Recyclable degradable plastic in green packaging

First, circular economy needs to degrade plastic

After the 1990s, the development of knowledge economy and circular economy became the two major trends of the international community. Circular economy is essentially an ecological economy. It requires that economic activities be organized into a process of “resources, products, and renewable resources” in accordance with the natural ecosystem model. This will make the entire system and its production and consumption. In the process, there is basically no or only a small amount of waste generated, thus fundamentally solving the long-standing conflict between the environment and development.

Degradable plastics have the unique advantages of recyclable plastic properties and short-term degradation after discarding:

1. Just as museums can still see well-preserved ancient books and old newspapers before liberation, degradable plastics also have stable performance under constant and appropriate conditions.

2. Degradable plastics have the side of recyclable plastics that can be recycled. It is now misunderstood that degradable plastics can only be degraded and cannot be recycled and reused. In fact, degradable plastics manufacturers are always reusing them, and at least the leftovers produced by enterprises when producing degradable plastics are all recycled.

3, objectively due to management methods, social and economic resources and other reasons, recycling can not all 100%. Some such as: easy-contaminated product packaging, garbage bags, agricultural film, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc., recycling and reuse may be too costly, inappropriate and economical areas; some can rely on recycling as a recycling product such as: Disposable products discarded after fast-food boxes, vest bags, product packaging, etc., due to incomplete recycling and scattered parts of the impact on the environment, then degradable plastic products can be degraded in the natural environment in short-term degradation of carbon dioxide and water absorbed by nature. This fully protects the environment and saves resources.

Second, green packaging should run through the entire life cycle of the product

Green packaging refers to an environment-friendly packaging that uses natural plants and related minerals as raw materials to develop a harmless environment, human health, recyclable, degradable, and sustainable development.

Green packaging, as a generic term for environmentally friendly packaging designs, materials, and products, is being accepted by the majority of users. To develop green packaging and reduce the pollution of packaging waste to the environment, we must start from the source of packaging design and material selection, apply appropriate humanized design of packaging, adopt environmentally friendly materials and product processing methods, and formulate a rational industry development policy. Only in this way can the problem of environmental pollution from packaging waste be truly contained.

In other words, green packaging products have no environmental pollution from the design of packaging, selection of raw materials, manufacturing and processing of products, and the safety and hygiene during use. Environmentally friendly packaging products in waste disposal must be used The entire life cycle analysis and assessment (LCA), each link is indispensable, should meet the requirements of ecological and environmental protection.

Third, green environmental protection industrial processing

In the minds of the packaging industry and the general public, green packaging is often interpreted in one-sided terms as the degradability of packaging products. It is erroneously regarded packaging products made from environmentally-degradable materials as green packaging, without asking for the production of packaging products. Whether it causes environmental pollution and waste of resources, and does not ask for the reuse of packaging products after use, there has been some incomplete understanding of green packaging.

When paper, metal or plastic resins are made from raw materials and then processed into paper packaging products, metal packaging containers, and plastic packaging products and glass packaging products, they often consume not only energy but also pollution. Whether a package is environmentally friendly cannot be ignored.

The manufacture of plastic resins can only be completed by large-scale petrochemical companies. Not only are the three wastes generated during the synthesis of plastic resins less, but these modern companies also have stricter measures for environmental protection.

In the production and processing of degradable plastics and related products, no three wastes are produced except energy consumption. Occupy a small space, in line with the environmental protection of urban environmental conditions.

IV. Current Standards and Certification Systems

Laboratory IS0846 (Determination of Plastics-Microbial Behavior), IS014852 (Measuring Method for Maximum Aerobic Biodegradability of Plastics in Aqueous Medium - Method for Determination of CO2 Production), IS014855 (Measurement of Plastics Under Controlled Composting Conditions Methods for the determination of aerobic biodegradability - Determination of the amount of CO2 produced) Method detection; Measurements of changes in the carbon-base index and changes in molecular weight before and after degradation in the laboratory have yielded a number of useful data for the development of evaluation methods for degradation tests and The formulation of national standards for degradation products has laid a solid foundation.

In 2000, the "National Industry Standard for Degradable Plastics" was promulgated. The "China Environmental Labeling" certification system and China's "Green Star" product labeling certification system all list degradable plastics and formulate corresponding standards for identification. In this regard, biodegradable plastic products have entered the mature market development stage.

V. Treating Degradable Plastics with a Scientific Concept of Development

Degradable plastics have been widely used in the market. According to surveys, 76% of supermarkets in Shanghai are using or selling degradable plastic products. These products include disposable vest bags, shopping bags, garbage bags, gloves, storage bags, cups, and shoes. Sets, etc., indicate that the market has recognized the use of degradable plastics. Degradable plastics can meet people's daily needs in practical use. We conducted research on some users of degradable plastics: Shanghai Carrefour hypermarket, Shanghai Nongyehangmaoda, Shanghai Liangyou Jinpao Chain, Shanghai 85818 convenient chain, and other famous stores. They have used degradable plastic shopping bags and their use time is more than two years. The use effect is the same as that of ordinary plastic shopping bags. These users are satisfied with the performance and price of the degraded plastic shopping bags.

The 16-character guideline of the 84th order of the People's Government of Shanghai Municipality to prevent white pollution: "source control, partial prohibition, recycling, encourage substitution" reflects the principle of comprehensive and comprehensive governance.

At present, products that are “encouraging alternatives” are more cautious, and the detection and identification of degradable plastics are more complicated and the regulatory costs may be higher. However, it is worthwhile to “encourage alternative” products compared with the environmental costs.

Therefore, we should proceed from market norms: for products that have passed product certification, require products to be labeled with certifications or serial numbers for verification; establish an enterprise integrity system to combat counterfeit products; taxes may be considered, but must be based on existing national industries The standard treats degradable materials and common materials differently, regulates the amount of disposable articles and packaging, and relies on the recyclable, degradable, and sustainable degradation that meets the standards and standards for necessary disposable products and packaging. plastic material.

Reprinted from: China Waste Net