Scientific understanding of biodegradable plastics and other plastic
- In terms of application fields, it is very difficult to completely recycle and reuse plastic products in some fields. The promotion and application of biodegradable plastic products in these fields can significantly reduce the risk of leakage of traditional plastics to the environment, which is one of the important paths to prevent and control plastic pollution. Some hard-to-recycle plastics such as agricultural mulch, flocculants and water-soluble polymers often leak into the environment from closed waste disposal recycling systems; some products applied in the ocean are made of plastics (e.g. fishing gear), which are sometimes lost or intentionally placed in the marine environment. It is worth noting that it is important to cultivate green habits of the public and not to form the habit of throwing away biodegradable plastic products because of their use.
- From the perspective of the impact of degradation products on the environment, China is pressing ahead with the development of relevant national standards, and relevant testing capabilities are gradually being strengthened. Since the environment and degradation conditions of plastic waste after leakage are relatively complex, it is necessary to establish a test method to simulate the real conditions of degradation rate according to the environmental conditions. The environment simulated by the relevant international standards mainly includes composting, freshwater environment, marine environment, soil environment, anaerobic digestion environment, etc. The relevant tests need to measure the amount of biogas released during the biodegradation process and obtain the biodegradation rate by calculating the percentage of organic carbon contained in the polymer converted into biogas. The relevant ISO international standard testing methods 15, compostable plastic requirements 1, of these 16 standards in China has been equivalent to the transformation of 11, other international standards are also in the process of transformation. At present, China’s degradation performance testing laboratory has more than 20, testing capacity is gradually improved.
- To promote plastic alternative products in a scientific and appropriate manner, the “program” from the improvement of standards, improve testing capabilities, increase scientific research, rational layout of production capacity and other aspects of the deployment. The Program requires that the full consideration of bamboo and wood products, paper products, biodegradable plastic products and other types of alternative products of the whole life cycle of resources and environmental impact, improve the quality of relevant products and food safety standards. Conduct research on the degradation mechanism and impact of different types of degradable plastics, and scientifically assess their environmental safety and controllability. Improve the standard system, standardize the application fields, and clarify the degradation conditions and disposal methods. Increase the key core technology research and transformation of degradable plastics, continuously improve product quality and performance, and reduce application costs. Guide the reasonable layout of the industry and prevent blind expansion of production capacity. Accelerate scientific research and application of fully biodegradable agricultural films. Increase the construction of testing capacity of biodegradable plastics, strictly investigate and deal with false and falsified labels of biodegradable plastics, and regulate the industry order.
Promoting the application of alternative products is not simply equivalent to the use of biodegradable plastic products, to promote the majority of consumers do not use, less disposable products is the policy should be the meaning. Let’s reduce the use of disposable products, moderate consumption, green consumption, and make our own contribution to plastic pollution control.
(Author: Yunxuan Weng, Secretary General of the Professional Committee of Degradable Plastics of China Plastics Processing Industry Association, Dean/Professor of School of Materials and Mechanical Engineering of Beijing Technology and Business University)
From National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China
