Andrej Kržan - Plastice€¦ · This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE programme...

This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE programme co-financed by the ERDF

www.plastice.org

Project presentation Andrej Kržan

Laboratory for Polymer Chemistry and Technology National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia

PLASTiCE project focus

Innovative value chain development for sustainable plastics in Central Europe

Plastics use growing

>> environmental pressures

Solution: more sustainable use and

materials (bioplastics)

CE: science good but little use

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Objectives

Not a research Project!

• Raising awareness among target groups regarding biodegradable plastics

• Improving technology transfer and knowledge exchange mechanisms in biodegradable end-user industries

• Improving access to scientific knowledge, use of already existing knowledge adapted to requirements of biodegradable polymer and plastic value chain

• Intesifying application-oriented cooperation between research and industry.

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Expected results

• National information points

• For providing unbiased and scientifically supported information about sustainable plastics to consumers and industrial users

• Information Toolkit

• Certification portal for compostable plastics

• Developed in Slovenia and Slovakia

• Roadmap

• For research and commercialization of bioplastics with a view on market expectations

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How to achieve this?

• Support and involvement of the complete value chain (production, processing, industrial use, consumer, waste management)

• Joining strong centers of knowledge in bio-polymer materials

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PLASTiCE partners

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13 partners from four countries (Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Italy)

Value Chain

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Today’s emphasis

• Case studies intended to learn general lessons to be shared

• Certification portals

• National information points and National focal points to provide an information/contact point

• Dissemination

• Conclusions

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Case studies

WP3: Developing a roadmap for action – from science to innovation in the value chain

- Marek Kowalczuk, WP leader

- Luk Palmen, consultant

Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Zabrze, Poland

The plan involves carrying out case studies. Experiences gained in case studies will be used in the preparation of the Roadmap for action (“transnational R&D scheme”)

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• UV masterbatch

• proprietary dyes

• Used to produce film/bags

Case study 1a

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Testing of markers for easy identification of

biodegradable plastics

in the waste stream Film with 1% additive

Masterbatch

• Time dependence of

fluorescence

Case study 1a

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Testing of markers for easy identification of

biodegradable plastics

in the waste stream

Time after exposure

G-P2 B-P2 G-P1

0 min

4 min

8 min

• Simulated detection in waste

(under source of UV light)

Case study 1a

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Testing of markers for easy identification of

biodegradable plastics

in the waste stream

• Printing (not Masterbatch)

• IR dye (commercial pigment)

• Flexography (laboratory scale)

• PE and PLA

– difficult printing due to adhesion problems

– possible but more expensive (dye)

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Case study 1b

Testing of markers for easy identification of

biodegradable plastics in the waste stream

Case study 1b

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Visible spectrum IR spectrum

Testing of markers for easy identification of

biodegradable plastics in the waste stream

• UV dye printing

• Ecovio, Prismabio

• printing should be no more than

48 hours after extrusion

• film slip was issue

• commercial marker

• Ready implementation and detection

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Case study 1c

Testing of markers for easy identification of

biodegradable plastics in the waste stream

Why sustainable materials?

• Single use/disposable products Waste!

• Market demand Products should be made from biodegradable materials

Case study 3 Use of bioedegradable plastics in hygiene,

sanitary and auxiliary medical products

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Possible applications of bioplastics

• Tampon applicators

• Blisters

• Tweezers

• Sticks for cotton tops

• Pet care products

Case study 3

Use of bioedegradable plastics in hygiene,

sanitary and auxiliary medical products

Tampon applicator - number of materials tested / not yet finished - flexibility / postcrystallization

PE applicator PHA applicator

Case study 3

Use of bioedegradable plastics in hygiene,

sanitary and auxiliary medical products

Tweezers / Sterilization

- Water-steam sterilization

- Problems:

- loss of elasticity - fragile

- reduction of size

- torsion, closing of tweezers

Case study 3

Use of bioedegradable plastics in hygiene,

sanitary and auxiliary medical products

Conclusions

• Materials are hard to find

• Processing requires some adjustments

• Product requirements, e.g. sterilization,

waterpermeability, contact with human body

• MARKET DEMAND!

Result: applicator prototype

Case study 3

Use of bioedegradable plastics in hygiene,

sanitary and auxiliary medical products

Biodegradable plastic drinking straws

• Offer the same convenience as the classic drinking straws

• No downside of the plastic waste issue

• Food contact!

Classic drinking straw

PLA-blend straw Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Straws_made_of_PLA-Blend_Bio-Flex.jpg

Case study 6a

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

food contact disposable products

PEPIplast /PLASTiCE biodegradable straws

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

food contact disposable products

Case study 6a

Lessons learned • Processing adjustments: temperature, pressure,

screw rotation, production speed

• Production of straws from biodegradable plastics is already established elsewhere so Novamont could offer us the right material

• With experienced personnel, quality equipment and with a material intended for tested product implementing bioplastics (biodegradable plastics) is fast and simple!

