COMPOSTABLE OR NON-COMPOSTABLE?
Published: 18/01/2021
As presented in another previous work (see our Blog), the trend “towards Bio” is clearly consolidating, even in the eyes of the most skeptical.
On the other hand, the prevalence of one product mix compared to the other (Biobased non-degradable hybrids and Biobased biodegradable and compostable) has not yet been stabilized, as can be seen by comparing the two forecast graphs, proposed here, made in 2017 and 2019 respectively. Bearing in mind that the fluctuations between different solutions are typical of an evolutionary phase that is still uncertain. In general, this is due to factors linked to:
the existing “system” (production plants and raw materials)
and/or
the “super system” in force (laws and directives).
Biobased non-degradable or compostable materials, in particular Bio-PET, were expected to prevail, in the first phase, over compostable Biobased ones.
Instead, the generalized market crisis that has hit several industrial sectors, a new regulation for disposable applications, the increase in sales in the agri-food1 sector (films and containers), have shifted attention from biobased products to compostable.
Year 2017: Forecast Trend of Global Production Capacities of Bioplastics 2017-2022
Source: European Bioplastics, nova-Institute (2017).
More information: www.bio-based.eu/markets and www.european-bioplastic.org/market
Year 2020: Forecast 2019 Trend of Global Production Capacities of Bioplastics 2018-2024
Source: European Bioplastics, nova-Institute (2019).
More information: www.european-bioplastic.org/market and www.bio-based.eu/markets
Furthermore, we believe that the new production capacities announced by various producers lead to a significant increase, in the next two / three years, in the overall volumes of biodegradable materials available, thus increasing their weight which is already slightly higher today than the mix of Biobased non degradable or compostable.
The new EC directives on Circularity and about the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will be the base on which this growth will consolidate.
Global production capacities of bioplastics 2019 (by material type)
Source: European Bioplastics, nova-Institute (2019)
More information: www.european-bioplastic.org/market and www.bio-based.eu/markets
Among biodegradable materials, we notice with interest the progressive distancing of the producers of PLA from corn starch for the production of the monomer (lactide, from which the polylactic acid is obtained), in favor of sugar from beet and cane.
A factor certainly appreciated by those OEMs that are more sensitive to safeguarding the food chain, which will favor the increase in demand for this material. Instead the PHAs (PHB, PHV, …) seem to remain in the background for the moment.
But, in our opinion, these polymers will become an important reference in the bioplastics panorama over the next few years thanks to their lower dependence on specific plant sources.
The overall picture shows a positive trend for bioplastics2.
The transition to sustainable will continue at an increasingly important pace given the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among which CO2 is in the foreground.
This will impact on the entire industrial chain, both at the production level (companies and plants), and at the level of management and disposal of the finished product at the end of use (European government directives and local laws).
ABM Composite solutions
ABM Composite – also known as Arctic Biomaterials Ltd – and 2Mila Srl, since 2017 have been collaborating with numerous European companies, in diverse industrial sectors in order to allow a calibrated and safe transition “towards Bio”, in compliance with the European indications on circularity and sustainability.
The ArcBiox™ family include compostable polymers3 reinforced with degradable glass fibers or with inert fillers. The fillers and reinforcements, added to the base polymers in a homogeneously distributed way, allow to obtain products with excellent aesthetic, good mechanical and thermal qualities.
Moreover, thanks to their perfect processability (fluidity and thermal stability to the process) they can be converted with existing equipment (molds) at the same instrument temperatures typical of traditional products (30°C), with similar cooling times.
It is worth to emphasizing that among the different materials of ABM Composite, there are ArcBiox™ products suitable for contact with food and some of them have been designed to withstand repeated washing in the dishwasher4.
The high bio content (green carbon) of the MFA series supports and accelerates the transition process towards the creation of environmentally friendly, recyclable and / or compostable products.
The transition towards a lower environmental impact can become even more effective if all production processes are oriented towards reducing the overall emissions.
The analysis of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) on the product and on the company activities is a further means for determining the real competitive advantage of its offer to the market. In time we believe this will become increasingly important!
ABM Composite Oy and 2Mila Srl act as partners of their customers, to best support these good practices5.
For further information please send a mail to info@2milasrl.it or call us on +39.3245969132.
Note
- https://group.atradius.com/publications/market-monitor-food-italy-2019.html
- https://docs.european-bioplastics.org/publications/market_data/Report_Bioplastics_Market_Data_2019.pdf
- The thickness of the part can affect the degradation time and therefore its compliance with the EN13432-2002 standard on industrial compost.
- https://www.2milasrl.it/en/abm-composite-oys-arcbiox-mfas-are-ready-to-meet-your-dishwashers/
- https://www.2milasrl.it/en/lca-how-to-track-sustainable-business/
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