics is much wider than just bio-waste bags as
most of the users think. The products are separated in different groups and accompanied with the short
description of possible use and with an explanation of the advantages of the use of bioplastics.
Appendix two – the R&D Scheme is a product of cooperation between seven R&D institutions from four
Central Europe countries, all of them partners of the project. The joint R&D scheme offers tailor-made
solutions for the companies in Central Europe that are involved in bringing new biodegradable
polymer applications to market. In the scheme you will find contact details to your local institutions that
will be able to help you with different issues on bioplastics.
10
9. Where to look for partners?
Industrial use of bioplastics is full of many different market participants – especially in the material
research and testing sectors. Therefore any company that is willing to start its venture with bioplastics
should have a number of specific contacts and partners. The R&D scheme in appendix 2 is a document
that will help you find specific companies and institutes that can assist you in your particular queries
concerning bioplastics and offer their help and expertise in tailoring your product to its intended
application.
10. How do I start?
Implementation process of new products always begins from an idea that has to address the target
market. Bioplastics offer new and innovative possibilities for both new and existing products. From the
point of view of external issues, increased need for sustainable and environmental friendly
applications promote the opportunity to use bioplastics.
Bioplastics – Opportunity for the Future is a publication designed to inform you about bioplastics in a
comprehensible way and assist you in making the first necessary steps to start the adventure with
those new materials.
11
2. Polymer materials - Basics Before moving on to the definition and classifications of plastics, we have to understand the building
blocks of plastics. Those are called polymers.
In short polymers are large molecules made of repetitive units called “monomers”. They could have
linear, branched or cross-linked structure. Linear polymers are often thermoplastic, that is to say they
are fusible in certain temperatures and also soluble in some solvents. Cross-linked polymers are
infusible and insoluble.
Polymers are widespread in nature. They are building material for plant and animal organisms.
Starch, cellulose, proteins and chitin are all polymers. Other large group of polymers are synthetically
made from petrochemical sources, natural gas and coal. All polymer groups are used in many
industrial branches.
We can classify the polymers alone by many criteria – listed below are some of them:
Classification by physicochemical properties:
Thermoplasts – materials that become soft when heated, and become hard after a decrease of
temperature. E.g. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene – ABS, polycarbonate – PC, polyethylene –
PE, polyethylene terephthalate – PET, polyvinyl chloride – PVC, poly(methyl methacrylate) –
PMMA, polypropylene – PP, polystyrene – PS, extruded polystyrene foam – EPS.
Thermoset (duroplasts) – after being formed they stay hard, they do not become soft with the
influence of temperature. E.g. polyepoxide – EP, phenol formaldehyde resins – PF.
Elastomers – materials, which can be stretched and squeezed and are able to reshape back to
their original form when the applied stretching and squeezing force is removed.
Classification by origin:
Synthetic polymers – originate from chemical synthesis (addition polymerization,
polycondensation, copolymerization)
Natural polymers – produced and degraded in nature e.g. cellulose, proteins, nucleic acids
Modified natural polymers – those are natural polymers, chemically changed to receive new
functional properties e.g. cellulose acetate, modified protein, modified starch
Classification by origin of raw materials, which polymers are made of:
Renewable sources (plant and animal sources)
Non-renewable/Fossil sources (oil, natural gas, coal)
Classification by usage of polymers:
Packaging
Building and Construction
Automotive
Electrical and electronic applications
Medical
Addition polymerisation – process of chain integration of monomers with no by-products.
Polycondensation – integration process with by-products.
Copolymerization – polymerization of at least two different monomers, product obtained: copolymers.
12
Classification by susceptibility to microorganism / enzymatic attack:
Biodegradable (polylactide – PLA, polyhydroxyalkanoates – PHA, regenerated cellulose,
starch, linear polyesters)
Non-biodegradable (polyethylene – PE, polypropylene – PP, polystyrene - PS)
There are, of course, many more types of classifications of polymers available; however it is important
to know that in industrial applications polymers alone are often not enough. Most plastics contain
other organic or inorganic compounds blended in. Those are called additives and they can provide
new properties to plastics.
Therefore:
Plastics = Polymer + Additives The amount of additives ranges from very small percentages for polymers used to wrap foods to more
than 50 % for certain applications. Such polymers with additives in technical and industrial usage are
called plastics.
Some examples of additives include: plasticizers oily compounds that confer improved rheology, fillers
that improve overall performance and reduce production costs, stabilizers that inhibit certain chemical
reactions such as fire retardants - additives decreasing flammability, antistatic agents, colouring
agents, sliding agents and many more.
The world of plastics is immense, given the broad range of different polymers and additives that can
be compounded. This in turn gives a wide range of possibilities to transform and process plastics. Most
basic techniques in plastics processing are: extrusion, blow extrusion, injection, compaction/
compression, pressing, board/slab forming, rolling and calendaring, and die-casting.
13
3. Plastics
3.1 Plastics classification
History of plastics and shift towards sustainability
First plastics were produced in the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century. Celluloid and cellophane
were first ones and they were natural source based - biobased. After 2nd World War plastics became
very popular. From ’60s till ’90s they have mainly been produced from petrochemical resources. In
’80s plastics production was larger than steel production.
In ’90s environment protection policies and the notion of sustainability became more important on
both sociocultural and political scale. New technologies were invented and put into practice such as
producing plastics based on renewable resources and production of biodegradable materials.
Research of new materials and their production technologies was and still is closely linked to:
Knowledge development in environment protection issues – especially with regards to the life
cycle thinking of a system – i.e. looking at production, usage and end-of-life processes,
material inputs and outputs (the so called – emissions).
Improving evaluation methods of plastics influence on environment, especially through the use
of LCA – Life Cycle Assessment – a tool that takes a cradle to grave approach on a particular
product.
Development of sustainable development policies, which in manufacturing and trading practice
mean that environmental, social and economic issues linked to plastics are taken into account
Plastics produced with such new technologies and issues in mind are collectively called bioplastics.
This term was coined by the European Bioplastics Association and their definition can be seen in a box
below.
To illustrate this distinction European Bioplastics has provided a simple two-axis model that
encompasses all plastic types and possible combinations. It can be seen on Figure 1 on the next page.
Bioplastics - according to European Bioplastics
The term bioplastics encompasses a whole family of materials which are bio-based,
biodegradable, or both.
Biobased means that the material or product is (partly) derived from biomass
(plants). Biomass used for bioplastics stems from e.g. corn, sugarcane, or cellulose.
The term biodegradable depicts a chemical process during which micro-organisms
that are available in the environment convert materials into natural substances such
as water, carbon dioxide and compost (artificial additives are not needed). The
process of biodegradation depends on the surrounding environmental conditions
(e.g. location or temperature), on the material and on the application.
Source: en.european-bioplastics.org
14
Figure 1. Plastics classification by European Bioplastics (EuBp)
As can be seen in figure 1, plastics have been divided into four characteristics groups. The horizontal
axis shows the biodegradability of plastic, whereas the vertical axis shows whether the material is
derived from petrochemical raw materials or renewable materials. This gives possibility for four
groups:
1. Plastics which are not biodegradable and are made from petrochemical resources – this
category encompasses what is known as classical or traditional plastics (Although classical
petrochemical plastics represent only one group of plastics, they make up in total more than
90 % of plastics production worldwide.)
2. Biodegradable plastics from renewable resources – plastics which are made from biomass
feedstock material and show the property of biodegradation
3. Biodegradable plastics from fossil resources – plastics which can biodegrade but are
produced from fossil resources
4. Non-biodegradable plastics from renewable resources – plastics produced from biomass but
without the biodegradation property.
This guide will discuss all four categories in turn.
15
3.2. Classical petrochemical plastics
Classical plastics produced from fossil resources find use in multitude areas of life. Primary property of
products made from plastics is their light weight in comparison to other materials. That is because
plastics have relatively low density. Moreover plastics show excellent thermo-insulating and
electro-insulating properties. Plastics are also resistant to corrosion. Many plastics are transparent,
and can therefore have many uses in optical devices.
Plastics can be formed in different shapes, and they can be mixed with other materials. Furthermore
their properties can be easily altered and tailored by adding: strengthening fillers, pigments, foaming
agents and plasticizers.
Due to plastics universality, they are used in almost every area of life. Most widespread uses include
packaging, constructions, transport, electric and electronic industry, agriculture, medicine and sport.
The fact that their usage possibilities are virtually unlimited and that their properties could be adapted
to any requirements, is an easy answer to a question as to why plastics are the source of innovations in
all life areas.
All this is possible thanks to many different types of plastics available on the market.