(Opposite of CS 3: No material for the exact use)

Case study 6a

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

food contact disposable products

Food contact testing total migration

VISUAL INSPECTION

• PLA at used migration

conditions no visual changes were detected

• Thermoplastic starch

– Bags

– Laminated cup ~

– Foil ~

OVERALL MIGRATION

• PLA overall migrations from

all samples into all simulants after first and third cycle are below level of detection

• Thermoplastic starch: – Laminated cup: 1 cycle

– Bags: , although they are

not intended for FC

– Foil:first cycle exceeds limits, third cycle

prewashed – lower overall migration, still exceeds the limit

Image source: http://www.vanderstahl.com/medical_pouch_sealers2/viu-visual-inspection-unit-old/

twines for agriculture from biodegradable plastics (2012…..???)

hemp fibres (beginning of XX century)

sisal yarns (1950-s)

polypropylene twines and strapping bands

(from 1970-s)

Case study 6b

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

agricultural products

Production of twine

spinning

500-700 kg

extrusion Film Oven

drawing

extruder

Case study 6b

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

agricultural products

biodegradation in soil

appropriate mechanical properties

comparative price with polyolefins

Main parameters in selection of biodegradable polymers for their use in twine production

Polymer selection

Case study 6b

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

agricultural products

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Mechanical properties of the thread were in the range expected for the twine application!

Twine

- Number of materials tested - Suitable Bionolle film produced at lab-scale was drawn and twisted to obtain a thread.

Case study 6b

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

agricultural products

Open issues • low drawing ratio of film • cost of starting material for scaling up production trials (500-700 Kg requested) • availability of results from standardized tests of biodegradation in soil

Case study 6b

Use of bioedegradable plastics in

agricultural products

LCA of Mercator carrier bags

• 3 types of carrier bags:

• LDPE plastic bag: produced in Slovenia (Plasta d.o.o, …)

• PP plastic bag: produced in Vietnam, supplied by Vicbag S.A.S.

• Biodegradable Mater-Bi bag: produced in Slovenia (Plasta d.o.o.)

Case study 2b

The goal and the scope of the study

• 3 plastic grocery bags (LDPE as basic bag)

• LCA methodology – from CRADLE to GRAVE

• Environmental impact - environmental indicators

• Life cycle of bags – basic scenarios

• Variations in the end of life phase (waste management)

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Target audience:

• Bags producers

• Customers

• Waste management companies

• Policy

Case study 2b

Limitations and boundary conditions

32 Simple scheme of LCA model

• Production materials

• TiO2, inks & dies

• Storehouse activity

• Transport:

store - customers

• Industrial power plants

• Auxiliary materials

• Human labor

• Auxiliary activities

Cut of criteria:

Process / Materials

Case study 2b

Numerical model example PP-Life base case

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Case study 2b

Results: Mass equality - 20 g

• Theoretical approach;

• Equality / Competitiveness of Mater-BI bag!

Opportunity

• Implementation of agricultural composting credits!

• 34 % of overall burden (GWP) comes from industry composting

Case study 2b

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Case study 2a

Systemic approach for sustainable production for bioplastics Composting

Systemic approach for sustainable production

and use of bioplastics - Composting

Case study 2a

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Systemic approach for sustainable production

and use of bioplastics - Composting

New case study

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Industrial composting test

• To demonstrate and document compostable plastics behaviour and influence in real industrial composting (windrow, enclosed)

• Interest of composting operator

• To be finished by Sept 2014.

Certification portals

Support for certification as only guarantee for clients and consumers

Starting point: Polish experinece

• COBRO – DIN Certco - need implementation

• Paperwork and contact locally and in local language

Implemented

• Slovenia: Slopak

• Slovakia: Polymer Institute Slovak Academy of Sciences

Currently ongoing test of portal

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National info points National focal points

Intention: establish and provide content for information points in participating countries (local language)

• Content not complete

• Easy replication (web-based, translation) – need for local ownership (key role S. Miertus, ICARST)

– established R, SRB, H, INDO, TR

– contacts A, CRO, BG, TR, EG, UK, IND,

• Entry portal (Aster, I) connected to locally hosted sites

• Platform for future applications

www.sustainableplastics.eu

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Dissemination

- Free information pushed at very occassion

- Contact any target group that can be reached

• Events: seminars, workshops, conferences NGO, industry, teachers, R&D, debate, film premiere

• Video content on Youtube – great un-ending success

• Facebook

• 3 + 1 conferences

September 23-24, 2014 (Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia)

Linked with Polymer Technology College, summers school on biopolymers (Montainuniversitat, Leoben)

Agreement with European Bioplastics to offer one-off discount for companies to become members

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Conclusions

Format: non-research project

• Reserch/expertise available - need implementation

• Unbiased – no need to implement own research product

• Difficult to embrace in research institutions

• Administratively demanding (worse than FP)

Results

• Considerable interest/activity can be raised

• 160 companies, 20 events ...

• Dissemination tools work

• Did not overcome science/application disconnect in CE

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Thank you for your attention!

Have ideas or questions?

Contact us

More information: www.plastice.org

www.sustainableplastics.eu

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