Post on 04-Feb-2021
COMPOSTEERBARE PRODUCTEN: ÉÉN PRINCIPE, VERSCHILLENDE NUANCES
Vlaco-symposium ‘Bioplastics in de biologische kringloop?’
Tildonk, Jun-6-2019Sam Deconinck
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• OWS
• Biodegradability
• Industrial compostability
• Biodegradability in other environments
TOPICS
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COMPANY STRUCTURE
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• ‘One-stop’ laboratory for biodegradability & compostability testing
• Strictly independent• Quality control: ISO 17025
• Recognized by all certification bureaus worldwide
• Active in standardization: CEN/ASTM/ISO• Member of several certification committees
& industrial associations (EuBP, BBP,…)
• More than 30 years of experience• 10,000+ samples tested for 1,250+ clients
CONTRACT RESEARCH LABORATORY
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REFERENCES
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• OWS
• Biodegradability
• Industrial compostability
• Biodegradability in other environments
• Bio-end of life
TOPICS
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• Fragmentation – Disintegration
• Visual disappearance
• Mw reduction
• Loss of technical characteristics
• Ratio ADP/ATP
= intermediate steps= secondary phenomena= smoke screen
• BIODEGRADATION = TRANSFORMATION TO CO2
WHAT IS BIODEGRADATION?
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• Biochemical pathway of biodegradation:
Cpolymer + O2 CO2 + H2O
“COMPLETE” BIODEGRADATION
Biomass growthIntermediate degradation products
+ Cresidual + Cbiomass
• Not all Cpolymer is converted to CO2!
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• Biochemical pathway of biodegradation:
Cpolymer + O2 CO2 + H2O + Cresidual + Cbiomass
• Latest standards on biodegradation & compostability : complete biodegradation = 90% (absolute or relative)
“COMPLETE” BIODEGRADATION
Cannot be quantified(by simple means)
Can be quantified
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• Period 2003-2015: • ± 80 tests in line with ISO 17556 as part of EU projects• Varying in length from 95 – 1,811 days (5 years)• Cbiomass of cellulose = ± 10%
“COMPLETE“ BIODEGRADATION – Cbiomass
± 10%10-15%
± 25%
Straw: 25-30%Wood fibers, birch leaves, pine needles: up to 40%
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• OWS
• Biodegradability
• Industrial compostability
• Biodegradability in other environments
• Bio-end of life
TOPICS
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• Standards: tests ànd criteria
STANDARDS ON INDUSTRIAL COMPOSTABILITY
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Environmentalsafety
Degradation
Chemical characteristics
(Heavy metals)
Ecotoxicity
(Effect on plants)
Biodegradation
(Degradation on a chemical level)
Disintegration
(Degradation on a physical level)
COMPONENTS OF COMPOSTABILITY
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• Maximum 49% of inorganic content
• Heavy metal limits: inks!
