Bioplastics: Facts, Realities and Challenges Chems Research Forum 2012, Michigan State University
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Sustainable Biobased Materials BioPlastics: Facts, Realities and Challenges ChEMS Research Forum 2012, Michigan State University www.natur‐tec.com Agenda • Introduction • Bioplastics – Biobased Plastics – Biodegradable Plastics • Standards and Different Technologies • Natur‐Tec® Products and Applications • Current Projects with MSU ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Introduction Northern Technologies International Corp. • Environmentally Beneficial Materials Science • Headquartered in Circle Pines, MN USA • Global distribution through 29 Joint‐Ventures • Global R&D & Manufacturing Facilities • NASDAQ Ticker: NTIC Global leader in industrial packaging solutions Proprietary biobased and biodegradable polymers ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Natur‐Tec® ‐ a Division of NTIC Biodegradable and biobased polymer resin alternatives to conventional plastics for industrial and consumer applications Proprietary Technology Natur‐Tec® Manufacturing Process • Selection of biopolymer matrix • Proprietary knowhow on compounding, blending and dispersion •Patented custom formulations Competitive Advantages • Ease of processing ‐ end products manufactured with conventional equipment • Competitive performance to traditional plastics • Portfolio of resin compounds tailored to a wide variety of end‐use applications ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 What are BioPlastics? “Bio‐Based” Feedstock Must Be Certifiable as Bio‐Based As per ASTM D6866 Bio‐Plastics “Biodegradable” End of Life Must Be Defined and Certified Compostable As per ASTM D6400, EN13432 ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Why BioPlastics? Why Now? Environmental ‐Lower Carbon Footprint ‐Better “End of Life” Options Goal ‐1: LOWER environmental footprint for plastics Goal ‐ 2: Reduce GHG Emissions Strategic Economic ‐Reduce dependence on ‐Taxation: Carbon or Waste foreign oil ‐Feedstock: Oil vs. Plants Goal ‐ 1: Utilize SUSTAINABLE Goal ‐ 1: Create viable product feedstock vs. non‐sustainable offerings feedstock (oil) Goal ‐ 2: Cost imbalance between compost and landfill ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 The Case for Biobased Plastics – Managing Carbon ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Specification for Biobased Plastics ASTM D6866 – Determines the amount (%) of new carbon (biomass carbon) compared to old carbon (fossil carbon) – Based on total carbon content of the material and not total mass of the material – Contemporary biomass has 100% radiocarbon and is absent (0%) in fossil fuels. ASTM D6866 uses this difference to determine the amount of biomass carbon vs. fossil carbon. ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Degradation vs. Biodegradation Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Biomass (Humus) Water Fragmentation Biodegradation (H2O) Fragmentation – first step in the biodegradation process, in which organic matter is broken down into microscopic fragments. Biodegradability – complete microbial assimilation of the fragmented product as a food source by the microorganisms in the disposal environment. Compostability – complete microbial assimilation within 180 days in an industrial compost environment. ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Specification for Compostable Plastics ASTM D6400 Specifies Three Criteria 1. Mineralization – Conversion to carbon dioxide, water & biomass via microbial assimilation – Time: 180 days or less, the same rate as natural materials ‐ leaves, paper, grass, food scraps 2. Disintegration – Less than 10% of test material remains on 2mm sieve 3. Safety – No impacts on plant growth, using OECD Guide 208 – Regulated (heavy) metals less than 50% of EPA prescribed threshold ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Compostable Plastics – Global Standards ISO 17088 ASTM D6400 (USA) EN13432 (Europe) GreenPLA (Japan) ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Oxo‐degradable Additive Technology What is it? Starch Additive Plastic (PE) Resin “Oxo” Degradable Bags Heavy Metal Additive ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Oxo‐degradable Additive Technology Greenwashing Claims ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Oxo‐degradable Additive Technology Environmental Impact Photo: Nuria Vario ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 SeriousCarbon footprint reductionconsequences strategy using bio content with incomplete and partial biodegradation • Plastic pieces can attract and hold hydrophobic elements like PCB and DDT up to one million times background levels. As a result, floating plastic is like a poison pill • Plastic residues function as a transport medium for toxic chemicals in the marine environment. • PCBs, DDE, and nonylphenols (NP) were detected in high concentrations in degraded polypropylene (PP) resin pellets collected from four Japanese coasts. • Takada et al Environ. Sci. Technol. 