BASE OILS


High quality sustainable products from agricultural plastic waste and biomass


Matias de Tezanos and Boris Zhmud, KATA Circular Pte Ltd, Singapore


Plastic pollution is a serious and constantly growing environmental threat. In 2022, global annual plastics production has reached 460 million tons. Estimated global leakage of plastic waste to the environment was 22 million tons in 2019, and this figure is projected to double by 2060 [1].


Unfortunately, despite the fact that plastic waste can be used as raw material in chemical industry, there is a lack of systematic collection and sustainable management at the scale needed to fix the environmental issues created by plastic waste. It is estimated that nearly 80% of plastic that ends up in world oceans comes from 2% of the rivers, with the largest portion of river plastic coming from farms, not from metro areas. The four major ocean plastic waste polluters are Philippines, India, Malaysia, and China.


The use of plastics in agri-food systems and food value chains is particularly widespread. Polyethylene and polypropylene are two common polymers used in agriculture for multiple applications. These polymers can be readily upcycled into value-added products. Examples of plastic products used in modern agriculture include [1]:


• Mulch films – to reduce weed growth, evaporative water losses, the need for pesticides, fertiliser and irrigation, whilst also enhancing plant growth;


• tunnel and greenhouse films and nets – to protect and enhance plant growth, extend cropping seasons, and increase yields;


• irrigation tubes and driplines – to optimise water use; • bags and sacks – to transport seeds and fertilisers to nurseries and fields;


Figure 1: Addressing the sources of plastic waste pollution [2] Continued on page 20 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.179 FEBRUARY 2024 19


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