Biodegradable Plastic
Environment Australia
Biodegradable Plastics – Developments and Environmental Impacts
OCTOBER, 2002
Prepared in association with ExcelPlas Australia
Ref: 3111-01
NOLAN-ITU Pty Ltd
ACN 067 785 853
ABN 23 359 240 890
P.O. Box 393 Level 1, 625 High St, East Kew Victoria 3102 Telephone: (03) 9859 3344 Facsimile: (03) 9859 3411
NOLAN-ITU PTY LTD
ACN 067 785 853 ABN 23 359 240 890
Melbourne PO Box 393 Level 1, 625 High Street East Kew VIC 3102 Tel: (03) 9859 3344 Fax: (03) 9859 3411
Copyright © Environment Australia 2002
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 2 INTRODUCTION TO BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS ........................................1 BIODEGRADABLE STARCH-BASED POLYMERS ..........................................3
2.1 Thermoplastic Starch Products 2.2 Starch Synthetic Aliphatic Polyester Blends 2.3 Starch and PBS/PBSA Polyester Blends 2.4 Starch-PVOH Blends 3 4 5 6
3
BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS ....................................................................7
3.1 PHA (Naturally Produced) Polyesters 3.2 PHBH (Naturally Produced) Polyesters 3.3 PLA (Renewable Resource) Polyesters 3.4 PCL (Synthetic Aliphatic) Polyesters 3.5 PBS (Synthetic Aliphatic) Polyesters 3.6 AAC Copolyesters 3.7 Modified PET 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
4
OTHER DEGRADABLE POLYMERS...............................................................15
4.1 Water Soluble Polymers 4.2 Photo-biodegradable Plastics 4.3 Controlled Degradation Additive Masterbatches 15 16 17
5
EMERGING APPLICATION AREAS IN AUSTRALIA ......................................19
5.1 Coated Paper 5.2 Agricultural Mulch Film 5.3 Shopping Bags 5.4 Food Waste Film and Bags 5.5 Consumer Packaging Materials 5.6 Landfill Cover Film 5.7 Other Applications 19 20 20 20 21 21 21
6
STANDARDS AND TEST METHODS...............................................................22
6.1 Biodegradation Standards and Tests 6.2 Compost Toxicity Tests 6.3 Difference Between Standards for Biodegradation 6.4
Biodegradable Plastics – Developments and Environmental Impacts
OCTOBER, 2002
Prepared in association with ExcelPlas Australia
Ref: 3111-01
NOLAN-ITU Pty Ltd
ACN 067 785 853
ABN 23 359 240 890
P.O. Box 393 Level 1, 625 High St, East Kew Victoria 3102 Telephone: (03) 9859 3344 Facsimile: (03) 9859 3411
NOLAN-ITU PTY LTD
ACN 067 785 853 ABN 23 359 240 890
Melbourne PO Box 393 Level 1, 625 High Street East Kew VIC 3102 Tel: (03) 9859 3344 Fax: (03) 9859 3411
Copyright © Environment Australia 2002
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 2 INTRODUCTION TO BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS ........................................1 BIODEGRADABLE STARCH-BASED POLYMERS ..........................................3
2.1 Thermoplastic Starch Products 2.2 Starch Synthetic Aliphatic Polyester Blends 2.3 Starch and PBS/PBSA Polyester Blends 2.4 Starch-PVOH Blends 3 4 5 6
3
BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS ....................................................................7
3.1 PHA (Naturally Produced) Polyesters 3.2 PHBH (Naturally Produced) Polyesters 3.3 PLA (Renewable Resource) Polyesters 3.4 PCL (Synthetic Aliphatic) Polyesters 3.5 PBS (Synthetic Aliphatic) Polyesters 3.6 AAC Copolyesters 3.7 Modified PET 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
4
OTHER DEGRADABLE POLYMERS...............................................................15
4.1 Water Soluble Polymers 4.2 Photo-biodegradable Plastics 4.3 Controlled Degradation Additive Masterbatches 15 16 17
5
EMERGING APPLICATION AREAS IN AUSTRALIA ......................................19
5.1 Coated Paper 5.2 Agricultural Mulch Film 5.3 Shopping Bags 5.4 Food Waste Film and Bags 5.5 Consumer Packaging Materials 5.6 Landfill Cover Film 5.7 Other Applications 19 20 20 20 21 21 21
6
STANDARDS AND TEST METHODS...............................................................22
6.1 Biodegradation Standards and Tests 6.2 Compost Toxicity Tests 6.3 Difference Between Standards for Biodegradation 6.4
References: Environment Australia Biodegradable Plastics – Developments and Environmental Impacts Ratto, J.A.; Stenhouse, P.J.; Auerbach, M.; Mitchell, J.; Farrell, R.(1999)