Symphony Environmental

July 2008

As explained in the previous presentation there are different types of polymers.

We want to apply d2w to the simplest and most abundant types :-Polyethylene and Polypropylene.

66 million tonnes of polyethylene per annum60 million tonnes of polyprpylene per annum

35% used in packaging.

That’s just 44 million tonnes to go for!

Polymer Structure

Flexible packaging:-

Commodity plastic packaging -bags and sacks- EASY

Non food packaging - NOT SO EASY

Food packaging - EVEN LESS EASY

But the rewards are higher:-

Repeat business

Based on specification

Print content

The Benefits of Plastic Packaging

Lightweight

Flexible

Strong/Durable

Heat sealable

Impervious to moisture

Printable

Recyclable

By-product of Oil Refinery

Crude components

LPG 2%Naptha 3%

Lubricants 5%Aviation Fuel 15%

Petrol 45%Diesel 15%

Heating Oils10%Bitumen 5%

Crude Oil

Naptha is a by-product of crude oil extraction.

We produce about 87 million barrels per day

It is about 3% of all global crude extraction.

50% is used to produce plastic products.

But…

Not degradable

The Plastic Problem

Consumers and Environmental Activists Drive Politics

Consumers want their waste picked up from them, but not put down anywhere near them.

Consumers believe that household waste is predominantly plastic packaging

Plastic packaging is considered to be a mayor environmental pollution problem.

Solution

Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic

Complete degradation 2 – 5 years after the end of the pre-set service life*

* Depends on product type and exposure conditions

d2w additive put into basic polymer resin at the production stage (Normally 1%)

Breaks molecular chain

Plastic starts degrading at end of pre-set service life

How does it work?

Bio-degradation completed by micro-organisms

Process of Oxidation – caused by light, heat and stress

How does it work?

C C C C C C

H

HHHHHH

HH HH H

Long chains

Flexible material

oxidationmicrobial

degradation

CO2 + H2O + biomass

degradation is affected by heat, light, stress and air

C C

HH

HH

C C

HH

HH

C C

HH

HH

Short chains / brittle

oxidation

Residues

Water

CO2

Biomass

NO ‘‘HEAVY METALS’’

How it works

How it works

It is well accepted that polyolefins that have undergone oxidative degradation provide hydrophilic surfaces having

greatly reduced molecular masses. Reduction of the molecular weight of the polyolefin to around 40,000 combined with the introduction of oxygen

containing functional groups leads to bio-degradation.These images are taken from a pieces of fragmented oxo-degraded

d2w film. They were subjected to immersion in water and a compost mixture.

They were then examined in a Leo variable pressure scanning electron microscope.

In an area of extensive cracking colonies of bacteria have arrived.

A closer look at the area highlighted in blue shows…..

How it Works

How it works

Numerous bacterial cells and fungal spores colonising the cracked area and the whole depth of the film through the crack is showing areas of microbial attack.

How it works

The transition metal salt generates free radicals that in turn produce hydro-peroxides in the form of aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols and carboxylic acids.

It is these that are bio degradable.

How it works

Transition metals:-

Cobalt, iron, manganese, copper,zinc, cerium, nickel.

Food contact Test

Food contact test

Recycling of Degradable Plastics

Figure 1: Effect of d2w level in recyclate level on Elongation at Break after Thermal Ageing

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Control 10% d2w 25% d2w 50% d2w 75% d2w 100% d2w

Sample Referenece

Elo

ng

atio

n a

t B

reak

(%

)

0 Hours

300 Hours

600 Hours

The Recycling of oxo- degradable materials is not a problem.

EU funded BRITE-EURAM research project Aston University in collaboration with Blaise Pascal University

“no change in melt flow index was observed on reprocessing”

Process aid stabilisation is finite and exhausted during manufacturing. Transition metal salt is susceptible to shear temperatures.

Recycling introduces at least two more heat histories.

Recycling of Degradable Plastics

Bio-degradable plastic

It is important to distinguish between the different types of biodegradable plastic as their costs and uses are very different

Oxo-biodegradable plastic is made from a by-product of oil refining

Hydro-biodegradable plastic is usually made from a food crop such as starch, derived from agricultural crops

Why not Hydro-biodegradableplastic?

These are very much more expensive and less durable.

Some of these plastics have a high starch content and it is claimed that they are therefore made from renewable resources. However many of them contain more than 50% of synthetic plastic derived from oil, and others are entirely based on oil derived intermediates.

“Based on”? Process aids?

In the depths of a landfill, these plastics can generate copious amounts of methane

A disproportionate amount of land will be required to produce the raw material to replace conventional plastic and also a huge amount of water.

Already the use of crops to make bio fuels is driving up the cost of feed to chicken farmers, pig farmers and other livestock industries.

Hydro-biodegradable plastics will emit methane and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a greater rate than oxo-biodegradable plastics.

Hydro degradables

Mater-Bi from Novamont

Eco-Flex from BASF Bionelle from Showa Denko Biomax from Dupont PVOH- various sources PCL / Capa from Solvay

Nature-Works from Cargill PLA

Nature-Flex from Innovia

Disposal

Typically there are Five Options:-

Incineration

Landfill

Compost

Recycle

Litter

Disposal

Incineration;- refined oil

Landfill;- breakdown -aid settlement

Compost;- will work in in-vessel

Recycle;- will recycle

Litter;- will disappear

Advantages of Oxo-biodegradableplastic

Oxo-biodegradable film is certified safe for contact with any food type and is ideal for frozen food packaging.

Oxo-biodegradable plastics are made from naptha which is a by-product of oil refining.

It makes good environmental sense to use the by-product instead of wasting it by ‘flare-off’ at the refinery

Oxo-biodegradable plastics can be recycled and can be made from recycled. They can also be composted, and perform well in-vessel.

Oxo-biodegradable sheet is very useful in agriculture because after the harvest many thousands of kilometres of dirty plastic has to be gathered and disposed of.

Manufacturing Oxo-biodegradableplastic

No special machinery or workforce

No change of supplier or loss of jobs.

Compatible with polypropylene PP, polyethylene PE & most consumable plastic packaging.

6 months to 5 years shelf life. Adjustable product life.

No compromises in functionality:

strength, clarity, barrier properties, seal ability, print.

Comprehensively tested and and proven

Standards for Oxo-biodegradable

New draft Standard BS 8472 (not complete)

ASTM (US) D.6954 testing protocol

AFNOR NFU 52-001:2005 (France) – Agriculture/Horticulture

Food Contact Safe – tested by RAPRA (US Owned)

Soil Safe – tested by OWS, Belgium (EN 13432)

Biodegradable – tested by PYXIS, UK

Oxo-biodegradable – tested by CSI, Italy; RAPRA, UK and UFSCar / UNESP Brasil

Certification

Carrier bags or ‘‘Shopper-bags’’

Refuse sacks

Aprons

Products Available

Bags to contain dog faeces collected in parks, gardens, etc

PE, PP, (Not PET)

Bin Liners

Gloves

Bread bags

Frozen food bags

Wrappers for cigarette packets

Shrink-wrap and pallet-wrap

‘‘Bubble-wrap’’

Rigid products such as bottles and cups

Products Available PE, PP, (Not PET, PS or PVC)

Reduce and Re-use

Recycle

Make from recycled

Main Product Features

Incinerate

Compost (in vessel)

Landfill (no methane)

www.degradable.net

Oxo-biodegradable products and additive technologies