Zn Cu Ni Cd Pb Hg Cr Mo Se As F Co
EU 150 50 25 0.5 50 0.5 50 1 0.75 5 100 -
USA 463 189 45 5 125 1 265 5 4 49 - 38
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
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• Test methods: ISO 14855
• Duration: Maximum 6 months
• Pass level: 90% (absolute or relative to a reference)
• Exempted:– ‘Irellevant’ components (≤ 1%, ∑ ≤ 5%)– Chemically unmodified materials of natural origin
BIODEGRADATION
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BIODEGRADATION
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BIODEGRADATION RESULTS
CELLULOSE
BLANK
% BIODEGRADATION
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• Test method: ISO 16929 (pilot-scale)
• Duration: 12 weeks
• Pass level: 90% (≤10% may remain on 2mm sieve)
Linked to maximum thickness
DISINTEGRATION
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ISO 16929: PILOT-SCALE
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• Importance of thickness, grammage, density,…
DISINTEGRATION RESULTS
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• Test method:EN 13432 + OECD 208
• Duration:2-3 weeks
• Pass level:90% (germination/growth)
• Earthworms (Australia)
• Toxicity on the residuals
TOXICITY
Toxicity of parent compound (REACH)
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TOXICITY RESULTS
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OVERALL POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER
• Necessity of by-laws:– Blends of certified components– Multi-layer structures– Inks– Additives– Adhesives– Families of products– ‘Special’ products (teabags, coffee pads,…)
• OWS member of AC Seedling, Standards & Procedures Committee BPI & several ISO and ASTM committees
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• Standards= theory= legislative
• Certification/logos= praxis= control – policing system= standards + certification scheme
STANDARDS vs. CERTIFICATION
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Seedling OK Compost
AgencyDIN CERTCO & TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium
TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium
Basis of certificationEN13432, ASTM D6400
& ISO 17088EN13432
Geographical valueGermany,
Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria
France, Italy, Spain, Belgium
SEEDLING vs. OK COMPOST
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• OWS
• Biodegradability
• Industrial compostability
• Biodegradability in other environments
• Bio-end of life
TOPICS
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PRODUCT USE/DISPOSAL
CONTROLLED UNCONTROLLED(LITTER)
WASTEWATER SOLID WASTE OPEN WATER SOIL MARINE
AEROBICTREATMENT
COMPOSTING
ANAEROBIC TREATMENT
BIOGASIFICATION LANDFILL
USE OF COMPOST IN SOIL
ANAEROBIC STABILISATION
CENTRAL HOME
ENVIRONMENTAL NICHES
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up to
60-70°C21-30°C
compost > soil > fresh water > marine water > landfill
anaerobic digestion
AGRESSIVENESS OF ENVIRONMENT
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compost > soil > fresh water > marine water > landfill
anaerobic digestion
Fungi + Bacteria +
Actinomycetes
Bacteria only
(some filamentous fungi)
Multiple Bacteria
AGRESSIVENESS OF ENVIRONMENT
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• Standard specifications : • Australia: AS 5810-2010• France: AFNOR NF T 51-800 (2015)• Europe: under development• USA: Cancelled + request for practice and guidance
• Certification programs :• Belgium: TUV AUSTRIA (derived from EN 13432)• UK: REA (based on OK compost HOME)• Germany: DIN CERTCO (based on AS 5810)• Australia: ABA• USA: BioSpecs For Food Service Ware
HOME COMPOSTABILITY
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Environmentalsafety
Degradation
Chemical characteristics
(Heavy metals)
Ecotoxicity
Biodegradation
(Degradation on a chemical level)
Disintegration
(Degradation on a physical level)
DRAFT EN STANDARD90% within max. 1 year
90% within max. 6 monthsPlants, earthworms & m.o.
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• Different technologies– Mesophilic vs. thermophilic– Wet vs. dry fermentation– 1-phase vs. 2-phase
• Aerobic biodegradability is not equal to anaerobic
Fungal activity!
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
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BIODEGRADATION vs. ENVIRONMENTAL NICHE
High T(50-60°C)
AEROBIC (WATER) + ANAEROBICBACTERIA, NO FUNGI
AEROBIC (COMPOST & SOIL)BACTERIA & FUNGI
Chemical pulp StarchPLA
Starch/PCL PHA
Chemical pulpStarch
Starch/PCL PHA
Chemical pulpMechanical pulpStarch
PLAStarch/PCLPHAPBAT
PBATPHA Starch/PCL
StarchChemical pulp
Mechanical pulp
Low T(≤ 35 °C)
THERMOPHILICDIGESTION
INDUSTRIALCOMPOSTING
MESOPHILICDIGESTION
WATER
HOMECOMPOSTING
SOIL
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• Oxo-degradable plastics– Conventional non-biodegradable polyolefins + inorganic additive– Degradation ‘triggered’ by oxygen, heat and/or UV light– Typical loading rate: 1% (but ‘programmable’)– Used in the Gulf States, India, China, Mexico,… but also Europe– Used for bags, mulching film, wrapping, bottles, cups,…
Yes (?) No (?)
DEFINITIONS & BASICS
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Contact details:
sam.deconinck@ows.be Tel: +32 (0)9 233 02 04
www.ows.be