Bioplastics, Lifecycle and Recycling System

Bioplas(cs, its Lifecycle, and Recycling system

June 20, 2015 Material Technology : Research Presenta;on (ver.2)

Sungmy Kim / MFA Transdisciplinary Design

What are bioplas;cs?

Contents

Why are they beMer than oil-‐based plas;cs?

Types of bioplas;cs Starch-‐based bioplas;cs

Algae bioplas;cs

History

Issues of bioplas;cs

Limit of Plas;c Recycling symbols

Industry -‐ Solanyl

Applica;ons

Issues

Industry -‐ Algix

Applica;ons

Lack of facili;es

Miscommunica;ons between products and bins

Contents

Food supply

GMO

Non-‐compostables

Proposal – New recycling sign system

What are Bioplas(cs?

What are Bioplas;cs?

Bioplas;cs : Substances made from organic biomass sources, such as vegetable oils, starch, or microorganism

Biomass : Renewable sources from living (or recently living) plant and animal materials which can be used as fuel Biopolymers : polymers produced by living organisms (polymeric biomolecules)

Why are Bioplas;cs BeMer than Oil-‐based Plas;cs?

Advantages

Disadvantages

-‐  Half of bioplas;cs in the market are made from starch.

-‐  Starch-‐based plas;c manufacturing started about 1950s. -‐  Mainly it started from starch manufacturers. -‐  Starch is from corn, potato, tapioca, kenaf, sugarcane, or cassava.

Starch-‐based Bioplas(cs

Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c >

-‐  Cutlery is the most common starch-‐based bioplas;c product.

-‐  Toyota applied starch-‐based bioplas;cs for car interior materials.

Starch-‐based Bioplas(cs Applica(ons

Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Applica;on

Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Industry

-‐  Uses starch from byproduct of the french-‐fry and potato processing industry -‐  Biodegradable, compostable, a single material -‐  Degrada;on period is between 3 months to 2 years -‐  a renewable subs;tute for PET or PS

-‐  can be enhanced by applying controlled release technology to add func;onali;es to the grades, like fer;lizers, organic pes;cides and fragrance.

Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Manufacturer : Solanyl

-‐  injec;on molding, sheet extrusion, profile extrusion, thermoforming and extrusion film blowing products available

-‐  Able to subs;tute oil-‐based plas;cs and form any shape like them

Processing availability

Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Solanyl Processing Availability

-‐ ‘trade union’ by Rachel Griffin of earnest studio

-‐  uses the starch-‐based plas;c Solanyl as a link between mass produc;on and handcraf

Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Solanyl Applica;on

Art exhibi(on

-‐  very sensi;ve to humidity -‐  more briMle than the ABS or PLA filament -‐  takes longer ;me to solidify when cooling so that they had to print objects at a very low extrusion speed(30-‐50 mm/s) -‐  ideal extruder temperature should be at 185C

Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Solanyl 3D Prin;ng

3D Prin(ng

Issues from Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c >

Advantages

Disadvantages

3 Issues on Starch-‐based Bioplas(cs

1

2 3

Food Industrial Use

“1 million tons of bioplas;cs produced annually, around 300,000 hectares are used to grow crops, or 0.02% of the world's total naturally irrigated area available for cul;va;on. Even if half the world's plas;cs were made from crops grown on food land, the industry would only required 3% of the world's cul;vated acreage”

En;re farmland

VS.

“By 2014, almost a quarter of US grain produc;on is expected to be turned over to biofuels and bioplas;cs produc;on, poten;ally causing a significant rise in food prices that will hit the poorest people hardest”

“Of course hunger is a problem but it has a lot to do with problems with distribu(on and waste. Produc;on is actually sufficient."

Issues from Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Food Supply

Some of the bioplas;cs are using gene;cally modified crops or gene;cally modified bacteria to op;mize efficiency for industrial use.

-‐ Gene flow : Pollen from GMOs can be resul;ng in hybrid species.

-‐ Overuse of agricultural chemicals : GMOs require more agricultural chemicals (i.e., herbicides and insec;cides) : Some GMOs even produce their own pes;cides.

Issues from Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > GMO

Figure 1

Usually we consider that all bioplas;cs are biodgradable and bio-‐based, but technically some bioplas;cs are non-‐biodgradable and fossil-‐based.

Issues from Starch-‐based Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > > Non-‐compostables

Degradable : will fragment into smaller pieces Biodegradable : capable of being broken down, usually by bacteria, into basic elements Compostable : capable of being decomposed by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen Waste is transformed into soil amendments such as humus or mulch.

Biodegradable Compostable Degradable

Features of Bioplas(cs


Figure 2.



Biodegraded plas(cs are more harmful than non-‐degradable plas(cs.

-‐  Large plas;c waste is collec;ble, but some plas;cs are only biodegradable, and non-‐compostable, small plas;c pieces are spread and absorbed by animals.

-‐  Many cosme;cs and personal care products contain ;ny plas;c microbeads that

are pollu;ng environments. Plas;c microbeads can enter the bloodstream through the gut, and then they can circulate in the bloodstream, they can directly enter cells and and ;ssues of these animals.

Algae Bioplas(cs

-‐  Compostable, renewable resources

-‐  Higher produc;vity than starch in the same scale of land

-‐  High energy efficiency in produc;on

-‐  Do not impact on the available farmable land

Algae Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c >

To resolve these three issues of starch-‐based bioplas;cs,

algae is a emerging resource for bioplas;cs.

Algae Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > Manufacturer : Algix >

ALGIX use algae to clean wastewater by absorbing excess nutrients while also providing algae biomass as a co-‐product.

