The Identity of Oxo-Degradable Plastics and Their Use in Switzerland
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Projects Funded Under the Plastics Research & Innovation Fund
Contents Introduction In March 2018 the UK government committed £20m in research and innovation funding towards reducing problematic plastic waste entering the environment: The Plastics Research & Innovation Fund (PRIF). A number of funding streams were deployed: academic, competitive R&D, Flagship Projects with WRAP (the Waste Resources and Action Programme) and an Investment accelerator programme co-funded by Sky Ocean Ventures. In addition, a network was formed, supported by the PRIF, to bring the diverse users of plastic products together and realise the best means for reducing plastic waste. The UK Circular Plastics Network (UKCPN) is an activity supported by UK Research and Innovation, and forms part of the Plastics Research Innovation Fund (PRIF), which is engaging Britain’s best scientists and innovators to help move the country towards more circular economic and sustainable approaches to plastics. UKCPN facilitates the following: – Reducing the volume of plastic waste arising from within the UK; – Raising awareness and sharing best practice to improve the rate of UK plastic recycling; – Sharing best practice to reduce levels of confusion amongst citizens and highlighting user-centred design; – Showcasing innovation that is focused on reducing the amount of plastic ending up in the environment; – Unlocking the most critical, short term barriers to plastics circularity. Plastics Research & Innovation Fund 21 RWM Exhibition, NEC, Birmingham | 11th & 12th September 2019 About KTN KTN is the UK’s innovation network, established to help deliver economic growth for the UK. We help businesses get the best out of creativity, ideas and the latest discoveries, to strengthen the UK economy and improve people’s lives. -
An Overview of Chemical Additives Present in Plastics: Migration, Release, Fate and Environmental Impact During Their Use, Disposal and Recycling
This is a repository copy of An overview of chemical additives present in plastics: Migration, release, fate and environmental impact during their use, disposal and recycling. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/122233/ Version: Accepted Version Article: Hahladakis, JN orcid.org/0000-0002-8776-6345, Velis, CA orcid.org/0000-0002-1906-726X, Weber, R et al. (2 more authors) (2018) An overview of chemical additives present in plastics: Migration, release, fate and environmental impact during their use, disposal and recycling. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 344. pp. 179-199. ISSN 0304-3894 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.10.014 Reuse Items deposited in White Rose Research Online are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved unless indicated otherwise. They may be downloaded and/or printed for private study, or other acts as permitted by national copyright laws. The publisher or other rights holders may allow further reproduction and re-use of the full text version. This is indicated by the licence information on the White Rose Research Online record for the item. Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. [email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ An overview of chemical additives present in plastics: Migration, release, fate and environmental impact during their use, disposal and recycling. John N. Hahladakisa*, Costas A. Velisa*, Roland Weberb, Eleni Iacovidoua, Phil Purnella a School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9JT, Leeds, United Kingdom b POPs Environmental Consulting; Lindenfirststr. -
Spectroscopic Standard Could Help Revolutionise the Analysis of Plastics
Physical Sciences︱Polymateria The team at Polymateria are dedicated to developing truly biodegradable plastics. Spectroscopic standard could help revolutionise the analysis of plastics Plastic pollution is an environmental catastrophe in progress. 32 percent THE MICROPLASTIC of the plastic we use escapes into the environment and only nine MEGA- PROBLEM percent currently gets recycled. Fugitive plastic products often But what do we know about plastic in environment. So, what can be done to SETTING NEW STANDARDS CI values; with so much inconsistency undergo various forms of environmental degradation, which lead to the the environment, and why is it such an tackle the problem? Plastic degradation is caused by between different techniques, the metric formation of microplastics. British company Polymateria have developed alarming prospect? numerous factors, including extrusion becomes as good as useless. additives for conventional plastics which facilitate biodegradation if they POLYMATERIA’S SOLUTION manufacturing of products and aging due escape the waste stream. This fresh approach is also a rigorous one. Global annual production of plastic British company Polymateria are to use, especially in the case of outdoor COMPARING THE The team at Polymateria noted that conventional methods to determine waste continues at a monumental scale working “to develop technologies for applications. The ability to predict the CARBONYL INDICES carbonyl index, a measure of plastic durability or decay, lacked and increases every year. Meanwhile, plastics that impart biodegradability lifespan of a plastic product, whilst it is In a paper published earlier this year, coherence: there was no agreement in the industry about what type of global waste management streams should they become plastic pollution in use, is of critical importance to both scientists at Polymateria compared the analysis works best. -
