UK startup develops recyclable plastic material that biodegrades without producing microplastics
Microplastics could become a thing of the past thanks to a new technology from a British startup.
In a ground-breaking innovation, Polymateria has created a biodegradable plastic material that is also recyclable – two packaging properties that have often been deemed incompatible.
The plastic is designed to be recycled as a matter of priority but, thanks to Polymateria’s time-controlled biotransformation technology, any items that escape refuse streams can return to nature without causing any harm, leaving behind no microplastics.
Standards
The claims have been independently verified by the British Standards Institution (BSI), through the development of a new British standard for biodegradable plastic.
This new BSI PAS 9017 standard is the first of its kind for measuring the biodegradability of polyolefins, the group of plastics that includes polyethylene and polypropylene – the most littered forms of plastic packaging.
“The reason plastic is so persistent in nature is because of the hard crystal structure,” Polymateria’s CEO Niall Dunne told Forbes magazine recently.
“Our breakthrough moment was when we first realised how to destroy the crystal structure – that’s the key to avoiding creating microplastics – and transform it into something that behaves like a grease or a wax.”
Biotransformation
This ‘biotransformation’ to a wax-like substance – which can be fully digested by microbes like natural bacteria and fungi – is key to Polymateria’s breakthrough technology.
Their biotransformation additive is compatible with the normal plastic conversion process. It is formulated as a bespoke masterbatch, which is tailored to the polymer resin’s footprint, application profile and required use life.
Polythene-based products containing the technology break down in around 226 days, whilst polypropylene products break down in around 336 days, without creating any microplastics.
The development signals a positive change for the packaging industry, but the scale of the challenge is huge.
Tackling plastic waste
Global plastic waste production has doubled since the turn of the century, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with over 350 million metric tons of plastic waste produced every year.
Just 9% of this waste is successfully recycled globally, with the bulk ending up in landfill or being incinerated, but 22% evades waste management systems.
The OECD also reported that 40% of plastic waste comes from packaging with a lifetime of less than five years, so any developments to tackle this growing problem must be welcomed.
On the market
The good news is that this packaging development isn’t just something in the pipeline. Polymateria’s technology is already being adopted by several international brands, with products available to buy around the world.
In the UK, leading packaging manufacturer Polybags now produces a wide range of biodegradable bags made with Polymateria’s biotransformation technology.
Polybags’ market-leading eco packaging range now features clear biodegradable packing bags, biodegradable mailing bags, biodegradable carrier bags and biodegradable safety bags all made with the new additive.
Polybags has also setup a helpful biotransformation packaging information page, which includes a guide to how to dispose of the packaging after use, along with a fun eco-comparison tool that rates various forms of eco-packaging – including compostable and recycled packaging – across a variety of eco-factors.
Image courtesy of Polymateria.
