ITP 341 Sustainability and Bioplastics (quiz 3)

reduced food waste/extended shelf life=

reduced carbon emissions

Intelligent food packaging

smart packaging, monitor freshness, enhance consumer safety.

USEPA waste hierarchy

reducing our demand on resources is most favorable

spectroscopy

study of interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiations.

Mechanical recycling pros and cons

Advantages:
Most common
Effective
Energy efficient

Disadvantages:
Hetero source of flakes or pellets
Thermal degradation
Poor control over functional performance
May or may not be suitable for food contact applications.

what makes something sustainable?

manufacturing, end of life

Meal kits

high packaging impact

Food Waste

high greenhouse gas emissions

Active Packaging

packaging actively protects, beyond containment and protection (modified atmosphere)

porous materials

can be deployed to modify temperature (can be used in intelligent packaging)

Chemical Recycling pros and cons

Advantages:
Better quality control over end properties
Like virgin resin
Can be used for food contact applications

Disadvantages:
More energy
Time intensive
Higher carbon footprint than mech

mechanical recycling

melting the plastics and reforming. lose properties over time.

chemical recycling

advanced/ molecular recycling/ pyrolysis
- converts polymers to monomers
- depolymerization!

Pyrolysis

decomposition of polymers into:
hydrocarbons
gases
liquid oil
small molecules

microbial degradation

Breakdown of a chemical by microorganisms.

Life Cycle Assessment

assessing environmental impact

bioplastics

includes biobased & biodegradable

biobased

plastic comes from a biological or renewable source

biodegradable

A plastic that undergoes anaerobic biodegradation (a process in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as algae, fungi, and or bacteria that exist in nature that produce CO2, water, and CH4) as per industry accepts standards.

compostable

the degradation of material by aerobic biological processes that yield CO2, water, organic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other distinguishable or toxic residue.

industrial compost facility

compostable plastics (not all accept)
site on-campus

Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)

Ecoflex
Compostable
Mulch films
Perfotec FLEXFRESH

Ecovio

Biodegradable polyester: PLA and PBAT blend

Polycaprolactone (PCL)

Glass transition temperature (Tg)= -60ºC
Flexible polymer

Polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHAs)

Category of bioplastics
Synthesized from methane (mango materials)

Polylactic Acid (PLA)

Renewable resource
compostable/biodegradable
Recyclable
Commercially competitive
Higher breathability compared to traditional plastics

PLA cons

brittle/low impact resistance
Poor tear resistance
Poor water and gas barrier
Limited commercial application
(really loud)

PLA applications

fresh produce
foam trays
Sorbents (meat products)

PLA blend applications

Ecovio
Bioflex

cost of PLA

~10% more expensive as compared to PET

starch blends

Bioflex
Ecolabel

Bioflex

blend of thermoplastic starch and copolyesters

EcoLabel

Thermoplastic starch and biodegradable polymer

Bio-based PE

Braskem is the main supplier

Ecoflex

flexible packaging solution

PCL

flexible packaging solution
limitations: low melting point, petroleum based

Compostable-Certifications

certification on packaging

biggest consumer of bioplastics

packaging

growing consumer demand

products with reduced environmental impact