Biodegradable Plastics: The Two Main Types and How They Work
21 Jan 2011
The world-wide demand for plastics continues to skyrocket. The early plastics were non-biodegradable and now rest in landfills for thousands of years to come. Scientists were quick to recognize this environmental threat and matured plastics manufacturing industry into the multi-faceted biodegradable industry that it is today. Today, two main biodegradable plastics prevail the market: oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable.
The two products have similarities. In both cases degradation begins with a chemical process (oxidation and hydrolysis respectively), followed by a biological process and both types emit CO2 as they degrade. Both types are compostable.
Hydro-biodegradable is much more expensive than oxo-biodegradable to manufacture. Hydro-biodegradable also emits methane during the decomposition process. For these and other more technical reasons, only oxo-biodegradable can be economically recycled.
So, if you are environmentally conscious, look to be a consumer of oxo-biodegradable consumer plastics. Atlantic Poly specializes in producing custom oxo-biodegradable consumer plastics and we will be glad to help you and your company “go green” in a most economical fashion.