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This Biodegradable Plastic Bag Will Self-Destruct . . . Whenever You Want

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This Biodegradable Plastic Bag Will Self-Destruct . . . Whenever You Want The Sunday Times July 26, 2020 NEWS This biodegradable plastic bag will self-destruct . whenever you want Nicholas Hellen make biodegradable PPE war on single-use plastic, Last week an academic study turn into a harmless natural masks. because using it has become funded by the US-based Pew product. Dunne said that Plastic cups, cartons, bottles In a breakthrough that unavoidable to maintain good Charitable Trusts found that even for bread bags, which and wrappers that litter the holds out hope of mitigating hygiene. 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic are often thrown out, the countryside and choke the the ecological disaster The invention promises to were destined to be dumped “recycle by” date will be a oceans are to be scientists predict will be tackle the blight of plastic into the environment by year to encourage people to manufactured to biodegrade triggered by a vast and dumped in the open. Keep 2040 on current trends. do the right thing. into harmless sludge within growing mountain of plastic Britain Tidy said small plastic Of polyethylene and Dunne said there was no less than a year, with a new waste, the company has bottles accounted for a polypropylene made with the risk of forgotten packages technology developed by a shown that a rigid plastic quarter of all litter. Niall new additive, Dunne said: decaying in the home British company. container made with the Dunne, chief executive of “The packaging has a because biodegradation was The sportswear group additive takes 336 days to Polymateria, said a third of all ‘recycle by’ date by which it only triggered outdoors by a Puma will be the first to biodegrade into carbon plastic ended up in nature. will start the process of combination of UV light, incorporate a new additive in dioxide, water and biomass; returning to nature.” moisture and microbes. the production of 160 million plastic film takes 226 days. Puma’s shopping bags will The additive can be used in plastic bags it uses each year. Marcus Gover, the chief be programmed to last for 18 existing production lines, so They will be on sale in executive of Waste and months, he said, but an ice- it could rapidly change the southeast Asia in September Resources Action Programme cream wrapper will have a way the disposable plastic we and in Britain next year. (Wrap), an independent very short life. “You’re not use is made. Biodegradable ice-cream group that works with going to reuse it. It’s going to Frederic de Mevius, of the wrappers, bread bags and government and industry to be disposed of responsibly or AB Inbev brewing dynasty, fast-food cups, straws and lids reduce plastic waste, said: littered. At that point it starts and a director and investor in for household name brands “I’m excited by it. I’m keen to to feel waxy. That date may Polymateria, said: “Within are undergoing testing in see how we can use it the best be as precise as May 2021 and two to five years we will be Grangemouth, Scotland, way we can.” stamped on the packaging,” supplying the 20 to 50 largest according to Polymateria, a There has been a 20% said Dunne. The life of the brands that are responsible British firm spun out of surge in the volume of plastic product will be extended in for plastic pollution. So it can Imperial College London, waste produced by UK countries with a better record actually go very fast.” Puma and chaired by Marc Bolland, households during lockdown, for reusing plastic. did not respond to a request the former Marks & Spencer according to Veolia, the waste There is a risk that litter for comment. boss. The firm is also working management giant. The louts will behave even worse Additional reporting: with a global brand to pandemic has derailed the A third of plastic is dumped if they know that plastic will Shingi Mararike The supply of the material by The Publisher does not constitute or imply any endorsement or sponsorship of any product, service, company or organisation. Material may not be edited, altered, photocopied, electronically scanned or otherwise dealt in without the written permission of The Publisher. Times News Paper, News UK & Ireland Ltd, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF email: [email protected]. Reprinted with permission by www.medialicensingco.com tel: 020 3773 9320..
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