Synthetic biodegradable packaging

This solution was shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM , 14 May 2021

Print date: 12 April 2024 23:52

Description of the innovative solution

Circular economy Convenient processing Food design Packaging Behavior change Food environment - external Consumer choice Retail promotion Perishable food

Rising environmental concerns about the volume of waste generated by packaging materials has led to a new interest in the development of synthetic biodegradable packaging. While most packaging material is typically made of synthetic, petroleum-based polymers, this innovation utilizes synthetic polymers that are specifically designed to be biodegradable, and thus will eventually break down into natural materials in shorter time spans than its predecessors. This can lead to a general decrease in the volume of solid waste produced globally, as well as have notable effects on decreasing contamination from traditional packaging materials.

Primary users

Large & industrial farmers
Food processors
Packaging companies
Distribution centers
Food service industry - restaurants, caterers, etc.

Dietary impact

Simply transitioning from non-biodegradable synthetic packaging materials to biodegradable synthetic materials allows for the preservation of expected health and safety concerns in terms of food handling. That is, by using more sustainable materials, distribution centers can continue utilizing the necessary packaging to avoid contamination or food spoilage, the only difference now being that these packaging materials will break down into natural components at the end of their life cycle instead of continuing to take up space in the environment.

Planetary impact

As plastic waste can have persisting negative impacts on local flora and fauna, synthetic biodegradable packaging can relieve this issue by more quickly breaking down into non-toxic components. This benefit can be felt across all habitats, including urban, rural, and marine ecological communities, as plastic pollution has already been documented to be an issue in all of these settings. Additionally, a decreased presence of non-biodegradable plastics can help avoid common issues that wildlife have faced in the past, such as accidental ingestion of plastics or accidentally getting caught within materials. Furthermore, through these materials' biodegradable nature, this means that there is a lessened threat of chemical pollution through the leaching of toxins from the gradual breakdown of traditional synthetic polymers. These chemicals would normally be persistent in their environments, as well, which can cause lasting pollution on local communities' waterways and soil. This can be avoided with the use of biodegradable synthetic materials. As these materials become more prominent in food distribution, this can also allow for increased composting of food waste as food waste and plastic waste are typically tied together.

Equity impact

By avoiding the chemical pollution that would normally surface from the breakdown of traditional synthetic polymers, this means that the use of these biodegradable materials can eliminate a common cause of pollution in the waterways and soils of communities that may be located near waste disposal sites or landfills. This is important as this can have lasting effects in decreasing rates of chronic illness in residents in addition to allowing for better agricultural conditions through restoring the composition of the soils, which has positive implications in restoring food security or economic viability for these communities.

Main concerns

- Requires access to oxygen to allow for microbial decomposition, something that is not always guaranteed in landfills
- Given this requirement, synthetic biodegradable polymers would be greatly assisted with better sorting technology from the waste-management end of the supply chain, which would call for larger-scale infrastructure shifts that aren’t always possible due to high costs, political barriers, etc.
- While some biodegradable polymers are compostable, this often only refers to in the cases of industrial facilities, which can lead to consumers accidentally leaving these materials in compost piles where they can act as pollutants
- Synthetic biodegradable polymers continue to be more expensive per unit than their non biodegradable counterparts

Supply chain segment

Processing and packaging

Maturity level

Gaining traction

Criteria

Food safety Climate mitigation Reducing pollution

SDG target

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 13: Climate Action

Context

Urban Peri-urban Rural Marine/Coastal

Examples and additional resources

Real-world examples

See this solution in action in different contexts and settings around the world

ErcrosBio

Business information

ERcosBio is based on PLA (polylactic acid) and PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates polymers and copolymers family) and is made from renewable vegetable raw materials (biobased), such as the sugar cane.

Spain

ercros.es/index.php.../index.php

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Ecoflex®

Business information

ecoflex® is the first biodegradable and certified compostable polymer by BASF on a fossil basis. It is on the market for more than two decades.

worldwide

plastics-rubber.basf.com/g...ml

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BioFoam®

Business information

BioFoam® is a patented foam that is comparable to EPS. It looks similar in structure and has more or less the same properties as EPS. The raw material for BioFoam® consists of biopolymers, which are made of vegetable materials

Sweden

bewisynbra.com/produc...iofoam/

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Biodegradable Mulch Film

Business information

BioBags biodegradable mulch film is sold under the name BioAgri.

worldwide

biobagworld.com/produc...ulture/

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Additional resources

Learn more about this solution through studies, articles, business cases, and other information

Types of biodegradable synthetic polyesters being developed

News article, popular press or blog post

In-depth view of the chemical composition of synthetic biodegradable polymers from the perspective United States companies

ptonline.com/article...es-green

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Database for suppliers and manufacturers of certain bioplastics

Business case

Comprehensive database of various suppliers and manufacturers for specific types of bioplastics

polymerdatabase.com/Poly....html

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For a Greener Future: Biodegradable Packaging Materials

News article, popular press or blog post

Biodegradable polymers for sustainable packaging

prescouter.com/2017/0...erials/

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Breadcrumb

Synthetic biodegradable packaging

Description of the innovative solution

Supply chain segment

Maturity level

Criteria

SDG target

Context

Examples and additional resources

Real-world examples

ErcrosBio

Ecoflex®

BioFoam®

Biodegradable Mulch Film

Additional resources

Types of biodegradable synthetic polyesters being developed

Database for suppliers and manufacturers of certain bioplastics

For a Greener Future: Biodegradable Packaging Materials

Contacts