The “big six” plastics in the market are:
Polyethylene (PE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Polystyrene (solid – PS and expanded/foamed – EPS)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyurethane (PUR)
Figure 2. European plastics demand by resin type
Source: Plastics – The Facts 2012
16
Combined they make up about 80 % of demand for plastics in Europe. Top three plastic groups in
market are: polyethylene (29 %), polypropylene (19 %) and polyvinyl chloride (12 %). (Source Plastics
Europe – The Facts 2012) as can be seen from Figure 2.
Other types of plastics with significant demand include:
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
Epoxide resins (EP)
Phenolformaldehyde resins (PF)
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
In 2011 global production of plastics has reached 280 million tons. Production is experiencing a steady
increase average of about 9 % per year from 1950s. In 2011 plastics production in Europe reached 58
million tons (which in turn makes up a 21 % of global production). The biggest worldwide producer
(China) reached 23 % of global production. In the long term, it is forecasted that 4 % growth of
consumption per capita is going to take effect. Despite high consumption in Asia and by the new
members of EU, the level of consumption in these countries is still much lower than in well developed
countries (Source: PLASTICS EUROPE—The Facts 2012)
Figures 3-6 compare progress of plastics production. Figure 3 shows plastics growth rate since 1950
to 2011 on the world and in Europe. Plastic industry has been growing continuously for 50 years.
Global production has grown from 1,7 million tons in 1950 to 280 million tons in 2011, while in Europe
from 0,35 million tons to 58 million tons. Currently one can observe that the plastic production is
rapidly shifting to Asia.
Figure 3. Global plastic production from 1950 to 2011
Source: Plastics – The Facts 2012
17
Figure 4 shows demand of plastic in European countries, with the highest level in Germany, Italy and
France.
Figure 4. European Plastics Demand by Country (k tonne/year)
Source Plastics – The Facts 2012
Figure 5 shows plastic consumption in Europe in 2010-2011. Consumption has risen from 46,4 million
tons in 2010 to 47 million tons in 2011. In 2010 the biggest branch was packaging with 39 % in all
consumption, followed by constructions (20,6 %), automotive (7,5 %), electrical and electronic
(5,6 %). Other smaller branches are: sport, recreation, agriculture and machine production. In 2011
the biggest branch was also packaging (39,4 %), a slight increase from the year before. Second
biggest branch in 2011 was constructions (20,5 %), automotive (8,3 %), followed by electric and
electrical industry (5,4 %). Other smaller branches were: sport, health and safety, entertainment and
relaxation, agriculture, machines industry, households appliances and furniture industry.
Figure 5. Plastics consumption in Europe by branches in 2010 (left) and 2011 (right) Source: Plastics –
18
The Facts 2012
Figure 6 shows plastic consumption with specified polymer type and branch.
Figure 6. Plastic consumption by type and branch in 2010
Source: Plastics – The Facts 2012
Additional information about the classical plastics industry can be found on the website of Plastics
Europe Association: http://www.plasticseurope.org/plastics-industry/market-and-economics.aspx
19
3.3. Biodegradable plastics
When searching for a definition of biodegradable plastics one can find few contradictory definitions.
The easiest and the most accurate explanation of biodegradable plastics says that biodegradable
plastics are susceptible to biodegradation. Biodegradation process is based on the fact that
microorganisms available in the environment, i.e. bacteria, fungi and algae recognize biodegradable
plastics as a source of nutrients and consume and digest it (artificial additives are NOT needed).
Biodegradation includes different parallel or subsequent abiotic and biotic steps and MUST include
the step of biological mineralization. The first step of biodegradation is fragmentation which is
followed by mineralization. Mineralization is conversion of the organic carbon into the inorganic
carbon. Figure 7 describes the difference between degradation and biodegradation. If only
fragmentation occurs this means material has degraded and if as the next step mineralization occurs
the material is biodegradable.
Figure 7: The difference between degradation and biodegradation
As we can see in the figure 7 biodegradation is complete microbial assimilation of the fragmented
material as a food source by the microorganisms. To be completely accurate we have to say that the
term biodegradability does not give any specific answer about the process, it only says that the
complete assimilation of the organic carbon occurs. If we take the infinitive timeframe everything is
biodegradable. More accurate term is compostability, meaning biodegradation in the composting
environment and in the timeframe of a composting cycle.
As we said before biodegradation can occur in an aerobic or in an anaerobic environment. Products
of the biodegradation under aerobic conditions are carbon dioxide, water and biomass and the
products of anaerobic biodegradation are methane, water and biomass, which is simplified described
in the figure below.
Figure 8: Products of the biodegradation process under aerobic and anaerobic conditions
Fragmentation Mineralisation
20
Among the different biodegradation processes, composting is an organic recycling procedure, a
manner of controlled organic waste treatment carried out under aerobic conditions (presence of
oxygen) where the organic material is converted by naturally occurring microorganisms.
Compostability is complete assimilation of biodegradable plastics within 180 days in a composting
environment. During industrial composting the temperature in the composting heap can reach
temperatures up to 70 °C. Composting is done in moist conditions. Compostable plastics are defined
by a series of national and international standards e.g. EN 13432, ASTM D6400 and other, more
information about the standards can be found in the chapter 5 ‘Evaluation systems for selected criteria
of plastics’.
The susceptibility of a polymer or a plastic material to biodegradation depends exclusively on the
chemical structure of the polymer. For this reason, whether the polymer is made of renewable
resources (biomass) or non-renewable (fossil) resources is irrelevant to biodegradability. What matters
is the final structure. Biodegradable polymers can therefore be made of renewable or non-renewable
resources.
3.3.1. Biodegradable plastics from renewable resources
Knowledge development in environmental protection, sustainability and depletion of world fossil
resources influenced scientists to find alternative energy sources. One of the trends involved research
of biodegradable polymers from renewable resources. Those plastics could replace ordinary
petrochemical plastics, and have similar properties.
First small manufacture production of biodegradable plastics from renewable resources started in
1995. Nowadays its usage and range of adaptations is much wider. In 2009 global biodegradable
plastics production amounted to 226 thousand tons. In 2011 it reached for about 486 thousand tons
(doubling of the production in two years).
Main types of biodegradable polymers produced from renewable resources (including those
produced by chemical synthesis of bio-based monomers and those made by microorganisms or
modified bacteria) are the following:
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA);
Thermoplastic starch (TPS), starch mixed with
aliphatic polyesters and co-polyesters; starch
esters, starch mixed with natural materials;
Polyesters with microbiological origin –
poly(hydroxyalkanoates); PHAs, including
copolymers of butyric acid, valeric acid and
hexanoic acid PHBV, PHBH;
Cellulose esters, regenerated cellulose;
Wood and other natural materials.
There are many different biodegradable plastics on the market. Those which deserve most attention
are: polylactides – PLAs, polymer-starch composites, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and new
generation cellulose films. They have good overall properties comparable with traditional plastics,
their production capabilities are increasing substantially and prices are comparable to the prices of
conventional plastics. Figure 9 shows examples of biodegradable plastics.
Figure 9. Examples of biodegradable
packaging on the market Source: EuBp
21
Polylactic Acid - PLA
PLA – polylactide – aliphatic polyester produced by poly-condensation of lactic acid (produced from
corn starch by bacterial fermentation method). PLA can be used to produce:
Flexible packaging (biaxial oriented films, multilayer films with sealable layer)
Extruded durable and thermoformed film
Injection moulded packaging
Laminated paper extrusion
Polymer-starch composite materials
A significant progress is also observed in the field of composites of biodegradable polymers with
starch. Those compositions are used for thermoformed flexible and durable films. They are used for
trays, containers, foamed fillers in transport packaging, durable packaging formed by injection
moulding, and coating of paper and cardboard.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
PHAs are a large family of copolymers with properties ranging from hard solids to soft materials,
depending on composition. PHAs can be blended with other biodegradable polymers to form
biodegradable blends. PHAs can be processed into calendered sheets and injection moulded items.
New generation of cellulose films
New generation of compostable cellulose films are also becoming more and more widespread. Most
important properties of these materials are:
Excellent optic properties
High barrier for oxygen and aromas
Adjustable barrier for water vapour
Thermo-resistance, fat-resistance, chemical-resistance
Natural antistatic properties
3.3.2 Biodegradable plastics from fossil resources
With regards to the origin of building blocks of biodegradable plastics one can distinguish two major
groups:
Polymers produced from renewable resources – those were described in the chapter above
Polyesters made from fossil resources
The difference between those materials lies only in the origin of the feedstock material. As they are
both biodegradable, it may be possible to compost them – offering an alternative end-of-life option.