Protecting Against the Unknown, by Rosemary
In My Opinion Reprinted from PROTECTING AGAINST THE UNKNOWN Could biodegradability additives be coming to a plastics stream near you? The Sustainable Packaging Coalition explains why the recycling industry should take a stand against the approach. BY ROSEMARY HAN he Sustainable Packaging Coalition believes that additives. By reflecting on prior responses to oxo-biodegradable there are many reasons why the application of additives, we can shed light on the plastic industry’s current T biodegradability additives in petroleum-based plastics concerns and discussions about landfill biodegradable additives. is a step in the wrong direction. One reason is the potentially negative impact on recycling. The additives, after all, are Danger in lingering designed to compromise one of plastic’s most important features – its strength and durability. chemical properties Research continues to investigate potential unintended Landfill biodegradable additives are designed to successfully enable impacts of utilizing recycled plastics containing biodegradability biodegradation of petroleum-based plastic in anaerobic landfill additives in a variety of real-world conditions. Several conditions without leaving behind toxic chemicals. But the long- organizations – including ACC, APR, BPI, NAPCOR, NERC, term effectiveness of the additives – and therefore the shelf life of SPI and European Bioplastics – have taken positions on the plastics containing these additives – is unknown. Some additive topic. The majority have articulated formal arguments against manufacturers note that the additives will not harm recycled one particular type of technology, oxo-biodegradable additives. plastics if they end up in a MRF rather than a landfill, but it is These additives are designed to make petroleum-based plastics unclear if plastic reprocessors would feel the same way. -
Standards for Bio-Based, Biodegradable and Compostable
Standards for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics Summary of responses to the call for evidence and Government Response. April 2021 © Crown copyright 2021 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected]. Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at: [email protected] Contents Foreword __________________________________________________________________ 4 Executive Summary __________________________________________________________ 5 Chapter 1 – Introduction ______________________________________________________ 8 Chapter 2 – Circular Economy _________________________________________________ 11 Chapter 3 – Biodegradation ___________________________________________________ 13 Chapter 4 – Environmental Impact _____________________________________________ 19 Chapter 5 – Labelling and Certification __________________________________________ 22 Chapter 6 – Impacts on the Waste Industry ______________________________________ 24 Chapter 7 – Market Factors ___________________________________________________ 27 Chapter 8 – Other Issues Raised ______________________________________________ 29 Chapter -
EASAC Report on Packaging Plastics in the Circular Economy
Packaging plastics in the circular economy Packaging plastics in the circular ea sac Packaging plastics in the circular economy March 2020 March EASAC policy report 39 March 2020 ISBN: 978-3-8047-4129-4 EASAC This report can be found at www.easac.eu Science Advice for the Benefit of Europe EASAC EASAC – the European Academies' Science Advisory Council – is formed by the national science academies of the EU Member States to enable them to collaborate with each other in giving advice to European policy-makers. It thus provides a means for the collective voice of European science to be heard. EASAC was founded in 2001 at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Its mission reflects the view of academies that science is central to many aspects of modern life and that an appreciation of the scientific dimension is a pre-requisite to wise policy-making. This view already underpins the work of many academies at national level. With the growing importance of the European Union as an arena for policy, academies recognise that the scope of their advisory functions needs to extend beyond the national to cover also the European level. Here it is often the case that a trans-European grouping can be more effective than a body from a single country. The academies of Europe have therefore formed EASAC so that they can speak with a common voice with the goal of building science into policy at EU level. Through EASAC, the academies work together to provide independent, expert, evidence-based advice about the scientific aspects of public policy to those who make or influence policy within the European institutions. -
Common Chemical Additives in Plastics
