3 - ANY ENVIRONMENT
WILL DO
We have all seen images of the effects
waste plastic has on the natural
environment; beaches that are covered
in litter, animals being suffocated by
packaging, and the infamous Great Pacific
garbage patch. Some people think that
oxo-biodegradable plastics will not break
down in the ocean or when hidden from
direct sunlight. All oxo-biodegradables
need to degrade is oxygen. Sunlight
may make it go a little faster, but it is not
essential to the process.
4 - THEY WON’T DISRUPT THE
PLASTIC INDUSTRY
The d2w additive that causes oxo-
biodegradation, is a ‘drop-in’ technology
that can be applied during the
manufacturing process with equipment
that is already used in existing factories.
There is no need for new machinery or
retraining factory workers.
Very little of the d2w is required to make
plastics oxo-biodegradable, so there
is little-to-no difference in price when
compared to conventional plastics.
The additive does not affect the material
properties of the plastic. The product will
still be as strong, light, waterproof and
flexible as ever but, once its life cycle is
over, it will biodegrade into organic matter.
The technology is commonplace in several
countries around the world. It is even
mandatory in some of them, meaning that
specified short life or single use items,
must be made using oxo-biodegradable
plastic, and according to a YouGov survey,
88 per cent of Britons would support
the UK government passing similar
legislation[2].
Perry Higgs, Senior Scientist at Symphony
Environmental believes: “It’s important
to highlight that oxo-biodegradable
materials are not a general solution to
our environmental problems, but they do
provide benefits for the environment in
specific applications.
Climate-change is an even bigger problem
than plastic pollution. Banning plastic
encourages the use of paper, bioplastics,
glass, and other materials which Life Cycle
Assessments (LCAs) have shown to have
a higher global-warming potential than
plastic made with d2w[3].
Our survey showed that 90 per cent of UK
adults would support treating everyday
plastic items (e.g. shopping bags, plastic
packaging) with oxo-biodegradable
technology. So, despite the myths
surrounding oxo-biodegradables, the
science and the public opinion show that
they can play a crucial part in the future of
plastics.”
www.symphonyenvironmental.com/
Issue 38 PECM
163