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Compostability

The term “bioplastics” is actually used for two separate things:

 

Bio-based plastics :

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  • This means that the material is (partly) derived from biomass or plants ie which are renewable sources.

  • Biomass for plastics are usually from corn, sugarcane, or cellulose. Therefore this is not fossil fuel based, hence it is also called as Green material

 

Biodegradable plastics :

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  • Plastics that can be completely broken down by microbes in a reasonable timeframe, given specific conditions.

  • Micro-organisms in the environment are able to convert biodegradable materials to natural substances such as water, CO2, and compost without additives within a certain time and at a particular location.

 

NOTE: Not all bio-based plastics are biodegradable, and not all biodegradable plastics are bio-based.

Bio-based plastics : “Beginning of Life” of plastics

Biodegradable/compostable: “End of life of plastics

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What does compostability mean ?

Fragmentation – first step in the biodegradation process, in which organic matter is broken down into microscopic fragments

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Biodegradability – Complete microbial assimilation of the fragmented product as a food source by the microorganisms in the disposal environment

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Compostability – Complete carbon assimilation within 180 days in an industrial compost environment.

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Bio-based And Bio Degradable: These are usually materials

made from cellulose acetate (plant-based) or lactic acid-based

blends (or pure starch blends) and are used for primarily single

use plastics like cutlery or some applications across pens/toys etc.

 

Some examples are :

PLA : Poly Lactic Acid

PHA : Poly Hydroxyalkanoate

And other plant based cellulose compounds

 

They are completely biodegradable as per the standards specified

under ASTMD6400 / EN13432

 

Oil-Based and Bio-degradable : Traditional oil based polymers

which are biodegradable have existed for many years and usually

being used for applications such as stents, tissue engineering

and other biomaterial applications.

 

Some examples are :

uPBAT, PBS and PCL

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CIPET: BIODEGRADABILITY TEST REQUIREMENTS

  • Biodegradation/Mineralization:

Ultimate aerobic Biodegradation ( the breakdown of organic contaminants such as carbon  by microorganisms when oxygen is present) must be more than 90% within 180 days

 

  • Disintegration:

After 12 weeks not more than 10% of the product’s original dry mass should remain when passing through 2mm sieve

 

  • Ability of compost to support plant growth:

The Percentage of Seed germination should be greater than 90% for 2 different plant species.

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