The Michael Stephen Column

MICROPLASTICS

Scientists at Lambton Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Ontario, Canada were asked to review the BPA statement on microplastics and they reported on September 25 2024 that it is correct. They say "We have concluded that oxo-degradable plastics (ie ordinary plastics) create microplastics, but oxo-biodegradable plastics do not."

"Oxo-biodegradable plastics are both bioplastics and biodegradable plastics. They consist of a conventional plastic containing a masterbatch. The masterbatch causes the molecular chains to be dismantled by oxidation so that the material is no longer a plastic and becomes biodegradable. Light and heat will accelerate the process, but it will continue even in dark, cold, conditions. Moisture is not necessary for oxidation and does not prevent it."

"Ordinary plastic and oxo-biodegradable plastic lose their strength and fall apart at about the same time when exposed to sunlight, but the fragments of ordinary plastic have a molecular weight which is much too high for biodegradation."

"In summary it is clear that if plastic products are made with an oxo-biodegradable masterbatch and get into the open environment intentionally or by accident, the molecular-weight of the plastic will reduce much more quickly and it will become a waxy substance which is no longer a plastic. It will then have become a source of nutrition for naturally occurring micro-organisms."

"The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) were asked to study this type of plastic in December 2017. They made a Call for Evidence, and advised after 10 months that they were not convinced that it creates microplastics. We agree with them, and have seen no evidence that microplastics from this type of plastic have ever been found in the environment."

On 19th September 2024 "Science Daily" carried an article saying that "An international group of researchers says two decades of research have generated sufficient knowledge about the sources and effects of microplastics to allow world leaders to agree measures to address them."

We all know that some of the microplastics are coming from tyres and man-made fibres, and that recycling can also be a source of microplastics, but most of the microplastics found in the environment are caused by the fragmentation of ordinary plastic.

Therefore until such time, if ever, that plastic products no longer get into the open environment, it is essential to make them with d2w, so that they will quickly biodegrade leaving no microplastics or harmful residues.

MORENO et al

A response has now been published in "Sustainable Production and Consumption"

Vol. 50, October 2024, Pages 610-613 to a misleading paper from Brazil on biodegradable plastics by Moreno et al, published in 2023 in the same Journal.

The response is by Prof. Telmo Ojeda and Radu Baciu - both very experienced specialists in polymer science who have conducted their own experiments, and are not dependent on the reported work of others. They point out that Moreno et al. had not taken the fundamental scientific step to determine whether the products were biodegradable or not, and had simply relied on labels affixed to plastic products sold in the shops."

They continue "A polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) product properly made with a reputable oxo-biodegradable masterbatch will fully biodegrade much more quickly than ordinary plastic in the open environment, without leaving microplastics or harmful residues. No special conditions are necessary."

"Oxo-biodegradable plastics, oxo-degradable plastics, and plastics marketed as "compostable" are three completely different technologies and should not be confused." Again it is unscientific to do so as Moreno et al had done.

Further, "Samples of oxo-biodegradable plastic should not be tested in conditions unlikely to be experienced by plastic litter in the open environment, and should not be so heavily stabilised as to be unlikely to degrade in any realistic timescale." This invalidates the testing and the conclusions, which then get into the peer-reviewed literature.

They conclude that "The paper by Moreno et al. contributes to the confusion about greenwashing and about oxo-biodegradable technology, and therefore damages the environment in Brazil and around the world by contributing to delaying the much wider adoption of this technology."

For every day of delay, regular plastic is getting into the open environment and will accumulate there for decades.

PLASTICS INDUSTRY ON TRIAL

25 Sep 2024 - "Packaging Insights" reports that California's Attorney-General is suing ExxonMobil, in what environmental campaigners are calling "the single most consequential lawsuit filed against the plastics industry" in history. The suit alleges that through decades of negligence and intentional misinformation, the petrochemical giant caused and concealed serious harm to public and environmental health.

The suit details how ExxonMobil "fraudulently" used the false promise of mechanical recycling, and in recent years, advanced recycling (pyrolysis) - which the plaintiffs say is technically and economically unfeasible - to justify continued plastic production despite the knowledge this would add to a global pollution crisis.

The plastics industry is under attack because when plastic products get into the open environment as litter they cannot realistically be collected for recycling and can lie or float around for decades, polluting the environment and causing harm to wildlife. This problem could have been substantially reduced if, as well as promoting recycling, the industry had made the plastic with d2w technology. It could still be recycled if collected, but would otherwise quickly biodegrade anywhere in the open environment, leaving no microplastics or harmful residues.

Michael Stephen

Michael Stephen is a lawyer and was a member of the United Kingdom Parliament, where he served on the Environment Select Committee. When he left Parliament Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc. attracted his attention because of his interest in the environment. He is now Deputy Chairman of Symphony, which is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, and is the founder and Chairman of the Biodegradable Plastics Association.

Earlier Postings in this Column

All articles from Michael Stephen

Interview with Michael Stephen

Questions and Answers on OXO-Biodegradability

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed here by Michael Stephen and other columnists are their own, not those of Bioplasticsnews.com