However it is important to note that the origin classification is just theoretical because many producers
use polymers mixtures – i.e. mixtures of biodegradable polymers which originate from both renewable
and fossil resources.
Examples of biodegradable polymers originating from fossil resources are the following:
Synthetic aliphatic polyesters – polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate (PBS)
Synthetic aliphatic-aromatic copolymers such as polyethylene terephthalate/succinate (PETS)
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) a biodegradable water-soluble polymer
22
3.3.3. Oxo-degradable plastics
One of the materials very often being aggressively promoted as biodegradable are oxo-degradable
plastics. Those materials are available on the market and often improperly labelled as environment
friendly biodegradable materials.
To produce oxo-degradable plastics the producers add specific degradable additives to the
conventional non-biodegradable plastics. Those materials then fragment into small pieces and
become undetectable in the environment with the naked eye. But this only proves the first step of
degradation, the second necessary step for materials being called biodegradable,
MINERALIZATION, is not proven. More information on the oxo-degradable plastics can be found on
the following webpages:
The Society of the Plastics Industry, Bioplastics Council - Position paper on degradable
additives (http://goo.gl/MoqGJ)
European Bioplastics - Position paper on British standard for oxo-degradable plastics
(http://goo.gl/GJXJO)
European Bioplastics - Position paper on Oxo degradable plastics (http://goo.gl/RvPgi)
European Bioplastics – Position paper European Bioplastics on the study Life Cycle assessment
of oxo-biodegradable, compostable and conventional bags (http://goo.gl/tpwyN)
Figure 10. Comparison of compostable materials (sample 1 and 2) and oxo-degradable material
(sample 3 and 4) after disintegration testing in labolatory scale after 3 months. Note that
oxo-degradable material did not disintegrate
Source: COBRO
2
1
3 4
23
3.4. Plastics from renewable resources
So far the guide has listed bioplastics which demonstrate the property of biodegradation. The second
group of bioplastics which gains more and more popularity and publicity are non-biodegradable
plastic materials which are produced by using renewable feedstock material, as opposed to the fossil
fuels. Those materials are identical in their properties with traditional plastic materials from fossil
resources.
Great example of such bioplastics is the so called “green polyethylene” – where ethylene is
polymerized from ethanol, which is produced by fermentation of organic material. There are several
varieties of “green” ethylene being produced – of both high and low density (HDPE, LDPE). Figure 11
shows the manufacturing process utilised.
Figure 11. „Green polyethylene” production process
Another example of renewable resources usage are PET bottles – called Plant Bottle. Those bottles are
composed of PET, produced from terephthalic acid (70 % of mass) and ethylene glycol (30 % of mass).
Terephthalic acid comes from oil, whereas glycol is produced from ethanol (deriving from fermentation
of vegetable feedstock). Such bottles can be easily recycled, and they can be collected with other
(classical) PET bottles. This partially bio-based PET saves global fossil resources and also reduces CO2
emissions. Plant Bottle is 20 % biobased (20 % of the carbon present in the material comes from
renewable resources) and 30 % bio-massed (30 % of the mass of the material comes from renewable
resources) and a simple scheme on figure 12 shows how the Plant Bottle is made.
24
Figure 12. PET bottles with part of renewable resources production process
Currently developments are made to introduce 100 % biomass PET bottle. 100 % Bio-PET bottles will
be made of organic materials such as: grass, bark and corn which are not used in food producing
processes. In future also agricultural by-products (like potato peelings) and other bio-waste will be
used. To make 100 % biomass bottle it is necessary to produce terephthalic acid from renewable
resources. There are some chemical pathways to produce terephthalic acid from p-xylene but at the
moment no 100 % PET is jet present at the market.
Alternative to fully bio-based PET, very much interest is currently addressed to polyethylenfuranoate
(PEF), a polyester totally bio-based for the same applications as PET but with even better properties
for food packaging.
Furthermore as a consequence of fast technological progress some petrochemical polymers in the
near future could be manufactured from renewable resources.
3.5. Bioplastics manufacturing capabilities
In 2011 global bioplastics producing ability amounted to about 1,161 million tons. It is much less than
global classic plastics production (265 million tons) but forecast for 2016 shows that bioplastics
production will reach almost 6 million tons per year. Figure 13 shows these data with biodegradable
and non-biodegradable plastics separately.
Figure 13. Global bioplastics production ability and forecast for 2016 Source EuBp
Figure 14 on the other hand presents bioplastics production capability in 2011 and forecast for 2016
for different regions. In 2011 the biggest production ability was in Asia (34,6 %), South America
(32,8 %), Europe (18,5 %) and North America (13,7 %). In 2016 forecast shows that the largest
production will occur in both Asia (46,3 %) and South America (45,1 %), followed by Europe (4,9 %)
and North America (3,5 %).
25
Figure 14. Bioplastics production ability in 2011 and forecast for 2016 by regions Source EuBp
Figure 15 presents bioplastics production capacity by type and Figure 16 shows the same forecast for
2016. The most crucial and noticeable difference lies in the prediction of BIO-PET usage. European
Bioplastics has predicted that in 2016 more than 80 % of bioplastics market share by type will be
taken by the production BIO-PET. This prediction is based on the press releases of several industry
leaders in beverage production, stating their intention to exchange traditional PET bottles into their
bioplastic equivalent (BIO-PET and PEF).
Figure 15. Global bioplastics production ability in 2011 by bioplastics type Source EuBP
Figure 16. Global bioplastics production ability forecast for 2016 by plastics type Source EuBp
26
4. Products in accordance with sustainable development
policy and evaluation criteria
4.1. Sustainable development policy evaluation model for plastics
Sustainable development definition according to the current understanding of European Union is a
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development thus comprises three elements -
economic, social and environmental - which have to be considered in equal measure at the political
level. The strategy for sustainable development, adopted in 2001 and amended in 2005, is
complemented inter alia (among other things) by the principle of integrating environmental concerns
with European policies which impact on the environment.
For business concept this definition consists of taking into consideration widely understood economic,
environmental and social issues in the daily and long term operations of a company. In plastic
industrial practice that means being responsible for the introduction of new products on a plastics
market from the perspective of those three issues. This means that new products should be evaluated
with regards to environmental, social and economic impacts they generate. This evaluation, which
gives equal rank to all three elements, should be performed in whole product life cycle stages
(designing, manufacturing, using, recycling). Figure 17 shows sustainable development scheme.
Figure 17. Sustainable development area source: Wikipedia
This fulfilment has to be present in all product life cycle stages, starting from production process,
delivery chain, demand for sources, processing methods, packaging, distribution, usage and waste
management including transport. At the same time companies should try to match up or exceed their
competition by offering better functional and quality properties of their products, fulfil environmental
protection standards and also better contribute to waste management system.
In the example of sustainability of plastics it is very important to note that all plastics are already
fulfilling environmental, economic and social criteria with higher standards than analogous
conventional materials like glass, metal or even paper. Bioplastics can be therefore viewed as
27
materials competing with classical plastics in exceeding those standards.
Due to the fact that plastics are used in many industry branches it is hard to set equal standards and
specifically define sustainable development policy for all of them. That is why basic standards should
be set for all polymer products and specific sustainability standards should be set for different groups
of specific uses.
Sections below present a list of different assessment criteria and concepts that can be used to test
sustainability within its three main pillars – environment, sociology and economy. Each criteria and/or
sets of criteria may be applicable to different plastic products. In order to evaluate sustainability as
objective as possible it is important to choose as many fitting criteria as possible
4.2 Assessment Criteria of Environmental Aspects
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
LCA is a method that can be used to rate and compare a product with another product of similar
functionality, in terms of its environmental impact throughout its life cycle. LCA method consists of
different criteria of evaluation in all life cycle stages of a selected product. LCA study can present full
view on specific products influence on the environment starting from mining of resources, ending on
recycling or waste treatment. Potential environmental influence of every life cycle process of a chosen
product is quantitatively recorded in categories such as: health, ecosystem quality and resources
consumption. Potential impacts that a given product can have on an environment are: carcinogenic
factors, organic and inorganic compounds emission, climate changes, radiation, ozone layer
damage, ecotoxicity, acidifications/eutrophication, terrain usage, natural resources and fossil fuel
consumption.
Figures 18 and 19 below portray the simplest representation of what is taken into account in Life Cycle
Assessment, and an example of processes and steps in a life cycle of packaging with boundaries
taken into account in a study.
