Recycling
I am always amazed that the bio-based lobbyists attack oxo-biodegradable plastic on the ground that it cannot be recycled with ordinary plastics, when they know that it can. See https://www.biodeg.org/subjects-of-interest/recycling-2/
They must also know that if any more than 5wt.% of “compostable” plastics get into an ordinary plastic recycling stream they will damage the resulting recyclate. See: Samper, et al (2018). “Interference of biodegradable plastics in the polypropylene recycling process” Materials, 11(10), 1–18. The authors say:
“The current increasing introduction of biodegradable polymers in the food packaging industry can negatively affect the properties of recycled PP if those kinds of plastics are disposed with traditional plastics…. The results revealed that the vicat softening temperature is negatively affected by the presence of biodegradable polymers in recycled PP. Meanwhile, the melt flow index was negatively affected for PLA and PHB added blends. The mechanical properties were affected when more than 5 wt.% of biodegradable polymers were present….”
An Article from Austria
I noticed last week an article on “Polyhydroxyalkanoates – Linking Properties, Applications, and End-of-life Options” by M. Kollerab and A. Mukherjee of the University of Graz, Austria. (Chem. Biochem. Eng. Q., 34 (3) 115–129 (2020)
Yet again, I find here people who do not understand oxo-biodegradable plastics making misleading comments about them, which add to the confusion. They had appended the following definitions to their paper:
“Degradable or oxodegradable plastic”
“Plastics to which (typically catalytically active) additives have been added to improve the degradability; importantly, such materials do not meet biodegradability and compostability standards. E.g., “Oxobiodegradable plastics” used for PE-based plastic bags do not fulfil the requirements of EN 13432 on industrial compostability, and are therefore not allowed to carry the seedling label. Applies to many petrochemistry-derived plastics, e.g., PE or PP, containing respective additives.”
The authors should know that oxo-biodegradable plastics are not intended for composting, and are not therefore designed to fulfil the requirements of EN 13432 or to carry the seeding label.
Oxo-biodegradable plastics are certified by the OPA, according to ASTM D6954 or equivalent standards, and are designed to deal with the problem of plastic which escapes collection and ends up in the open environment. They do this by causing the plastic to become biodegradable much more quickly than ordinary plastic. Yes, this is a waste, but it is better than allowing the plastic to lie or float around for decades.
Their other definition is “Compostable plastic”
“Bioplastic that has proven its compostability according to international standards (see text) and can be treated in industrial (!) composting plants (does not imply home compostability). Importantly, thickness of specimens may have a significant role in compostability. Generally, plastics are compostable by successfully meeting the harmonized European standards (ISO 17088, EN 13432 / 14995 or ASTM 6400 or 6868), by having a relevant certification, and an according label (seedling label via Vinçotte or DIN CERTCO, OK compost label via Vinçotte, or TÜV in Austria). Applies for PHA, PLA, PBAT, starch, cellulose, proteins.”
What they do not say is that composting of plastics simply converts the plastic into CO2 – as required by EN13432 and the other standards mentioned. If you can collect a piece of plastic there are better things to do with it than to convert it into CO2 – this is just intentionally wasting the material and is not consistent with a circular economy.
Michael Stephen
Michael Stephen is a lawyer and was a member of the United Kingdom Parliament, where he served on the Environment Select Committee. When he left Parliament Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc. attracted his attention because of his interest in the environment. He is now Deputy Chairman of Symphony, which is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, and is the founder and Chairman of the Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association.
Earlier Postings in this Column
- 1/ 1/ 20 – Plastiphobia, Microplastics and A Throw-Away Society
- 7/ 1/ 20 – Recycling, Lab Testing, Bangladesh and the Right Bioplastic
- 14/1/20 – Plastiphobia and Bioplastics Definitions
- 21/1/20 – Composting, the European Union and Unemployment
- 30/1/20 – Plastiphobia, Malaysia and a Case Against Compostables and Paper
- 7/02/20 – Coronavirus, MPs Letter, Montreal, Australia and the Dominican Republic
- 14/02/20 – Oman, MacArthur Foundation, Stifling Innovation, South Africa and Compostable Plastics
- 24/02/20 – Serbia, India, Pakistan and European Bioplastics
- 03/03/20 – Plastic To Protect Health and Common Sense on Plastic
- 10/03/20 – Plastiphobia, Singapore, Compostable Plastics, Doorknobs and Carbios
- 17/03/20 – Greening our Way to Infection, Defra Warns Against Bioplastics and Montreal
- 24/03/20 – Ditch the Plastic Bag Ban and Inn-Probio
- 01/04/20 – The Come Back of Plastic Bags, Compostable Plastic Not Wanted and EASAC
- 16/04/20 – Coronavirus and Agricultural Plastics
- 11/05/20 – Coronavirus, Peru, Barbados and Recycling
- 18/05/20 – Say No to Plastiphobia, False Descriptions and the Recycling Myth
- 02/06/20 – Definitions and More Setbacks for Plastiphobia
- 11/06/20 – BBIA, Food Waste and Testing of OXO-Biodegradable Plastic
- 19/06/20 – Oxo Biodegradation, Independent Reports and Precautionary Principle
- 29/06/20 – Banana Republic, Why Turn Plastic into CO2 and Plastic Waste from Ships
- 13/07/20 – Running Scared, The Daily Telegraph and Market Report
- 20/07/202 – Tipa, Plastics Today and The American Genius
- 27/07/20 – Coronavirus, Plastic Litter, Bahrain and Polymateria
- 17/08/20 – Plastics Europe, Confusing Issues and Paper
- 25/08/20 – Professor Emo Chiellini, Plastics Today, Greenwashing and Coronavirus
- 28/09/20 – Kill the Virus, Marine Degradation, Airports, Brazil Retail, Plastic Growth and Face Mask
- 08/10/20 – Compostable vs Biodegradable, Covid 19 and New British Bioplastic Standard
- 27/10/20 – Power of Lobbying, Paper and Cotton Worse than Plastic
- 02/11/20 – Covid 19 and Five Myths About Plastic
- 09/11/20 – Support for OXO BIO, Westminster Forum, Euractiv and Covid
- 23/11/20 – Toxicity of Bio-based and Biodegradable Plastics, and Covid Scaremongering
- 15/12/20 – Recycling and An Article from Austria
- 21/12/20 – EU Scientific Advisers, China Chose Wrong Bioplastics and Covid Nonsense
- 05/01/20 – EU, Covid Lockdowns, WRAP, British Standards Institution and Polymateria
- 12/01/21 – Intertek and Composting
- 19/01/21 – Recycling and Exporting Plastic Waste
- 22/02/21 – Seaweed Plastic, Orange Peel and Xampla
- 02/03/31 – OXO Biodegradable Plastic
- 08/03/21 – EU Scientific Reports and Paper vs Plastic
- 15/03/21 – India, Australia and Dow Chemicals (FREE)
- 14/04/21 – Oxomar, UK Government and Microplastics
Interview with Michael Stephen
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed here by Michael Stephen and other columnists are their own, not those of Bioplasticsnews.com.