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(BASF) -- BASF compostable plastic Ecovio
FS biodegrades within four weeks in an industrial composting plant. Bin liners
made from Ecovio FS are strong and tear-resistant, even if the waste inside is
wet. Liquid from tea bags or fruit leftovers does not seep through – reducing
unpleasant odours and putting an end to laborious bin-scrubbing. Once full, the
bag can simply be put out for collection with its contents.
The plastic’s properties first underwent extensive
investigation in pilot projects at composting plants in Germany, Canada and
Australia. But would the new compost bags pass the test when used on a large
scale? To find out, BASF and its project partners examined the bags under
real-world conditions. The study took place in Bad Durkheim in the German state
of Rhineland-Palatinate, from April to June 2011. Around 65,000 households each
received ten Ecovio FS bio-waste bags free of charge, and could buy more if
needed. Consultancy IBK-Solutions GmbH was responsible for analyzing the
compost. “The results were very positive,” says Erhard Freunscht, the Bad
Durkheim council member responsible for waste management. “Residents
really took to the new bin liners, as was clear from the number of bags put out
for collection. And after around three weeks, the bags had biodegraded – a
complete success from our point of view.”
The key to Ecovio
FS’s outstanding compostability lies in its composition. The material comprises
a partly petroleum-based, compostable plastic called Ecoflex FS, and polylactic
acid made from corn starch. Polylactic acid, which is derived solely from
renewable raw materials, tends to be brittle in its pure state. But when
combined with Ecoflex, a flexible plastic is created that can be used to
manufacture a variety of products, including bin liners. In the controlled
conditions of an industrial composting plant – high temperature and humidity,
defined oxygen levels – microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria break the
plastic down into water, carbon dioxide and biomass. In other words, they
transform the bag and the bio-waste into valuable compost.
Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other
important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers
Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the
Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of
ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between
producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of
production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to
substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock
that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an
access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as
opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit
partcipant.
mrcplast.com |