Figure 18. Steps of LCA Source: COBRO
28
Figure 19. Simplified process tree of a packaging, with examples of environmental threats that can
occur throughout the life cycle Source: COBRO
Responsible resources usage in manufacturing
Current extensive exploitation of non-renewable resources (coal, oil, natural gas) will one day result in
their final depletion. This in turn could have a catastrophic effect for future generations. That is why,
according to the sustainable development policy it is recommended to try to utilise less materials in
product applications and use renewable resources whenever possible. With regards to the
responsible usage of resources another important issue is the greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases
emission from production. An indicator called “Carbon Footprint” shows total greenhouse gases
emission produced directly and indirectly in all life cycle stages of a given product. Usually the
indicator is given in tons or kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent gases. In opinion of Professor R.
Narayan from Michigan State University when considering ‘carbon footprint’ it is very advisable to use
plant origin renewable materials, including biodegradable polymer such as polylactide (PLA). This is
because plants during photosynthesis absorb CO2. In this case many scientists assume zero or below
zero “carbon footprint” rate for manufacturing process of such material. More on this can be found in
chapter 5.
Meeting of higher requirements than set by current law, including non-obligatory environmental
protection certification
There are many non-obligatory environmental certifications systems in existence in EU. For example:
certification of products derived from renewable sources
certification of compostable products
greenhouse gases emission reduction confirmation
Those systems are marked with special symbols and are described in detail in chapter 5.
29
4.3. Assessment Criteria of Social aspects
Waste collection system existence and recycling availability
When introducing new products on a market one should consider waste collection systems and
recycling methods availability in the region. A product can be sustainable from the point of view of
environment, but when it turns into waste it can become a problem if end-of-life treatment is not
supported in the region. Compostable plastic waste, for example, which is not collected with organic
waste, but is being deposited on a landfill, will have a negative social environmental impact.
Figure 20 presents organisational and technological spheres that a working recycling system should
have. When introducing a new product on a market it is worthwhile to study this model and identify
how each circle is represented in a target market.
Figure 20. Recycling system model Source: COBRO
Customers knowledge and education level
Approval of new technical and technological solutions by society requires high level of customers
awareness which depends on capital and education expenditure. This factor depends on knowledge
level and awareness of society and can be influenced by marketing/PR actions and educational
schemes on different levels (school/university modules, seminars, conferences etc.)
Fulfilling customers’ expectations
According to current marketing trends products should offer attractive look, high usage comfort,
ergonomic shape, durability, etc. In other words the race for sustainability should not reduce aspects
that are appealing from the point of view of end consumers. In order to support this step, various types
of market research can be used.
30
Social effects evaluation – hidden costs of end-of-life
Decisions made in microeconomic scale by producers and customers may cause an occurrence called
“the external effect” or “the social effect”. Depending if an action causes an advantage or a
disadvantage we identify:
positive social effect (social advantage)
negative social effect (social cost)
Positive social effect happens when producers or customers actions cause advantages for society as a
whole. For those advantages producers and customers are not directly recompensed for.
Negative social effect occurs when a producer or customer creates extra costs for the society as a
result of their decisions, and at the same time they do not bear any cost himself. Those costs are called
“social costs”.
4.4. Assessment Criteria of Economic aspects
Demand of polymer materials
Launching a new product on a market, and determining its price should be of course based on the
total costs of manufacturing, including polymer material costs. This however should be based on the
market analysis of potential consumers on specific output market. For example according to COBRO’s
survey of Polish packaging industry the most important factor affecting manufacturing decisions is
price, polymer properties and availability. For 52 % producers are willing to pay the same price for
sustainable polymers as they pay for classic polymer materials. Only 22 % are in a position to bear
100-150 % higher costs.
Graph below shows a typical economic supply and demand curve which shows the areas of shortage
and surplus – i.e. when more products are demanded that are supplied, and where more products are
put on the market than demanded. When there is either a surplus or a shortage of supply and
demand, the market is considered to be out of equilibrium and therefore unsustainable. In order to
reach the equilibrium, the price of the product needs to increase or decrease. This simple concept is
very important in determining the pricing strategy of plastic products.
Figure 21. Typical economic supply and demand curve with surplus and shortage areas highlighted
31
Economically supported polymer choice
Polymer sources can be chosen by performing:
market analysis
risk analysis (feasibility study)
producers and suppliers portfolio analysis (competition analysis)
Life cycle costs evaluation (LCC). Processes costs in all life cycle
Processes costs evaluation in all life cycle stages could be analysed by LCA method taking into con-
sideration the costs of processes. This step would include a full environmental LCA study, with addi-
tional information about the cost of each particular process. With this approach to LCA separate pro-
cesses contribution could be analysed and managerial decisions can be fashioned on the basis of
costs.
32
5. Evaluation system for selected criteria of plastics
5.1. Compostable plastics certification
Due to the fact that there is a lot of misleading information about “green plastics” standardization
organizations developed standards for the field of bioplastics. In the middle of 1990 European
Commission ordered CEN (European Committee for Standardization) to develop standards for
compostable packaging. The result of this work is the standard specification EN 13432:2000 which is
harmonized with the Directive 34/62/EC concerning packaging.
Standards are a set of requirements which a product or service has to fulfil. There are two main groups
of standards:
Standard specification, a set of requirements, pass/fail values which a product must comply
with to be assigned with a certain label. An example of standard specification for compostable
plastics is EN 13432. The basis of EN 13432 requirements was then broadened to plastics with
standard specification EN 14995. There are also other standard specification e.g. ASTM
D6400, ISO 17088 and others; and
Test methods, evaluations, determinations or practices. Test methods describe how to perform
tests and how to validate them. To test specific characteristic of the compostable product there
is a reference in a standard specification to the relevant test method according to which testing
should be carried out.
Standard specifications are most often the basis for a certification system/scheme – but not always
(the certification scheme for bio-based plastics). Certificate is a confirmation that a product/service is
in compliance with the specific request. The verification and testing of a product are based on test
methods.
Specification for compostable plastics
The most known specification for compostability is previously mentioned EN 13432. According to this
standard specification the following requirements for compostable products apply:
Content of heavy metals and other elements below the limits mentioned in the Annex A of the
standard;
Disintegration analysis during biological treatment. 3 months (12 weeks) analysis in industrial or
half industrial composting conditions should present sufficient disintegration level (not more than
10 % of dry matter may stay above 2 mm sieve);
Biodegradation analysis - at least 90 % of the organic carbon MUST be converted into carbon
dioxide within 180 days (mineralization);
Eco toxicity analysis assessing that biological treatment is not decreasing the level of compost
quality – this is determined by a plant growth test.
Composting, also called organic recycling, basically signifies oxygen processing capability of waste.
This process is conducted in strict controlled conditions by microorganisms, which turn organic carbon
into carbon dioxide. Product of this process is organic matter called compost.
Confirmation of positive compostability can be put into practice in a form of a certificate that can be
awarded for final products. It is also possible to obtain a registration of the raw materials (polymers),
intermediates and additives. Producers of materials cannot use the certification as producers of
products can, but once their material is registered according to the EN 13432, producers of final
products that would like to have their product certified can use this registration to avoid the testing
procedure for that material, which is both expensive and time consuming (with the respect to
registered thickness and the thickness of the material).
33
Germany was one of the first countries which started the certification of biodegradable plastics. Basics
for certification criteria were prepared by Biodegradable Materials Interest Community Association
(Interessengemeinschaft Biologisch Abbaubare Werkstoffe – IBAW), which in 2006 changed to
European Bioplastics Association. Figure 22 shows European certification systems and different
composting marks.
Figure 22. Certification system for biodegradable plastics in Europe (source: PLASTiCE)
In Europe main certification bodies that introduced a certification system are operated by DIN
CERTCO (member of German Institute for Standardization DIN) and Vinçotte. DIN CERTCO’s system
has national partners operating in Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Great Britain and Poland, and
Vinçotte system is available internationally through its Belgium and Italian office. Italy has its own
certification body for compostable plastics called CIC (Italian Composting Association (CIC) together
with Certiquality). Both DIN CERTCO and Vinçotte’s successful certification means that a producer can
place a mark that is called the “seedling logo”. The ‘Seedling’ logo is owned by European Bioplastics
Association and it signifies to the final consumer that a product is to be collected with other
compostable organic waste. In addition to that both DIN CERTCO and Vinçotte have their own
composting symbols which can be also placed on the products, based on which certification body
was used for determining the compostability. CIC only awards compostable products with their own
compostability label. Figure 23 shows composting marks which are given to certificated products by
DIN CERTCO, Vinçotte and CIC.
Figure 23. “SeedlingTM logo” alongside with specific DIN CERTCO ‘Geprüft’, Vinçottes OK
COMPOST and CIC compostable logos Source: webpage of certification bodies DIN CERTCO,
Vinçotte and CIC
34
Composting capability confirmation is given under the following conditions:
All materials included in a product have to be compostable – unless they can be separated
easily – as in the case of a yogurt cup and a lid.
