All good questions, Clint. None of the Biofase-specific answers are immediately available on Biofase's website. I looked for such information--after using Google Translate, but this effort is quite new: the company was started early last year. I hope they publish a paper on the subject soon. Regarding compostability and recycling: most participants in the bioplastic industry say that recycling is the first "best use", and compostability comes second. Making a bioplastic compostable is usually aimed at food-service or other single-use items--as Biofase is doing--since the idea there is at least if the items are thrown in the trash (as they often are, as Elizabeth's comment points out), it's better to be compostable and/or be biodegradable in a landfill. We covered this here: http://www.designnews.com/author.
Great article as usual. As always with these introductory articles, they open the door to a lot of questions. Mike and I were wondering the following:
When does the degradation kick in? After exposure to what? Into what components does it break down?
All of these lead to our most important question, from a manufacturer of plastic components point of view - what is the impact of a biodegradable additive that is combined with PP or PE?
- Does it eliminate the possibility of recycling PP and PE materials into like product.
- Will it prevent recycled plastics from having properties comparable to plastics without the additive?
- Does the partially degraded bioplastic remain in recycled PP and PE or does the additive (and any components it has broken down into) burn off during recompounding or remelting?
While a 100% compostable product makes a lot of sense, a partially decomposing one might not if it prevents or negatively impacts the recyclability of the PE or PP.
I agree, Greg--good to see not just a great idea for using a natural resource to create a biodegradeable plastic but also showing the financial benefit to doing so, which often is how naysayers dismiss such initiatives. I love this idea, of course, especially as someone who consciously limits my use of single-use plastic because I know the truth about it--it can only be recycled once and ultimately ends up in landfills or in the ocean. And again, it's taking a country outside of the U.S. to lead the way on an environmental business move. Will definitely be keeping an eye on how this and similar ideas pan out.
30,000 metric tons a month, of just avocado pits. One source on the web says an average avocado seed weighs 7.584 ounces (.215 kg, or .000215 metric tons).
Ann, your article leads me to believe each material requires its own unique process to become a plastic. Avocado pits need one, corn needs a different one.
Is this true? Is the grail of the bioplastic industry a universal process?
Great job for turning a cost outlay into a profit. I applaud the innovative initiative to take a previous waste product and turn it into a productive product and a new revenue stream (not to mention reducing waste to the environment).
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