BIOPLASTICS | MATERIALS
Jennifer Markarian investigates new materials and additives used in bio-based plastic compounds along with the launch of biomass-balanced polymers
Emerging bioplastics show better performance
Bioplastics are a diverse category of thermoplastics made from bio-based feedstocks. Some bioplastics are biodegradable (able to biodegrade under specific conditions, such as in industrial compost- ing), while others are not. Because a primary reason for using these materials is to help achieve sustainability goals, both the end-of-life plan and the ability to use renewable (rather than fossil- based) starting materials are important. Terms to explain the types of plastics in the bioplastics category are in flux and not always used consistently. A commonly used definition is that “bio-based” polymers are those made from renewable carbon (from plant, animal, or fungal sources) that can be identified and quantified using a radiocarbon (C14) method, such as ASTM D6866 or ISO 16620-2, rather than using fossil-based carbon raw materials. Industry members see increasing support for using “bio-based” for segregated, C14-identified content but not for
www.compoundingworld.com
“mass-balanced” (sometimes called “bio-attribut- ed”) polymers which are made using processes that combine bio-based feedstocks with fossil- based feedstocks. In this method, the feedstocks are not segregated before the reactor, so the polymers do not necessarily have biocontent that can be experimentally measured via radiocarbon analysis. They can, however, be certified under programs such as ISCC Plus (see box). The US Department of Agriculture’s BioPre-
ferred Program was created by legislation in 2002 to help develop markets for bio-based products. The program specifies a minimum bio-based content (with the amount depending on the product category) to qualify for the BioPreferred program and to use its label. Currently, this bio-based content must be third-party certified using ASTM D6866. TÜV Austria’s OK Biobased Program also uses radiocarbon testing to confirm bio-based carbon
November 2024 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 13
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