Journal of Hazardous Materials 344 (2018) 179–199 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Hazardous Materials j ournal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jhazmat Review An overview of chemical additives present in plastics: Migration, release, fate and environmental impact during their use, disposal and recycling a,∗ a,∗ b a a John N. Hahladakis , Costas A. Velis , Roland Weber , Eleni Iacovidou , Phil Purnell a School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9JT, Leeds, United Kingdom b POPs Environmental Consulting, Lindenfirststr. 23, D.73527, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t • Plastics are important in our society providing a range of benefits. • Waste plastics, nowadays, burden the marine and terrestrial environment. • Additives and PoTSs create complica- tions in all stages of plastics lifecycle. • Inappropriate use, disposal and recy- cling may lead to undesirable release of PoTSs. • Sound recycling of plastics is the best waste management and sustainable option. a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: Over the last 60 years plastics production has increased manifold, owing to their inexpensive, multipur- Received 22 July 2017 pose, durable and lightweight nature. These characteristics have raised the demand for plastic materials Received in revised form 2 October 2017 that will continue to grow over the coming years. However, with increased plastic materials production, Accepted 7 October 2017 comes increased plastic material wastage creating a number of challenges, as well as opportunities to Available online 9 October 2017 the waste management industry. -
Program and Abstracts Microplastics2018 – 28-31 October 2018, Congressi Stefano Franscini, Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland
Program and Abstracts Microplastics2018 – 28-31 October 2018, Congressi Stefano Franscini, Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland Sponsors The Organizing Committee gratefully acknowledges the financial support of: www.csf.ethz.ch www.ethz.ch www.snf.ch www.bafu.admin.ch www.agilent.com www.perkinelmer.com 2 Microplastics2018 – 28-31 October 2018, Congressi Stefano Franscini, Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland Conference Organizers and Speakers Scientific Committee Bernhard Wehrli, Eawag / ETH Zurich, Switzerland Denise Mitrano, Eawag, Switzerland Ralf Kaegi, Eawag, Switzerland Thilo Hofmann, University of Vienna, Austria Conference Secretariat Paolo Demaria, Demaria Event Management, Zurich, Switzerland Invited Speakers Tamara Galloway, University of Exeter, UK Gunnar Gerdts, Alfred Wegner Institute, Germany Thorsten Hüffer, University of Vienna, Austria Natalia Ivleva, TUM, Germany Rainer Lohman, University of Rhode Island, USA Denise Mitrano, Eawag, Switzerland Chelsea Rochman, University of Toronto, Canada Michael Sander, ETH Zurich, Switzerland Richard Thompson, University of Plymouth, UK Martin Wagner, NTNU, Norway 3 Microplastics2018 – 28-31 October 2018, Congressi Stefano Franscini, Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland General Information The conference takes place at the Congressi Stefano Franscini (CSF), the conference center of ETH Zurich, located at Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland. The conference facilities, the restaurant and the bar are located in the main building called Bauhaus Building. For further information on Monte Verità and on connections to Ascona, please refer to the white CSF folder included in your conference bag. Conference rooms All lectures will take place in the Auditorium on the ground floor of the Bauhaus Building. All posters will be displayed from Monday to Tuesday evening in the Balint Room, on the first floor of the Bauhaus Building. -
Natural Additives for Poly (Hydroxybutyrate–CO
Materials Research. 2014; 17(5): 1145-1156 © 2014 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1516-1439.235613 Natural Additives for Poly (Hydroxybutyrate – CO - Hydroxyvalerate) – PHBV: Effect on Mechanical Properties and Biodegradation Daiane Gomes Brunela, Wagner Maurício Pachekoskib*, Carla Dalmolinc, José Augusto Marcondes Agnellia aDepartamento de Engenharia de Materiais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luis, Km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brasil bUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Campus Joinville, Rua Presidente Prudente de Moraes, 406, CEP 89218-000, Joinville, SC, Brasil cDepartamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Tecnológicas – CCT, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina – UDESC, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, s/n, Campus Universitário Prof. Avelino Marcante, CEP 89219-710, Joinville, SC, Brasil Received: August 28, 2013; Revised: August 21, 2014 In this work, the improvement of mechanical properties in biodegradable materials was obtained through the incorporation of natural and also biodegradable plasticizers and nucleation agents into the PHBV copolymer. PHBV production with different quantities of additives was obtained by extrusion followed by injection. The additives in the copolymer were efficient, resulting in an adequate processing due to the presence of nucleate and an improvement of the mechanical properties of the resulting material provided by the action of the plasticizer. The formulation with the minimum amount of additive content, 5% epoxidized cottonseed oil and 0.1% Licowax, was the most effective showing 35% reduction in the elastic modulus, and 18% in the PHBV crystallinity; 58% increase in impact resistance and 46% increase in elongation. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that the natural additives were very efficient for biodegradation, showing a mass loss higher of pure PHBV. -
