Atlantic Poly Blog
Comparison of Oxo-Biodegradable and Hydro-Biodegradable Plastics
See table summary below
Comparison of Oxo-Biodegradable and Hydro-Biodegradable Plastics
|
OXO |
HYDRO |
|
Usually made from a by-product of oil-refining |
Usually made from starch |
|
Can be recycled as part of a normal plastic waste-stream |
Damages recyclate unless extracted from feedstock |
|
Can be made from recyclate |
Cannot be made from recyclate |
|
Emits CO2 slowly while degrading |
Emits CO2 rapidly while degrading |
|
Inert deep in landfill |
Emits methane deep in landfill |
|
Can use same machinery and workforce as for conventional plastic |
Needs special machinery and worforce |
|
Suitable for use in high-speed machinery |
Not suitable |
|
Compostable in-vessel |
Compostable |
|
Little or no on-cost |
Four or five times more expensive than conventional plastic |
|
Same strength as conventional plastic |
Weaker than conventional plastic |
|
Same weight as conventional plastic |
|
|
Leak-proof |
Prone to leakage |
|
Degrades anywhere on land or sea |
Degrades only in high-microbial environment |
|
Time to degrade can be set at manufacture |
Cannot be controlled |
|
No genetically modified ingredients |
Possibility of GM ingredients |
|
Safe for food contact |
Safe for food contact |
|
No PCB's Organo-chlorines, or "heavy metals" |
No PCB's Organo-chlorines, or "heavy metals" |
|
Can be incinerated with high energy-recovery |
Can be incinerated, but lower calorific value |
|
Production uses no fertilisers, pesticides or water |
|
|
No limit on availability of feedstock |
Limited availability of feedstock |
|
Demand for oxo-biodegradable plastics does not drive up cost of fuel for vehicles |
Demand for hydro-biodegradable plastics drives up price of human and animal foodstuffs |
Recylced Bags - What are they really?
RECYCLED BAGS
What is a recycled bag?
Blending recycled resin with virgin resin creates a recycled content
bag. There are currently no guidelines in place stating what a “decent”
blend would be. Making a 100% recycled bag is not recommended because
doing this would compromise the strength of the bag. Our recycled bags
are normally mfg. from a 30/70 blend. (30% Recycled/70% Virgin) The
recycled content can consist of one of two different types of
feedstock…post industrial scrap**(See Below) or post consumer scrap.**
In theory, a “recycled bag” should cost less than a “virgin grade bag”
but, because of a fluctuating market this isn’t always the case. (The
scrap still has to be processed, cleaned and mfg. into a usable form)
Also, recycled bags tend to be cloudier and must be mfg. from at least
.0015 thickness to maintain strength.
Customers have also
inquired about printing the Recycling Logo on the bags. This can be
done, and we do it for many of our customers but it does become a
“custom” run and adds to the expense of the bag.
BIOGEGRADABLE PLASTICS are not all equal or good for the environment
Biodegradability is an issue we’ve been involved with for the past several years. We urge you to read the following paragraphs to better understand what it involves. Currently we run both types of biodegradable bags (Oxo or Hydro). There is a shelf life with these bags so we currently do not have a stocking program. Please contact us to help implement a “Green” program for your company.
Types of Biodegradable Plastics - It is important to distinguish between the different types of biodegradable plastic, as their costs and uses are very different. The two main types are oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable. In both cases degradation begins with a chemical process (oxidation and hydrolysis respectively), followed by a biological process. Both types emit CO2 as they degrade, but hydro-biodegradable can also emit methane. Both types are compostable, but only oxo-biodegradable can be economically recycled. Hydro-biodegradable is much more expensive than oxo-biodegradable.
OXO-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC - This new technology produces plastic which degrades by a process of OXO-degradation. The technology is based on a very small amount of pro-degradant additive being introduced into the manufacturing process, thereby changing the behaviour of the plastic. Degradation begins when the programmed service life is over (as controlled by the additive formulation) and the product is no longer required.
