Biodegradation of plastics: A literature review to advise on - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Biodegradation of plastics: A literature review to advise on standards Annemette Kjeldsen Marcus Price, Ewa Guzniczak, Charlotte Lilley With help from Ian Archer and Brad Gillespie 31 January 2019

Background: A request from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to provide a literature review on plastic biodegradation to help guide policy development and standards for biodegradability. Why would I want to get involved?

Greenpeace.org.uk

Why does the government need help? Seems like a great idea – BUT plastic packaging greatly improves shelf-life. Should rather work towards biodegradable alternatives: • Ecologically sensible • Economically feasible • Need to fulfil a trusted, validated, practical set of standards.

The variable speed of biodegradation Biodegradation of PLA-based materials in compost-like environment Conditions Degradation Time Reference Bioresour. 60 Technol. 102, 58 ° C 13 % days 4930–4933 (2011). Polym. Test. 26, 58 58 ° C, pH8.5, 84 % 1049–1061 63% humidity days (2007) Polym. Degrad. 28 55 ° C, 70% ~70 % Stab. 120, 435– humidity days 442 (2015). Polym. Eng. Sci. 30 58 ° C, 60% 60 % 54, 1325–1340 humidity days (2014)

Findings of the review Source: ZeroWaste Scotland Some interesting discussion. A few considerations and suggestions. Several obvious statements. Next steps • Get involved!

Thanks for listening Questions and suggestions welcome!