Packaging material thickness has to be lower or the same as the maximum thickness in which it
has biodegraded – the registration was awarded.
Packaging must not have any dangerous additives for the environment. Its intended use should
be described in details. Certificate is not given when the product has any additives which could
decrease compost quality.
In addition to the industrial compostability certifications DIN CERTCO and Vinçotte also offer
additional Certification Scheme for Home Composting. Certification marks for HOME composting are
shown on Figure 24. Owing to the comparatively smaller volume of waste involved, the temperature
in a garden compost heap is much lower and less constant than in an industrial composting
environment. This proves ‘garden’ composting to be a more difficult, slower-paced process. OK
HOME compost certification schemes guarantee complete biodegradability in garden compost heap.
Figure 24. Certification logos for products intended to be composted at home
Source: webpage of certification bodies DIN CERTCO and Vinçotte
Vinçotte also awards products that are biodegradable in soil and in water with a certification mark
(symbols are shown on Figure 25). Similarly the Soil and Water Biodegradation certification systems
guarantee that products will completely biodegrade in the soil and fresh water without adversely
affecting the environment. Note that the Water Biodegradability certification does not guarantee that
products will biodegrade in marine environment (salt water).
Figure 25. Certification marks for products that are biodegradable in soil or in water
Source: webpage of certification body Vinçotte
In the USA certification is based on ASTM D6400. Figure 26 shows composting mark given by US
Composting Council and Biodegradable Products Institute.
Figure 26. Biodegradability and compostability by US Composting Council and Biodegradable
Products Institute Source: webpage of certification body Biodegradable Products Institute
35
5.2. Bio-based content certification
Determination of the bio-based content is based on the principle of measuring the activity of the 14C
isotope. Materials - both those based on fossil resources as well as those based on renewable
resources - are mainly composed of carbon that can be found in three isotopes in the nature: 12C, 13C,
and 14C. The 14C isotope is unstable, decays slowly and is naturally present in all living organisms. The
content of 14C in all living organisms is very stable since it is related to the concentration of 14C in the
environment which is close to constant. When the organism is deceased, it stops absorbing the 14C
isotope from the environment. From that moment onward the 14C concentration starts to decrease due
to natural decay of the isotope. The half-life of 14C is known to be around 5 700 years. This is not
noticeable in the range of a human life, but within 50,000 years the content of 14C decreases to a
level that cannot be measured. This means that the concentration of 14C in fossil resources is negligible.
ASTM D6866 standard using the above principle is the basis for certifying materials, intermediate
products, additives and products based on renewable resources.
Both Vinçotte and DIN CERTCO introduced an evaluation system for the content of the renewable
resources in a plastic material or product. In essence such certification system evaluates the
proportional content of “old” (fossil) and “new” (renewable/biogenic) carbon. Figure 27 shows the
difference between the “old” and “new” carbon. “Carbon age” signifies a time needed to get carbon
for manufacturing a product. Classical/conventional plastics are manufactured from fossil resources
containing carbon produced for millions years. On the other hand, plastics manufactured from
renewable crops (corn, sugarcane, potatoes also farm and food production waste) contain carbon
which circulates in nature for maximum a few years. For wooden products “carbon age” is about
several dozen years old.
Figure 27. Carbon cycle
In EU first plastics containing renewable resources certification system was introduced in Belgium by
AIB-VINÇOTTE International S.A. Bio-based content certificate is available for products that contain
at least 20 % of renewable source carbon and is divided into four groups:
20 – 40 % carbon form renewable resources
40 – 60 % carbon form renewable resources
60 – 80 % carbon form renewable resources
over 80 % carbon form renewable resources
This system could be used for many products completely or partly manufactured from natural origin
materials/polymers/resources (except solid, liquid and gaseous fuel). Evaluation criteria that are a
base for this certification are publicly available. Criteria include basic specifications. To apply for
36
certification product has to contain at least 30 % organic carbon calculated in dry matter and at least
20 % organic carbon from renewable resources. Analysis is based on the ASTM D6866 standard,
method B or C. The certification applies only to materials which are non-toxic and are not used in
medicine.
Number of the stars on the symbol signifies the percentage of renewable resources in a certain
product. Figure 28 shows symbol which confirms that product is made from renewable resources and
gives an explanation of the meaning of a certain part of the certification label.
Figure 28. AIB-Vinçotte certification symbol for products from renewable resources
Source: webpage of certification body Vinçotte
DIN CERTCO bio-based polymer certification applies for many branches and products (except of
medical, petrochemical and toxic products). Passing the certification procedure permits the producer
to put special symbol with the percentage of the renewable resources content on a product.
Certification scale has three grades:
From 20 % to 50 %
From 50 % to 85 %
Over 85 % of carbon form renewable resources
Figure 29 displays certification marks which show the percentage of the content of the renewable
resources.
Figure 29. Certification logos for products from renewable resources by DIN CERTCO
Source: webpage of certification body DIN CERTCO
When a product is consisted from more than one element then the company applying for the
certificate needs to certify each element of the product separately. On the other hand it is possible to
certify a group of products, provided that they are made from the same material and have similar
shape and the size is the only differentiating factor.
37
5.3. Summary of the certification chapter
Figure 30. Standardization and certification of bioplastics
Figure 30 shows how standardization and certification of bioplastics is consisted. Bioplastics are
bio-based, biodegradable or both (definition of European Bioplastics). Certification schemes are
separated. For bio-based plastics (plastics made from renewable resources) only test methods exist,
there is no standard specification because the necessary result for certification scheme is the
proportion of renewable carbon in comparison with old carbon and is a result of the measurement.
Based on the result of the determination of the bio-based content the product/material is awarded
with a certificate.
Biodegradable plastics are divided into:
plastics biodegradable in water, both standard specification and test methods exist, also
certification scheme is developed.
plastics biodegradable in soil, only test methods are developed and no standard specification,
certification scheme is developed.
anaerobically biodegradable plastics, only test methods are developed, there is no standard
specification and no certification scheme.
and compostable plastics which are then divided to:
plastics suitable for industrial composting, for this field we have the most standard
specifications, standard test methods and certification schemes and
plastics suitable for home composting, standard specification was published in 2010,
developed are standard test methods and also certification schemes.
as the last group of biodegradable plastics we can find oxo-degradable plastics, but this group
does NOT actually belong to bioplastics because at this moment there is still lack of evidences
that in the process the digestion occurs (involvement of microorganisms). For oxo-degradable
plastics we have some test methods, but at the moment there is no standard specification and
also no certification scheme.
The field of standardization and certification of bioplastics is very broad, complex and fast changing.
For more specific information contact the above mentioned certification bodies.
38
5.4. Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Legislative restrictions on emissions of greenhouse gases influenced many evaluation methods of those
emissions, counting methods that can be applied to products including packaging. Most popular
method is called the “carbon footprint” or “carbon profile”. For a plastic product a “carbon footprint”
amounts to overall directly and indirectly emitted CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) throughout its
whole life cycle. In Europe most popular “carbon footprint” calculation is currently based on PAS
2050:2011 published by BSI (British Standards Institution). Figure 31 shows five steps of calculation
procedure. Figure 32 on the other hand shows life cycle stages and data needed to complete a
“carbon footprint” evaluation.
Figure 31. “Carbon footprint” rate evaluation scheme by PAS 2050:2011
Figure 32. Life cycle stages taken into consideration while evaluating “carbon footprint” and other
data needed
In 2007 Carbon Trust (organization financed by British government) introduced a new mark called
“carbon reduction label”. The current version of the symbol is shown on Figure 33. “Carbon reduction
label” shows overall CO2 and other greenhouse gases emission calculated as CO2 equivalent in all
life cycle stages (production, transport, distribution, removal and recycling). Base for evaluation is PAS
2050:2011. “Carbon reduction label” informs consumers about greenhouse gases emission level and
helps them to make deliberated decisions that are beneficial for the environment.
39
Figure 33. Current example of
mark confirming co-operation
with Carbon Trust
Producers cooperating with Carbon Trust analyse process maps related to life cycle of their specific
products. With understanding of the greenhouse gas emissions of their processes companies are able
to change technical and logistical solutions which can then reduce this emission. Producers of the
following products took part in the pilot testing of this scheme: orange juice, potato flakes, detergents,
light bulbs, clothes. Figure 34 show examples of “carbon reduction label” on a product from a
supermarket retail chain.