There is an additional cost involved in products made with this technology, which can be made with the same machinery and workforce as conventional plastic products.
The plastic does not just fragment, but will be consumed by bacteria and fungi after the additive has reduced the molecular structure to a level which permits living micro-organisms access to the carbon and hydrogen. It is therefore “biodegradable.” This process continues until the material has biodegraded to nothing more than CO2, water, and humus, and it does not leave fragments of petro-polymers in the soil. Oxo-biodegradable plastic passes all the usual ecotoxicity tests, including seed germination, plant growth and organism survival (daphnia, earthworms) tests carried out in accordance with ON S 2200 and ON S 2300 national standards.
The length of time it takes for oxo-biodegradable products to degrade can be ‘programmed’ at the time of manufacture and can be as little as a few months or as much as a few years. They are protected from degradation by special antioxidants until ready for use, and storage-life will be extended if the products are kept in cool, dark conditions.
Unlike PVC, the polymers from which oxo-biodegradable plastics are made do not contain organo-chlorine. Nor do oxo-biodegradable polymers contain PCBs, nor do they emit methane or nitrous oxide even under anaerobic conditions.
HYDRO-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS - Hydro-biodegradation is initiated by hydrolysis. Some plastics in this category have a high starch content and it is sometimes said that this justifies the claim that they are made from renewable resources. However, many of them contain up to 50% of synthetic plastic derived from oil, and others (e.g. some aliphatic polyesters) are entirely based on oil-derived intermediates. Genetically-modified crops may also have been used in the manufacture of hydro-biodegradable plastics.
Hydro-biodegradable plastics are not genuinely “renewable” because the process of making them from crops is itself a significant user of fossil-fuel energy and a producer therefore of greenhouse gases. Fossil fuels are burned in the autoclaves used to ferment and polymerise material synthesized from biochemically produced intermediates (e.g. polylactic acid from carbohydrates etc); and by the agricultural machinery and road vehicles employed; also by the manufacture and transport of fertilizers and pesticides. They are sometimes described as made from “non-food” crops, but are in fact usually made from food crops.
A disproportionate amount of land would be required to produce sufficient raw material to replace conventional plastic products, and a huge amount of water, which is in such short supply in so many parts of the world.
Residues from some native starches can be seriously toxic; bitter cassava for example (tapioca) has a high level of hydro-cyanic glucoside present, which has to be removed by careful washing. During growth the plant is toxic to wildlife. Cassava is exhaustive of potash .
Three recent articles in the international press have drawn attention to the danger of using “renewable” resources derived from plants as a substitute for petroleum products. They focus on the use of corn and palm oil to make “biofuels” for motor vehicles, but the same danger arises from the use of corn and other agricultural products to make hydro-biodegradable plastics.
The International Herald Tribune wrote on 31st January 2007 “Just a few years ago politicians and green groups in the Netherlands were thrilled by the country’s adoption of “sustainable energy” by coaxing electricity plants to use biofuel. Spurred by government subsidies, energy companies designed generators that ran exclusively on this fuel, which in theory would be cleaner than fossil fuels because it is derived from plants.
Plastics made from crops, are up to 400% more expensive, they are not strong enough for use in high-speed machinery, and they emit methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) in landfill. Also, it is wrong to use land, water and fertilizers to grow crops for bioplastics and biofuels, which drives up the cost of food for the poorest people
Business Week 5 Feb 2007 edition “The rise in the price of corn that's hurting US pig farmers isn't caused by any big dip in the overall supply. In the U.S., last year's harvest was 10.5 billion bushels, the third-largest crop ever. But instead of going into the mouths of pigs or cattle or people, an increasing slice is being transformed into fuel for cars. The roughly 5 billion gallons of ethanol made in 2006 by 112 U.S. plants consumed nearly one-fifth of the corn crop.” US chicken producers are also being hit. The industry's feed costs are already up $1.5 billion per year. Ultimately, these increases will be passed on to consumers, and there could be dramatic inflation in food costs.
