More Information About Biodegradable Plastics
Technologies have now become available which can produce plastic
products such as shopping bags, garbage sacks, packaging etc. which are
fit for purpose, but will harmlessly degrade at the end of their useful
life. These fall into two broad categories, namely:
Oxo-Biodegradable
Hydro-Biodegradable
Oxo-biodegradable
plastics, made from a by-product of oil-refining, which degrade in the
environment by a process of oxidation initiated by an additive, and
then biodegrade after their molecular weight has reduced to the point
where naturally-occurring micro-organisms can access the material.
Hydro-biodegradable is much more expensive than oxo-biodegradable.(product show case)
Hydro-biodegradable
plastics, made wholly or partly from crops, which biodegrade in a
highly microbial environment, such as composting.In the case of
oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable, degradation begins with an
abiotic process (oxidation and hydrolysis respectively), followed by a
biological process. Both types emit CO2 as they degrade, but
hydro-biodegradable can also emit methane. Both types are compostable6,
but only oxo-biodegradable can be economically recycled.
Available Product Ranges & Applications (see the below summary)