Figure 34. “Carbon reduction label” on a milk
bottle – notice that the result includes all process of
milk production – along with plastic bottle, cap
and label production and printing
S o u r c e : h t t p : / / w w w . g e r m a n - r e t a i l -
blog.com/2012/04/19/tescos-carbon-footprint/
A major global beverage producer is another notable example of cooperation with Carbon Trust.
Figure 35 shows process tree of beverages life cycle and figure 36 shows the breakdown of carbon
footprint per production processes. As one can see for a glass bottle “carbon footprint” attributed to
the packaging amounts to 68.5 % of total CO2 emissions. For a 0.33 L metal can this value is 56.4 %,
a PET bottle (0.5 L) has a share of 43.2 % and for a large PET bottle (2 L) amounts to 32.9 % of total
carbon.
Figure 35. Processes scheme for beverages
40
Figure 36. “Carbon footprint” proportion for different packaging
Comparing “carbon footprint” for several beverages the highest value is for ordinary version of the
beverage (1071 g CO2 per litre) in a glass bottle (0.33 L). The smallest result is for a diet version of the
beverage in 2 L PET bottle (192 g CO2 per litre).
Higher values of normal version of the beverage in comparison with the diet edition of the beverage
are attributed to higher sugar content, which in turn leads to increased total emissions.
Figure 37. “Carbon footprint” for different beverages
41
6. Conclusion
Dear Reader,
This guide was prepared with the intention to present you unbiased information about bioplastics and
to help you to better understand sustainable plastics.
We have tried to cover the complete value chain of sustainable plastics, from the basics of plastics
and bioplastics and manufacturing capabilities of bioplastics, to the sustainability of bioplastics where
we have presented all three pillars of sustainable development, to different evaluation systems for
sustainable plastics, where we are providing you information how to unbiased verify the added value
of the bioplastic product.
Hopefully this guide encompasses all the bioplastics topics that are of your interest. You can find some
practical information about bioplastics also in the subsequent appendixes, where we have presented
some examples of the possible uses of bioplastics and the list of analyses and other services related to
bioplastics offered by our consortium.
Hopefully this guide has filled your expectations. Some additional technical information you can also
find on our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/plasticeproject) where we publish our video
presentations, lectures and lectures of other experts during our events.
42
Appendix A
Dear reader,
This list of applications of bioplastics was prepared to help you find an idea how to use bioplastics in
your company and to show you that the use of bioplastics is much wider than just bio-waste bags as
most of the users think. The products are separated in different groups and accompanied with the short
description of possible use and with an explanation of the advantages of the use of bioplastics.
Through the whole guide that you probably read to this point we have tried to avoid all the company
names and were more or less successful but at this point we need to include some company names.
Not with the purpose of promotion but solely with the purpose to show you all the possible
applications of bioplastics. The images are mostly borrowed from European Bioplastics (tab Press/
Press pictures) and images borrowed from another source are mentioned below the picture.
This list of applications of bioplastics was prepared in July 2013 and presents the current overview of
the bioplastics applications. To the time you are reading this guide we are sure that few new
bioplastics applications are already developed since the field of bioplastics is fast developing.
We wish you majority of successful ideas of how to use bioplastics.
43
Films, bags
Foils made from bioplastics can be used to produce bio-waste bags, compostable bags, bags made
from renewable resources, food wrapping and shrink films to pack beverages and also for other
applications. The main advantages of the use of bioplastics are environmental aspects, higher
consumer acceptance, increased shelf life of the products and composting as an end of life treatment
of compostable products.
Compostable shopping
bag
Author: Aldi/BASF
Bio PE shopping bag
Author: Lidl Austria GmbH
Compostable shopping
bag
Author: Novamont
Compostable transparent
flower wrap
Author: FKuR
Compostable film for fruit and vegetables
Author: Alesco
Compostable shrink film for beverages
Author: Alesco
Compostable bag for cosmetic products
Author: FKuR
Compostable soap wrapping
Author: FKuR, Umbria Olli International
44
Food packaging
Bioplastics food packaging can be used to pack different types of food, from bread and bakery, to
fruit and vegetables, sweets, different types of spices and teas to different types of soft drinks.
Different types of bioplastic packaging are already available on the market. The main advantages of
the use of bioplastics are environmental aspects, higher consumer acceptance, increased shelf life of
the packaged food and composting as an end of life treatment of compostable products.
Cellulose based biodegradable bag for organic pasta.
Author: Birkel
Compostable fruit net bag
Author: FKuR
Water soluble and compostable starch based
chocolate tray
Author: Marks and Spencer
Compostable PLA container for fruit and vegetables,
Source of the photo Plastice
Compostable cellulose based packaging for herbs
and spices Author: Innovia Films
Compostable bags for fruits and vegetables,
Author: Wentus
45
Compostable cellulose
based packaging
Author: Innovia Films
Compostable cellulose based
packaging
Author: Innovia Films
Compostable cellulose based packaging
Author: Innovia Films
Compostable cellulose based
packaging
Author: Innovia Films
Compostable cellulose based
packaging
Author: Innovia Films
Compostable cellulose based
packaging
Author: Innovia Films
Beverage bottles
made from
renewable
resources
Author: Blue Lake
Citrus Products
Beverage bottles
made from
renewable reso-
urces
Author: Sant’Anna
– Fonti di Vinadio
Beverage bottles made 30 mass %
from renewable resources
Author: Coca Cola
Beverage bottles made 30 mass %
from renewable resources
Author: Heinz
46
Disposable drinking cups, cutlery and plates
Disposable items are often used at picnics, open-air events, as single use food containers, at catering
and in airplanes. They produce a huge amount of waste and are hard to recycle because are
contaminated with food. One of the main benefits is that such products can be disposed together with
food leftovers and in composting plants they can be turned into compost.
Compostable cup for hot
beverages, paper laminated with
bioplastics.
Author: Huhtamaki
Compostable cup for cold drinks
Author: Huhtamaki
Biodegradable forks
Author: Novamont
Bowls and hollow ware made from bio-based plastics
Author: Koser/Tecnaro
Biodegradable straws
Author: PLASTiCE
47
Agriculture and horticulture products
Biodegradable plant pots, mulch films, expanded PLA trays for horticultural applications
Biodegradable plant pots are used to plant the seedlings together with the pot. This way the roots of
the plant do not get damages and additionally the pot is then turned into compost and fertilizes the
soil. Mulch films are used to suppress weeds and conserve water and mostly are used for vegetables
and crops. After the crops are harvested the film can be ploughed in and used as a fertilizer.
Ploughing-in of mulching films after use instead of collecting them from the field, cleaning off the soil
and returning them for recycling, is practical and improves the economics of the operation. The trays
from expanded PLA can be used as conventional EPS trays but are compostable.
Biodegradable plant pot
Author: Limagrain
Compostable, biodegradable mulch
films to be ploughed into the
ground.
Author: BASF
Expanded PLA trays
Author: FKuR & Synbra
48
Consumer electronics
As we all already know we live in an electronic era. Today casings of computers, mobile phones,
data storages and all the small electronic accessories are made from plastics to ensure that the
appliances are light and mobile whilst being tough and, where necessary, durable. First bioplastic
products in the fast-moving consumer electronics sector are keyboard elements, mobile casings,
vacuum cleaners or a mouse for your laptop, and with the time passing by bioplastics are more and
more present in electronic devices.
Biodegradable mouse
Author: Fujitsu
Keyboard made from biobased plastics
Author: Fujitsu
Biodegradable in-ear headphones, made from
biobased plastics
Author: Michael Young Designer
40 % of the telephone casing made from bioplastics
Author: Samsung
Biodegradable and/or biobased phone casings
Ventev InnovationsTM
Biodegradable phone casings
Author: Api Spa – Biomood Srl
49
Clothing
Bioplastics in clothing sector are replacing conventional plastics or natural materials and are used for
footwear and synthetic coated material. One can find bioplastics as a fabric for wedding dress, a
jacket or an alternative to leather. The alternative to leather is often used to produce biodegradable
shoes. The added value of those products is versatile use also for the most advances high-quality
footwear.
Jacket made partially from
biobased plastics
Author: Du Pont
Biodegradable wedding
dress
Author: Gattinoni
Biodegradable shoes
Source of the image: ecouterre.com-Gucci
50
Sanitary and cosmetic products
Sanitary and cosmetic products are a source of an unthinkable amount of plastic waste and so the
demand to use more sustainable materials is very clear. Some producers use biodegradable materials
opposite to some that have replaced the conventional fossil based plastic packaging with more
sustainable materials derived from biomass. The disposal of those materials is very simple.