2001, 35, 318‐324 • Blight, L.K. & A.E. Burger. 1997. Occurrence of plastic particles in seabirds from the Eastern North Pacific. Mar. Poll. Bull. 34:323‐325 • From Algalita Marine Research Foundation – www.algalita.org/pelagic_plastic.html ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 201215 The Need for Complete Biodegradability! • Thompson, R.C. et al. 2004. Lost at sea: Where is all the plastic? Science 304, 838, 2004 • Plastic debris around the globe can erode (degrade) away and end up as microscopic granular or fiber‐like fragments, and that these fragments have been steadily accumulating in the oceans • Fragments come from several sources, the researchers suggest. These include mechanical erosion of nondegradable plastic bottles and packaging, nondegradable parts of biodegradable plastics, and plastic pieces used as abrasives in cleaning agents. FLOTSAM Lab experiments show that marine animals consume microscopic bits of plastic, as seen here in the digestive tract of an amphipod. © Science 2004 ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Comparison in a Composting Environment Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Comparison in a Composting Environment Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Comparison in a Composting Environment Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Comparison in a Composting Environment Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Comparison in a Composting Environment Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Comparison in a Composting Environment Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Compostable Plastics –Value Proposition Organic Waste (35% by weight of MSW stream) Diverted away from Landfills to Centralized Composting Facilities Key Benefits: • Organic waste in landfills decomposes anaerobically into Methane, which is 23 times more dangerous than CO2 as a Green House Gas (GHG) • Composting provides 70% volume reduction in waste and end product is valuable soil amendment (fertilizer) ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Integrated Zero‐Waste Solutions A growing trend is the implementation of “Zero Waste” or “Zero Landfill” solutions. Entities of all sorts and sizes, will look to adopt biodegradable foodservice ware in their cafeterias to enable source segregation and diversion of food waste (organics), away from landfills, and to centralized composting facilities. ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Natur‐Tec® Resin Portfolio Broad portfolio of Biopolymer Resins: • Price‐Performance optimized for specific end‐user applications • Meet industry standards for biodegradability (EN 13432, ASTM D6400) • Sourced from renewable feedstock Process Natur-Tec® Bio Resins Application Examples Trash bags, Bin liners, Pet Waste bags, Blown Film BF703B Agricultural film, Disposable film packaging Injection Compostable cutlery, cups, hangers, durable BF3002 Molded consumer goods, engineering plastics Extrusion BF3001J Coated paper cups, plates, pouches, bags Coating ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 BF703B –Blown Film Grade • 100% Biodegradable ‐ meets requirements of EN13432 , ASTM D6400 and AS4736 • Engineered for high performance – good tensile and elongation in both directions • Easily processable on standard PE lines with a very stable bubble • Provides excellent print surface with no corona treatment needed • Patented technology provides lower film density of 1.15, versus up to 1.35 for competitive starch‐based compounds ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Applications for Blown Film Grade ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 BF3002 – Injection Molding Grade • Fully biodegradable • Meets requirements of ASTM D6400 and EN13432 • Renewable resource‐based • Successfully processed on PS lines and PP lines ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 Compostable Cutlery Application • Renewable resource‐based (modified PLA) • Flexible, and not brittle unlike competitive VS. c‐PLA based products • High temperature resistance: up to 190°F Natur‐Tec® Competitor’s • Certified Compostable Cutlery Cutlery ©2012 NTIC www.natur‐tec.com ChEMS Research Forum 2012 BF3001J – Extrusion Coating Grade • Modified PLA‐based resin compound • Fully Compostable as per