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