Biodegradable cosmetic
packaging
Author: Sidaplax
Biodegradable cosmetic packaging
Author: FKuR
Biodegradable cosmetic packaging
Author: Cargo Cosmetics
Compostable toothbrush, bristles are not compostable! Author: World Centric
Biodegradable hair & body care
packaging
Author: Sidaplax
Biodegradable hair & body care
packaging
Author: Eudermic/Natureworks
Biobased hair & body care
packaging
Author: Procter&Gamble
51
Textiles – Home and Automotive
Bioplastics can be used in a broad range of applications as you were able to see to this point. One of
the possible uses of bioplastics is the production of textiles. Different types of plastics can be used to
produce those textiles, but the PR messages are promoting their content of the renewable resources,
although some of them are also biodegradable. Products made from those textiles have the
performance and quality similar to traditional carpets.
Automotive application
As said above bioplastics are used for interior of cars, but bioplastics are present also in other
automotive applications. Those applications have very specific requirements (as a fuel line made from
renewable resources - nylon).
Bioplastics carpet
Author: DuPont
Bioplastics sofa fabric
Author: Tango Biofabric. Tejin
Bioplastics sofa fabric pillow fill.
Author: Paradies GmbH
Bioplastics textiles in the luggage compartment Bio PET, Toyota.
Source of the image: http://goo.gl/V4mIJ
Car seat fabric made 100 % from heat resistant
bioplastics
Author: Mazda Motor Corporation, Teijin
Fuel line made from nylon from renewable resources –
resistant to chemically aggressive biofuels, temperature
extremes and mechanical stress Autor: DuPont
Air bag cover made from biobased plastics
Author: DuPont
52
Sport
Plastics make sports lighter and more affordable. Most of the sport gadgets are made from plastics
and a lot of sport clothes are made from plastics. Also bioplastics are slowly entering this field. Below
are listed some sport gadgets made from bioplastics.
Biodegradable airsoft pellets
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Biodegradable golf tees
Source: EcoGolf
Ski boot made from renewable resources.
Author: Salomon
Ski boot made from 80 % of renewable resources.
Author: Atomic
Seats at stadium ArenA, made from biobased PE
Source: Wikimedia Commons
53
Other
Here are listed some applications of bioplastics which we were not able to list in any different product
group.
Biodegradable pencil
Author: Telles, Metabolix
Travel luggage made 100 % from renewable
resources Author: Arkema
Biobased and biodegradable toys
Author: © BioFactur
Biobased and biodegradable toys
Author: Metabolix Zoe b
Biodegradable liquid wood hanger
Author: Benetton Group
Fisher UX made from renewable plastics
Author: fischerwerke, Waldachtal
Sunglass frames made from renewable resources.
Author: Tanaka Foresight Inc., Teijin
Sunglass frames made from renewable resources.
Author: Arkema
54
Appendix B
Innovative value chain development for sustainable plastics in Central
Europe
Work Package 3
Developing a roadmap for action –
from science to innovation in the value chain
JOINT (TRANSNATIONAL) R&D SCHEME FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS
55
Introduction Over the past few years, the PLASTiCE Consortium has been involved in basic and applied research at
the different stages of the environmental biodegradable plastics value chain. While each R&D
institution is theoretically capable of delivering most research services, in practice, each institution is
specialised in specific R&D activities. To better meet the needs of the biodegradable polymer and
plastics producers in Central Europe and to enhance the development of new market applications, the
PLASTiCE Consortium developed a joint (transnational) R&D scheme for environmental biodegradable
polymer materials.
Thanks to the cooperation between seven R&D institutions from four countries, the joint R&D scheme
offers tailor-made solutions for the companies in Central Europe that are involved in bringing new
environmentally biodegradable polymer applications to market. For further information on
cooperating with the PLASTiCE Consortium, please contact your local R&D institution.
Contacts
For Italy,
Austria
University of Bologna, Department of Chemistry ‘G. Ciamician’ (PP8)
Mariastella Scandola, Professor, head of the Polymer Science Group
Tel./Fax: +39 0512099577/+39 0512099456
E-mail: [email protected]
For Czech
Republic,
Slovak
Republic
Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (PP5)
Ivan Chodak, Senior scientist, Professor
Tel./Fax: +421 2 3229 4340 / +421 2 5477 5923
E-mail: [email protected]
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (PP6)
Dušan Bakoš, Professor
Tel./Fax: +421 903 238191, +421 2 59325439, fax +421 2 52495381
E-mail: [email protected]
For Slovenia,
Balkan States
National Institute of Chemistry (LP) Laboratory for Polymer Chemistry and Technology
Andrej Kržan, Senior research associate
Tel./Fax: +386 1 47 60 296
E-mail: [email protected]
Center of Excellence Polymer Materials and Technologies (PP11)
Urska Kropf, Researcher
Tel./Fax: +386 3 42 58 400
E-mail: [email protected]
For Poland,
Baltic States
Polish Academy of Sciences, Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials (PP12)
Marek Kowalczuk, Head of the Biodegradable Materials Department
Tel./Fax: +48 32 271 60 77/+48 32 271 29 69
E-mail: [email protected]
Polish Packaging Research and Development Centre (PP13)
Hanna Żakowska, Deputy Director for Research
Tel./Fax: +48 22 842 20 11 ext. 18
E-mail: [email protected]
56
Complementarity The PLASTiCE Consortium offers R&D services related to the polymer materials PLA and PHA as well as
starch-based materials, etc., according to the specific needs of the industry.
The following table gives an overview of the specialisation areas of the consortium partners.
*: In cooperation with partners
Area of research
PLA
PHA
Starch-based materials
Other materials
Characterisation of polymers on the market, including:
Composition and molecular structure PP5, PP6, PP12 PP5, PP6, PP12
Solid-state properties PP8, PP5, PP6, PP11 PP8, PP5, PP11
Modification of polymer properties using chemical routes, including:
Modification (with polymer modifiers) PP5, PP11, PP12 PP5, PP11,PP12
Functional polymers PP11, PP12 PP11, PP12
Modification of polymer properties using physical routes, including:
Modification with additives PP5, PP6, PP11 PP5, PP6, PP11
Polymer blends PP5, PP6, PP11, PP12 PP5, PP6, PP11, PP12
Polymer composites, including nanocomposites PP5, PP6, PP11 PP5, PP6, PP11
Processing, including:
Rheology, processing parameters PP5, PP6, PP11 PP5, PP6, PP11
Homogenisation (using internal mixers, single screw extruder,
twin screw extruder) PP5, PP6, PP11 PP5, PP6, PP11
Industrial production, including:
films PP6, PP11*, PP12 PP6, PP11*, PP12
rigid packing PP6, PP11*, PP12 PP6, PP11*, PP12
flexible packaging PP6, PP12 PP6, PP12
mulch films PP6, PP12 PP6, PP12
foamed materials PP5 PP5
coated materials PP11*, PP12 PP11*, PP12
Application properties of polymer products, including:
aging properties of polymer materials LP, PP5, PP12, PP13 LP, PP5, PP12, PP13
barrier properties of polymer materials (gas permeation) PP5, PP12, PP13 PP5, PP12, PP13
thermo-mechanical properties of polymer materials PP5, PP6, PP8, PP11,
PP12, PP13
PP5, PP6, PP8, PP11,
PP12, PP13
durability and shelf-life properties (food contact, according
to the European Directive EX 2002/72) PP13 PP13
Biodegradation and compostability testing (according to EN, ASTM and ISO), including:
Under laboratory conditions PP6*, PP11, PP12, PP13 PP6*, PP11, PP12,
PP13
At municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities PP12 PP12
57
The joint R&D scheme for environmental biodegradable plastics
Area of
research
services
Characterisation of polymers on the market
Solid-state physical properties (thermal, mechanical, structural,
morphological)
Estimated service
delivery time
Description
of the
research
activities
Analysis of the thermal stability (degradation temperature) of single- or multi-
component materials (by thermogravimetric analysis, from RT to 900°C in an
inert atmosphere or air)
3 working days
(single sample)
1-2 weeks (up to 10
samples)
Analysis of the thermal stability and mass spectrometry of volatiles (by
TGA-MS, from RT to 900°C in an inert atmosphere)
3 working days
(single sample)
1-2 weeks (up to 10
samples)
Analysis of thermal transitions (glass transition, crystallisation and melting, with
determination of the transition temperatures and of the respective
specific heat increments, crystallisation and melting enthalpies, by
differential scanning calorimetry, T-range of -100°C-250°C, cooling with
liquid Nitrogen), 2 scans per sample
2-4 weeks
(depending on the
number of
samples)
Evaluation of mechanical properties at room temperature (elastic modulus,
stress and strain at yield and break, by tensile testing with statistical analysis of
the results for a minimum of 8 specimens)
2-5 weeks
(depending on the
number of
samples)
Determination of the viscoelastic relaxations (by dynamic mechanical analysis
in single- or multi-frequency mode, T-range of -150°C-250°C ) 3-4 weeks
Structural analysis of the crystal phase (by wide angle X-ray powder
diffraction) 2 weeks
Product the
client
receives
Report on the physical properties of the analysed polymers
Area of
research
services
Characterisation of polymers on the market
Composition and molecular structure
Estimated service
delivery time
Description
of the
research
