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Bio-based polymer products - oppertunities and limitations from a disposal and recyclling perspective

In the context of the discussion about limited fossil resources and climate change products made of bio-based polymershave been developed to an alternative to conventional polymers. Nowadays, products from bio-based polymers are usedin several different fields, e. g. in form of films, bags or bottles as packaging materials, for catering products, everydayobjects/commodities, compostable garbage bags as well as mulch films for agriculture application.In Germany, the recycling and disposal of products from bio-based polymers follows the traditional ways together withall the other waste.

However, some bio-based polymer products may cause difficulties in these established paths, pointedout the following.The term bio-based polymers comprises a variety of polymeric materials. Therefore, a differentiated consideration isnecessary regarding to the polymer species respectively types in the product as well as recycling and disposal paths.Against the background of supporting the implementation of bio-based polymers into the market the Agency for RenewableResources (Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. - FNR) assigned the KNOTEN WEIMAR InternationalTransfer Centre Environmental Technology GmbH identifying difficulties in the recycling and/or disposal processof products made of bio-based polymers and creating recommendations to support these products. The Institute ofLightweight Structures at the Chemnitz University of Technology and the law office AWKD Werner & Kollegen supportthe project as subcontractors on technical and legal aspects.This paper is based on a literature review, colloquia and dialogues with different involved parties, e. g. disposers andrecyclers.Bio-based polymer products are more and more entering our daily life products - durable or non-durable. Finally, thesebio-based polymer products become waste and end up in established waste streams. The biopolymer products maycause difficulties in the different waste streams being partially unsuitable for biopolymer products. At this point, a differentiatedconsideration of the biopolymer product variety only leads to useful waste disposal options. So far, materialrecycling of post-consumer products made of bio-based polymers is not known. The current missing critical mass for amaterial recycling is one reason. Today, most biopolymer products end up in the energetic recycling. The biologicaltreatment as disposal option for biodegradable polymer products is controversially discussed (e. g. aspects of impurity,fertiliser effects and energy balance) and seems to be useful for niche products only. Considering the future sustainable disposal of biopolymer products a more intensive discussion between producer, disposer and recycler is preferable.

Copyright:	© European Compost Network ECN e.V.
Quelle:	Orbit 2012 (Juni 2012)
Seiten:	8
Preis:	€ 0,00
Autor:	Dipl.-Ing. Gunnar Hädrich Prof. Dr. Ing. habil. Werner Bidlingmaier C. Werner Roman Rinberg
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