Oxo-bio plastics degrade in the upper layers of a landfill, but they are completely inert deeper in the landfill in the absence of oxygen. They do not emit methane at any stage.
Paper bags use 300% more energy to produce, they are bulky and heavy and are not strong enough, especially when wet. They will also emit methane in landfill.
ATLANTIC POLY’S COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Over the past 15 years we’ve helped remove millions of lbs of scrap from the waste stream. We receive hundreds of calls inquiring about Recycling, Recycled Bags, Biodegradable Bags, and other environmental questions. Our views and what we’re doing about these issues will be discussed on the following pages. We realize each of your companies’ can be faced with different environmental challenges. What works for one company might not be viable for another. We’re here as a resource to help you with your environmental challenges.
Atlantic Poly would like to help in your recycling efforts and conserving our environment
Atlantic Poly would like to help in your recycling efforts and conserving our environment:
- Help your company's bottom line
- Help your environment
- Reduce your waste disposal costs
- Potential for value of materials recycled
- Possible tax benefits for recycling material
- Stretch Film
- Pallet Wrap
- Poly Bags
- Poly Films
- LDPE and HDPE
RECYCLED POLY BAGS - Good or Bad?
SOURCE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING
Source reduction is decreasing the amount of materials or energy used during the manufacturing or distribution of products and packages. Because it stops waste before it starts, source reduction is the top solid waste priority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
What Source Reduction Isn't
Source reduction is not the same as recycling. Recycling is collecting already used materials and making them into another product. Recycling begins at the end of a product's life, while source reduction first takes place when the product and its packaging are being designed.
The best way to think about source reduction and recycling is as complementary activities: combined, source reduction and recycling have a significant impact on preventing solid waste and saving resources.
Why It's Important
- Source reduction conserves raw material and energy resources. Manufacturing thinner gauge films and bags requires less energy to manufacture and transport. (LDPE and LLDPE resins have become more sophisticated and can be run at a thinner gauges with equivalent strength to thicker material. )
- Source reduction reduces releases to air, land and water. For example, it takes less fuel to transport lighter weight materials.
- Source reduction cuts back on what has to be thrown away. That helps keep solid waste disposal costs down, which is good for municipal budgets and consumers.
Domestic vs Imports
It
has been assumed for a while now that imported production of plastic
bags is always much cheaper than domestic production. This is no longer
true in many cases.
On
standard low density constructions like patch handle, drawstring,
drawtape, die cut, and soft loop, domestic might now be the way to go.
A 3-4 week domestic lead time, is certainly easier to deal with than a 12-14 week import lead time.
Maybe it is time once again to think about supporting American production!!
TRUE LINERS
New product meets all EPA and Government Requirements
Binskin Liners… We’ve developed a new line of Roll Off liners called “TRUE LINERS” Guaranteed full gauge, Full spec liners that meet all EPA and Government requirements.
BinSkins™ are heavy-duty polyethylene
liners, providing maximum protection for your roll-off containers.
BinSkins™ reduce potential leakage, lower wash-out costs and increase
container longevity. BinSkins™ provide a cleaner, safer, easier way to
dump debris, and other airborne contaminants. Easily installed by one
person, BinSkins™ quickly roll open and extend over the top and sides
of the containers.
Plastic Poly Bags are Reusable
Plastic poly bags
have many uses and as we all know they are usually used over and over
again. Whenever we purchase something at a store, more often than not
we take our items home in a poly bag. We then reuse these bags to
transport something else or to temporarily store items.
We find
these bags are used everywhere including in kid's local sports leagues.
Hats and jerseys are distributed to each team in some form of a
plastic bag. As I coach I reuse these bags for other things and hardly
ever throw them away. It's amazing how many uses these are for poly
bags but equally impressive is how many times we reuse the bags.
They are convenient, durable and safe for the environment.