Product category:
Engineering Seminars
News Release from: Smithers Rapra
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 19 May 2005
Meeting confirms future of degradable
plastics
Rapra Technology held a packed and successful one day seminar on compostable and degradable polymers and packaging at its Shawbury headquarters earlier this month.
Rapra Technology held a packed and successful one day seminar on compostable and degradable polymers and packaging at its Shawbury headquarters earlier this month Over 65 delegates attended the meeting in order to take part in the debate about the future of these materials and to hear presentations from Professor Gerald Scott, Innovia Films, Symphony Plastics, the Compost Association and Rapra Technology
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 4 Aug 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Organiser David Ingles says: "The meeting strongly confirmed that there is a growth future for both polymer compostables and degradables in a rapidly expanding market".
"Events such as these are vital for the progress of the sector".
Ingles cautions, however: "The lack of a coherent national waste strategy together with a lack of clarity on disposal routes is a significant barrier to the large scale adoption of any of the various existing technological solutions now waiting in the wings".
"There is an opportunity for Government and the industry to get together and thoroughly technology road map the future of the sector".
The meeting also noted that current compostable and degradable products seem limited to short-shelf-life products and that the long term aim should be sustainability before compostability/degradability.
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The morning sessions were divided into compostable and degradable streams.
The polymer degradable issues raised included: recyclability of oxo-degradable materials with reference to supplemental stabiliser systems and effect on the (mixed) waste stream; production of "traditional" polymers from renewable sources; the test methods contained within ISO13432 are designed to simulate an industrial composting situation; the concept of land acting as a "carbon sink" and the relative contributions of compostable versus degradable materials to biomass production; and the draft for the new BS8472 was discussed (currently at the comment stage).
Prof Scott believes there is a need for independent validation and verification.
Compostable issues raised included: the need for a measure of compost quality such as PAS100; the need for identification and labelling via logo and clarification of 13432 and applicability to home composting; consumer awareness - all aspects of compostable packaging; the need for a rapid indicative test due to the lengthy/expensive tests that form 13432; and Government involvement discussed - currently a lack of constructive dialogue (reference German and Dutch examples).
In addition, a siseable portion of the day was allocated to networking and there was a combined group discussion during which the aim was to identify key issues and barriers to progress.
Rapra Technology reports a significant growth in demand for its expertise associated with compostable materials.
The work in biodegradable and compostable materials technology was catalysed this year by financial support from the Telford-based Polymer Cluster; channelling funding provided from Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
This funding was used to develop a number of pioneering case studies, based in the Wolverhampton and Telford area and thus to progress the UK's compostable and biodegradable polymer materials knowhow and testing work in general.
Based on these pilot studies and in response to the increased profile of "biodegradable" and "compostable" materials in the UK, Rapra has now fashioned a number of programmes to match.
These include: provision of testing to the defined European standard EN13432; related leading-edge research and development projects; participation in supply chain initiatives such as the UK Compostable Packaging Group; inception and hosting of technology-specific events; and development of targeted research programmes.
Rapra's David Ingles is leading the project and says: "Previously, the only approved facilities to conduct such materials testing and analysis programmes were on mainland Europe".
Accordingly Rapra now has set up dedicated laboratories and pilot-scale facilities to deliver this service to the rapidly expanding UK market.
Ingles says: "Rapra's test facilities will be a needed resource for all UK-based companies active in this market".
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