BioTGuard : Biodegradable tree shelter

英国每年种植大约4500万棵树。树棚保护幼树和灌木不被动物捕食。它们是一种经过验证的经济途径，可以限制树木生命的前五年的损失。不幸的是，大多数都是由油基和不可生物降解的塑料制成的。大多数庇护所从未被收集，最终每年向环境中丢弃约2500吨持久性微塑料。如果没有可持续的解决方案，作为英国缓解气候变化努力的一部分，大幅增加植树的计划将加剧这一问题。该项目将开发一种新型的可生物降解的树木防护装置，以减少（并最终消除）目前油基塑料（聚丙烯）设计的环境负担。这些材料提供可控生物降解的能力将确保防护罩在大约2年内降解，因为树木达到适当的成熟。第一阶段可行性项目的成功使Biome能够在此应用中探索各种生物塑料材料的性能，并最终在客户现场制造原型。第二阶段将实现：改进材料配方；加速配方的天气试验至5年以上；将实验室测试与“真实世界”的种植条件相关联；验证和深化初始生命周期分析工作；并与更广泛的行业利益相关者进一步建立测试协议的证书。Biome在这个项目中使用的聚合物是生物基和可生物降解的。其中一些是新颖的，是Biome和一些英国顶尖大学在六年的研究合作中投资650万英镑的结果。生物可降解树棚的开发是该合作小组努力产生的第一个潜在的商业应用。在这个特殊项目中使用的聚合物部分基于呋喃二甲酸（FDCA），这是一种关键的生物基单体构建块。有关FDCA形成过程的更多信息可在公司网站上找到[https://biomebioplastics.com/industrial-biotechnology/][0].The]，该项目将与主要位于英国的制造和测试组织合作交付。将从英国领先的林业管理和非营利组织那里寻求重要建议，他们将参与在英国各个地点和国际地点的原型部署（和现场监测）。[0]: https://biomebioplastics.com/industrial-biotechnology/

Around 45 million trees are planted in the UK each year. Tree shelters protect young trees and bushes from predation by animals. They are a well-proven and economic route to limiting losses in the first five years of a tree's life. Unfortunately, most are made from oil-based and non-biodegradable plastics. The majority of shelters are never collected and eventually litter the environment with some 2,500 tons/annum of persistent microplastics. Without a sustainable solution, plans to significantly increase tree planting as part of the UK's drive to mitigate climate change will exacerbate this problem.The project will develop a novel biodegradable tree guard that will reduce (and eventually eliminate) the environmental burden of the current oil-based plastic (polypropylene) design. The ability of these materials to deliver controlled biodegradation will ensure that the shelters degrade within around 2 years, as the tree reaches suitable maturity.The successful Phase1 feasibility project has allowed Biome to explore the performance of a variety of bioplastic materials in this application and culminated in the manufacture of prototypes at customer's premises. Phase2 will enable: the refinement of material formulations; accelerated weather testing of formulations to over 5 years; correlating laboratory testing with "real world" planting conditions; validating and deepening initial Life Cycle Analysis work; and further building the credentials of the testing protocols with a wider range of industry stakeholders.The polymers that Biome are using in this project are bio-based and biodegradable. Some are novel and are the result of £6.5 million of investment over six years in research collaboration between Biome and a number of the UK's leading universities. The development of biodegradable tree shelters is the first potential commercial application arising from this collaborative group's endeavours. The polymers used in this particular project are partly based on furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a key bio-based monomeric building block. More information regarding the processes for the formation of FDCA can be found on the Company's website, [https://biomebioplastics.com/industrial-biotechnology/][0].The project will be delivered in collaboration with predominantly UK-based manufacturing and testing organisations. Crucial advice will be sought from leading UK forestry management and non-profit organisations, who will be involved in the prototype deployment (and field monitoring) at various UK locations and international sites.[0]: https://biomebioplastics.com/industrial-biotechnology/