A Life Cycle Assessment of Oxo-Biodegradable, Compostable and Conventional Bags
Intertek Expert Services Gary Parker Intertek House, Cleeve Road, Sustainability Director Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7SB, United Kingdom Intertek Expert Services A Life Cycle Assessment of Oxo-biodegradable, Compostable and Conventional Bags By Chris Edwards and Gary Parker May 2012 ©Symphony Environmental Ltd Executive Summary 1 Having read the Life Cycle Assessment prepared by Intertek for the UK Environment Agency and published in 2011, Symphony Environmental was concerned that some of the purposes for which oxo-biodegradable plastic is designed had been excluded from the terms of reference, and that the LCA did not therefore fully reflect the environmental benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic. Symphony therefore requested Intertek to conduct a further Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study comparing the environmental impacts of conventional HDPE plastic, oxo-biodegradable HDPE plastic, and bio-based compostable plastic, for use as carrier bags and bread bags. 2 Conventional plastic carrier bags and bread bags are widely used in the UK, with carrier bags often given away free of charge by supermarkets. Many of these bags contain a pro-degradant additive such as Symphony’s d2w which causes the bag to degrade abiotically and then biodegrade after its useful life without affecting the functionality of the bag. 3 Bio-based bags are a relatively new product made from agricultural crops or a blend of crop- based and oil-based material. 4 This study considers the cradle-to-grave life cycle of each of the three alternatives. The functional unit is a 19.1 litre bag for carrier bags and an 800 gram capacity bag for bread bags. -
Biodegradable Plastics: Standards, Policies, And
Reviews ChemSusChem doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202002044 1 2 3 Biodegradable Plastics: Standards, Policies, and Impacts 4 [a] [a] 5 Layla Filiciotto and Gadi Rothenberg* 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 ChemSusChem 2021, 14, 56–72 56 © 2020 The Authors. ChemSusChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH Wiley VCH Donnerstag, 07.01.2021 2101 / 183032 [S. 56/72] 1 Reviews ChemSusChem doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202002044 1 Plastics are ubiquitous in our society. They are in our phones, and require further efforts in research and commercialization. 2 clothes, bottles, and cars. Yet having improved our lives Here, a critical overview of the state of the art of biodegradable 3 considerably, they now threaten our environment and our plastics is given. Using a material flow analysis, the challenges 4 health. The associated carbon emissions and persistency of of the plastic market are highlighted, and with it the large 5 plastics challenge the fragile balance of many ecosystems. One market potential of biodegradable plastics. The environmental 6 solution is using biodegradable plastics. Ideally, such plastics and socio-economic impact of plastics, government policies, 7 are easily assimilated by microorganisms and disappear from standards and certifications, physico-chemical properties, and 8 our environment. This can help reduce the problems of climate analytical techniques are covered. The Review concludes with a 9 change, microplastics, and littering. -
Plastics Innovation: Towards Zero Waste Competition Code: 1806 ISCF MM PLASTICS
Results of Competition: Plastics Innovation: Towards Zero Waste Competition Code: 1806_ISCF_MM_PLASTICS Total available funding is £3million Note: These proposals have succeeded in the assessment stage of this competition. All are subject to grant offer and conditions being met. Participant organisation names Project title Proposed project costs Proposed project grant ZUVASYNTHA LIMITED Optimisation and scale-up of a £603,504 £422,453 novel bioprocess for commercial production of (R)-1,3-Butanediol TDELTAS LIMITED £14,966 £10,476 University of Kent £245,211 £245,211 Note: you can see all Innovate UK-funded projects here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/innovate-uk-funded-projects Use the Competition Code given above to search for this competition’s results Funders Panel Date: 21/09/2018 1 Project description - provided by applicants The future sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from non-petrochemical resources and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are two of the greatest challenges facing society. To date, research to address this need has often focused on using microbial cell factories (bacteria and yeasts) to ferment the sugar derived from plants, often targeting the production of key high volume, lower value commodity products. However, the price of sugar, a commodity in its own right, is very often inconsistent with the constrained techno-economics associated with biological commodity chemical production. In addition, utilising sugar for high volume chemical synthesis has raised concerns regarding competition with the use of sugar as a foodstuff. Unfortunately, sourcing sugar from the far more desirable non-food lignocellulosic plants, has also proved economically challenging due to the resistance of these plants to deconstruction.