Symphony Environmental

1

• Symphony Environmental

July 2008
2
Polymer Structure

• 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 annum
• 60 million tonnes of polyprpylene per annum
• 35 used in packaging.
• Thats just 44 million tonnes to go for!

3

• 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

4
The Benefits of Plastic Packaging

• Lightweight
• Flexible
• Strong/Durable
• Heat sealable
• Impervious to moisture
• Printable
• Recyclable
• By-product of Oil Refinery

5
Crude components
LPG 2 Naptha 3 Lubricants 5 Aviation Fuel
15 Petrol 45 Diesel 15 Heating Oils10 Bitumen
5
6
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.

7
But
Not degradable
8
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.
9
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
10
How does it work?
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
Process of Oxidation caused by light, heat and
stress
Bio-degradation completed by micro-organisms
11
How does it work?
Long chains Flexible material
12
Residues

• Water

CO2
Biomass
NO HEAVY METALS
13
How it works
14
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..

15
How it Works
16
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.

17
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.

18
How it works

• Transition metals-
• Cobalt, iron, manganese, copper,zinc, cerium,
  nickel.

19
Food contact Test
20
Food contact test
21
Recycling of Degradable Plastics
The Recycling of oxo- degradable materials is not
a problem.
22
Recycling of Degradable Plastics

• 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.

23
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

24
Why not Hydro-biodegradable plastic?

• 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.

25
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

26
Disposal

• Typically there are Five Options-
• Incineration
• Landfill
• Compost
• Recycle
• Litter

27
Disposal

• Incineration- refined oil
• Landfill- breakdown -aid settlement
• Compost- will work in in-vessel
• Recycle- will recycle
• Litter- will disappear

28
Advantages of Oxo-biodegradable plastic

• 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.

29
Manufacturing Oxo-biodegradable plastic

• 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

30
Standards for Oxo-biodegradable

• New draft Standard BS 8472 (not complete)
• ASTM (US) D.6954 testing protocol
• AFNOR NFU 52-0012005 (France)
  Agriculture/Horticulture

31
Certification

• 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

32
Products Available
PE, PP, (Not PET)
Carrier bags or Shopper-bags
Refuse sacks
Aprons
Bags to contain dog faeces collected in parks,
gardens, etc
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
33
Products Available
PE, PP, (Not PET, PS or PVC)
34
Main Product Features
Reduce and Re-use
Recycle
Make from recycled
Incinerate
Compost (in vessel)
Landfill (no methane)
35
www.degradable.net
Oxo-biodegradable products and additive
technologies