Adding tiny shards of eggshell to bioplastic could create a first-of-its-kind biodegradable packaging material that bends but does not easily break, according to The American Chemical Society (ACS).
A four-year European project to look at the development of multifunctional bioplastics (bio-based, compostable and biodegradable) for packaging has come to an end.
The global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase from around 1.7 million tonnes in 2014 to approximately 7.8 million tonnes in 2019, according to the European Bioplastics association.
Symphony Environmental Technologies has hit out at Californian legislation that it says highlights the ‘absurdity’ whereby it cannot market its oxo-biodegradable plastic as biodegradable in the state.
The food and beverage industry must move away from the notion of green and non-green packaging and accept that various materials, be they bio- or oil-based plastics, can have unique pack applications, says one research group.
A research group based at University College Dublin claims it can convert plastics such as polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and mixed plastics into a biodegradable polymer.
The global market for drinks packaged in compostable bottles will
reach €23m ($32m) in 2007, according to Zenith international, but
only if the necessary infrastructure is put in place.
