A novel additive-based technology for the biodegradable transformation of polyethylene terephthalate in the natural environment

每年产生4亿吨塑料，其中40%是一次性塑料，要么作为垃圾被送往垃圾填埋场，要么焚烧，要么进入环境。尽管采取了塑料袋税等举措，并提出了减少使用和增加收集/回收的措施，但世界上仍有超过30%的塑料从收集系统中逃脱，最终进入水道，最终损害海洋生物、生态系统和人类健康。人们对这个废物问题及其环境影响的高度认识正在推动可生物降解聚合物市场的增长。基于添加剂的可生物降解塑料在产品的整个使用寿命内保持了传统塑料的物理特性，之后添加剂加速了塑料的生物降解，将其完全转化为二氧化碳、水和生物质，从而保护环境免受塑料垃圾的堆积。当收集/回收策略失败时，这就像是一份“保险单”。目前的添加剂只适用于聚烯烃(聚乙烯(PE)、聚丙烯(PP))，因为它是一种适用于所有解决方案的解决方案。独立测试已经证明这些方法是无效的，塑料不能完全降解，留下有害碎片(微塑料)，整个生物降解过程需要的时间往往(远远)超过制造商声称的时间。此外，尽管聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)是第三大最常用的塑料(年产量1883万吨)，但目前还没有商业上可行的PET生物降解性转换技术。为了满足这一需求，PolyMateria致力于开发一系列卓越的插入式添加剂，用于制造可生物降解、可回收、可定制和具有成本效益的塑料产品。该项目与圣安德鲁斯大学的解聚专家合作，旨在开发首个用于PET包装和一次性产品的基于添加剂的可生物降解转化技术，提供塑料包装和消费品行业正致力于的突破性技术。双方都处于有利地位，可以利用这个机会；PolyMateria已经将用于PP和PE的定制添加剂商业化，圣安德鲁斯在PET解聚方面拥有专业知识。主要的PET包装制造商已经表达了在开发出可行的添加剂配方后共同开发该解决方案的浓厚兴趣。在Innovate UK的支持下，需要一个为期3年的工业研究计划来开发配方并测试相关的生物降解性能和安全性。成功将促进与塑料/包装制造商的共同开发协议，以便在2022年之前进行最终开发和商业化，帮助将PolyMateria确立在塑料可生物降解添加剂市场的前沿，并有望实现显著增长。“

"Each year, 400M tonnes of plastic is produced of which 40% is single-use plastic that is either sent to landfill as waste, incinerated or enters the environment. Despite initiatives such as plastic bag taxes and proposed measures to reduce use and increase collection/recycling, more than 30% of the world's plastic still escapes collection systems and can end up in waterways, eventually damaging marine life, ecosystems and human health.Heightened awareness of this waste problem and its environmental impact is driving growth in the biodegradable polymer market. Additive-based biodegradable plastic retains the physical characteristics of conventional plastic throughout a product's usable life, after which the additive accelerates the plastic biodegradation, transforming it entirely into carbon dioxide, water and biomass, thus protecting the environment from the accumulation of plastic waste. This acts as an ""insurance policy"" when collection/recycling strategies fail.Current additives are only available for polyolefins (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP)) as a one size fits all solution. Independent testing has proven these to be ineffective, where plastics do not fully degrade, leaving harmful fragments (microplastics) with the entire process of biodegradation requiring timescales often (far) in excess of those claimed by manufacturers. In addition, and despite the fact that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the third most commonly used plastic (18.83M tonnes produced p.a.), there is currently no commercially viable biodegradability converter technology for PET.To address this need, Polymateria aim to develop a portfolio of superior drop-in additives for the manufacture of biodegradable, recyclable, customisable and cost-effective plastic products. In collaboration with depolymerisation experts at the University of St Andrews, this project aims to develop the first additive-based biodegradable transforming technology for PET packaging and disposables, offering the breakthrough technology that the plastic packaging and consumer goods sector is aiming for.Both partners are well placed to exploit this opportunity; Polymateria has already commercialised bespoke additives for PP and PE, and St Andrews has expertise in the depolymerisation of PET.. Key PET packaging manufacturers have already expressed a keen interest in co-developing the solution once a viable additive formulation has been developed.With support from Innovate UK, a 3-year programme of industrial research is required to develop the formulation and test the associated biodegradation performance and safety. Success will facilitate a co-development deal with plastic/packaging manufacturers for final development and commercialisation by 2022, helping to establish Polymateria at the forefront of the biodegradable additives for plastics market poised for significant growth."