activities
Determination of the solid-state properties using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR,
Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer) 1-2 weeks
Characterisation of the material solubility and determination of the polymer
percentage in the plastic (chemical analysis) 1-3 weeks
Characterisation of the polymer in the plastic by NMR (nuclear magnetic
resonance) spectroscopy 1-3 weeks
Evaluation of the polymer molecular weight using the GPC technique (gel
permeation chromatography) 1-3 weeks
Analysis of the additives using the mass spectrometer LCMS-IT-TOF (hybrid
mass spectrometer with the ability of an ion trap and with the resolution and
mass accuracy of a tandem mass spectrometer)
1-3 weeks
Characterisation of biodegradable copolyesters (PHA) using sequencing and
the tandem mass spectrometer ESI-MSn (electrospray “soft” ionisation with
multistep mass spectrometry)
1-3 weeks
Product the
client
receives Report on the polymer molecular structure and characterisation of the additives in plastics
58
Area of
research
services
Modification of polymer properties using physical routes, including:
Modification with additives
Polymer blends
Polymer composites including nanocomposites
Estimated service
delivery time
Description of
the research
activities
Modification of the properties of a particular polymer by adding low-molecular
additives, e.g., plasticisers, chain extenders, stabilisers, or by blending with
small quantities of another polymer to achieve the desired
properties
1 month-2 years (or
longer)
Blending two polymers over their full concentration range, desired properties
are achieved by modification of the interface and compatibilisation of the com-
ponents
1 month -2 years
(or longer)
Preparation of composites based on a polymeric matrix with tailored properties
via modification of the interface
1 month-2 years (or
longer)
Product the
client receives Report on alternatives for the compatibilisation of various biodegradable polymer blends
Area of
research
services
Processing, including:
Rheology, processing parameters
Homogenisation (internal mixers, single screw extruders, twin screw extruders)
Estimated service
delivery time
Description of
the
research
activities
Selection of the most promising blends of BDPs for application purposes, pro-
posals for areas of application
1 day-3 months
Determination of the processing parameters of the materials 1-4 weeks
Product the
client receives
Report on the processing parameters of selected biodegradable polymers, recommended general
processing methods, including processing equipment and typical processing parameters
Area of
research
services
Modification of polymer properties using chemical routes, including:
Modification (with polymer modifiers)
Functional polymers
Estimated service
delivery time
Description of
the
research
activities
Synthesis of chemical modifiers 1 month-2 years
Determination of the physical properties of polymeric materials 3 days-2 weeks
Modification of polymers to achieve specific properties: crosslinking of
polymers for better solvent resistance 1 month-2 years
Modification of polymers to achieve specific properties: increased polymer
surface polarity for better printability or adhesion, increased thermal and
oxidation stability
1 month-2 years
Product the
client receives Standard commercial polymers possessing certain properties
Area of
research
services
Industrial production (research on the industrial processing properties),
including production of: films, rigid packing, flexible packaging, mulch films,
foamed materials and coated materials
Estimated service
delivery time
Description of
the
research
activities
Laboratory scale production of films: research on processing and blending,
production of master batches (mini twin screw extruder (MiniLab II) combined
with the injection moulding machine (Mini Jet II) HAAKE, using the force
feeder, continuous extrusion with very small volumes, mini-injection moulding
machine enables production of specimens for material testing, the
rheological properties can simultaneously be recorded)
1-2 weeks
Laboratory scale production of flexible packaging 1-2 weeks
Support of pilot production on-site 1 day-6 weeks
Controlling the mechanical properties of the product during the production
process: mechanical property measurements, Instron model 4204 tensile tester 1-2 weeks
Controlling the molecular properties of the product during the production
process 1-3 weeks
Product the
client receives Report on the polymer stability with respect to the packaging content
59
*Average delivery time, including preparation, testing and reporting can vary based on the actual
laboratory queue
Area of
research
services
Testing of the application properties of polymer products (packaging materials
and packaging), including: Aging, barrier and thermo—mechanical properties
of polymer materials, Durability properties testing of packaging for food
contact (food contact, according to the European Directive E10/2011)
Estimated service
delivery time
Description
of the
research
activities
Xenotest method used to determine the material behavior in natural
conditions 4 months*
Determination of total organic carbon and biobased content in polymer
materials 1 month*
Testing the permeability of water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide 2 weeks*
Determination of tensile properties (stress at break, elongation at break,
modulus of elasticity, etc.) 2 weeks*
Determination of tear resistance 2 weeks*
Determination of impact resistance using the free-falling dart method 2 weeks*
Sealing properties (max load at break, sealing resistance, etc.) 2 weeks*
Hot-tack seal testing 2 weeks*
DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and FTIR (infrared spectroscopy) 1 week*
Sensory analysis 1-1.5 months*
Overall and specific migration testing of low-molecular substances from
foodstuffs 2 months*
Testing of the monomer contents in plastic materials and of the emission of
volatile substances 1 month*
Product the
client
receives
Investigation of bioplastic (biodegradable/biobased) materials to determine their properties. Report
and analysis on the properties of the polymer materials useful for packaging applications.
Area of
research
services
Biodegradation and compostability testing (according to standards) under
laboratory conditions and at municipal and industrial aerobic composting
facilities
Estimated service
delivery time
Description
of the
research
activities
Degradation and compostability testing under laboratory conditions:
preliminary tests of biodegradation on the packaging material using simulated
composting conditions in a laboratory-scale test according to EN 14806: 2010
4 months
Degradation and compostability testing under laboratory conditions: hydrolytic
degradation test in water or a buffer solution (degradation tests of biodegra-
dable polymers in simple aging media to predict the behavior of the polymers)
From a few weeks
to 6 months, depen-
ding on the type of
materials and the
standard
Degradation and compostability testing under laboratory conditions: labora-
tory degradation in compost using a respirometry test (Respirometer Micro-
Oxymax S/N 110315 Columbus Instruments for measuring CO2 in laboratory
conditions according to PN-EN ISO 14855-1:2009 - Determination of the ulti-
mate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled compos-
ting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide - Part 2: Gra-
vimetric measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test)
From a few weeks
to 6 months, depen-
ding on the type of
materials and the
standard
(Bio)degradation and compostability testing at composting facilities (tests of
biodegradable material in an industrial composting pile or a KNEER container
composting system)
From a few weeks
to 6 months, depen-
ding on the type of
materials and the
standard
Certification of compostable goods associated with possibly marking the pac-
kaging "compostable" (in cooperation with DIN CERTCO, Germany) 2-4 months
Product the
client
receives
Report on the behavior of the new polymeric materials during the (bio)degradation tests
60
Sources:
European Bioplastics en.european-bioplastics.org
PLASTICS EUROPE – The Facts 2012 - http://www.plasticseurope.org/cust/
documentrequest.aspx?DocID=54693
Widdecke H, Otten A.: Bio-Plastics Processing Parameter and Technical Characterisation. A
Worldwide Overview, IFR, 2006/2007.
Morschbacker A.: Biobased PE – A Re-newable Plastic Family, Braskem S.A., European Bioplas-
tics Conference Hand-book, 21-22, Paris, November 2007.
Cees van Dongen, Dvorak R., Kosior E.: Design Guide for PET Botle Recyclability, UNESDA&EFBW,
2011.
Word’s First 100% Plant-Bassed PET Bottle, Bioplastics Magazine No. 2/2011, p.25.
Wikipedia
Narayan R.: LCAL How to report on the carbon and environmental footpront of PLA, 1st PLA World
Congress, Munich 9-10.09.2008.
DIN CERTCO
Vinçotte
CIC
Biodegradable Products Institute
PAS 2050:2011, Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emission of
goods and services.
Guide to PAS 2050. How to assess the carbon footprint of goods and services, BSI, 2008.
Tkaczyk L.: Narzędzia zarządzania emisją gazów cieplarnianych, ABC jakości nr 3-4, 2010.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
http://www.german-retail-blog.com/2012/04/19/tescos-carbon-footprint/
Sapiro U.: Carbon foot printing and packaging, Seminar EUROPEN Beyond compliance Packaging
in the Sustainability Agenda, Brussels, 26th May 2009.
61
62