Algae Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > Applica;on / Water Cleaning Service >

Algae Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c > 3D Prin;ng Availability >

ALGIX also manufactures 3D-‐Fuel, resin for 3D printers.

Bioplas;c >

Advantages

Disadvantages

Other Issues of Bioplas(cs on Sor(ng Stage

Other Issues on Bioplas;cs

“Most recycling centers are not set up to handle large amounts of PLA. Presently, PLA products cannot be recycled in conjunc;on with petroleum-‐based products.”

Other Issues on Bioplas;cs Bioplas;c >

1. Lack of Facili(es

Lack of Facili;es >

Bioplas;c >

2. Limit of Plas(c Recycling symbols

Other Issues on Bioplas;cs Limit of Plas;c Recycling symbols >

Bioplas;cs are classified in No.7 plas;cs which is for the plas;cs that are the most difficult to be recycled.

This resin coding system was developed in 1988.

-‐ “Interna;onal Paper”

-‐ “Cau;on contents Hot”

Bioplas;c > Other Issues on Bioplas;cs Miscommunica;ons >

3. Miscommunica(ons Between Products and Bins

Informa;on on a coffee lid

-‐ Manufacturer

-‐ Recycling symbol

1) product side

Then, where should it go? Landfill or recycling center?

-‐> This lid is compostable! Why it didn’t men;on its compostability?



2) Bin side Is it easy for you to classify your waste?

The New School Food Waste Collec(on Loca(ons -‐  13th Street Residence Cafeteria

-‐  Eugene Lang, 65 West 11th Street, Lang Café

-‐  Parsons East, 25 East 13th Street, floors 2-‐5 -‐  Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, Café 55 and Library Café -‐ The University Center Cafeteria and Cafes


2) Bin side Is it easy for you to find compost bins near you?




2) Bin side Is it easy for you to classify your waste on the streets?

Recyclables Biodegradables Compostables

“Recyclable” “Biodegradable” “Compostable”

Proposal > New recycling sign system

Proposal : New Recycling Sign System

-‐  To reduce manual waste classifica;on work -‐  To inform products’ capacity and lifecycle to consumers -‐  To encourage manufacturers to use compostable materials -‐  examples :

Thank you

“Bioplas;c,” accessed April 21, 2015, hMp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplas;c#Starch-‐based_plas;cs Figure 1. “What are bioplas;cs?” accessed April 20, 2015, hMp://en.european-‐bioplas;cs.org/wp-‐content/uploads/2011/04/fs/Bioplas;cs_eng.pdf. Figure 2. “What is the difference between Compostable and Biodegradable bags?” accessed April 21, 2015, hMp://jeffries.com.au/compostable-‐vs-‐biodegradable.html “Bioplas;cs -‐ natural plas;c -‐ sustainable plas;cs -‐ plas;c bags -‐ biodegradable plas;cs,” accessed April 22, 2015, hMp://www.seao2.com/bioplas;cs/ “Solanyl® BP” accessed April 20, 2015, hMp://library.materialconnexion.com.libproxy.newschool.edu/ProductPage.aspx?MC=641901#.VVeLATwz3MA.gmail “What are Solanyl® Biopolymers?”, accessed April 21, 2015, hMp://www.solanyl.ca/ “Starch based plas;c vessels trade union by earnest studio,” Accessed April 22, 2015, hMp://www.designboom.com/design/starch-‐based-‐plas;c-‐vessels-‐trade-‐union-‐by-‐earnest-‐studio/ “3D prin;ng with Solanyl filament made from potato skin,” accessed April 12, 2015, hMp://www.3ders.org/ar;cles/20140806-‐3d-‐prin;ng-‐with-‐solanyl-‐filament-‐made-‐from-‐potato-‐skin.html “Recycling Terms,” accessed April 20, 2015, hMp://www.recommunity.com/educa;on/ “The New Bioplas;cs, More Than Just Forks,” accessed April 19, 2015, hMp://www.ny;mes.com/2007/03/07/business/businessspecial2/07plas;c.html?_r=0 “Bioplas;cs and biodegradable plas;cs,” accessed April 19, 2015, hMp://www.explainthatstuff.com/bioplas;cs.html “Report: Bioplas;cs pose no threat to food supply,” accessed April 20, 2015, hMp://www.plas;csnews.com/ar;cle/20130409/NEWS/130409913/report-‐bioplas;cs-‐pose-‐no-‐threat-‐to-‐food-‐supply

Bibliography

Brian Momani, Assessment of the Impacts of Bioplas2cs: Energy Usage, Fossil Fuel Usage, Pollu2on, Health Effects, Effects on the Food Supply, and Economic Effects Compared to Petroleum Based Plas2cs, accessed April 20, 2015, hMps://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-‐project/Available/E-‐project-‐031609-‐205515/unrestricted/bioplas;cs.pdf “Bioproducts Not biofuels,” accessed April 22, 2015, hMp://algix.com/why-‐algae/bioproducts-‐not-‐biofuels/ “Solaplast Overview,” accessed April 22, 2015, hMps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-‐IEthAtMVwA&feature=youtu.be&t=1m3s “ALGIX -‐ 3D Fuel,” accessed April 22, 2015, hMps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC7QLoO59S4 “Managing Waste and Improving Resource Efficiency,” accessed April 21, 2015, hMp://www.newschool.edu/sustainability/managing-‐waste/ “Microplas;c beads: how your exfolia;ng scrub might be harming the ocean,” accessed June 19, 2015, hMp://www.abc.net.au/environment/ar;cles/2014/09/10/4084109.htm

Bibliography

Environment

Bioplastics, Lifecycle and Recycling System