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British company makes biodegradableand recyclable plastic in world firstExisting compostable plastics cannot be recycled in the same way as normalplastics can, limiting their environmental benefits

By Olivia Rudgard, ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT

24 February 2021 • 9:00pm

Prince Charles visiting the Polymateria lab in 2019 alongside Dr Chris Wallis, head of innovations CREDIT: Polymateria

Biodegradable plastic cling film that disintegrates within a year and can also be

recycled has been developed by British scientists in a world first.

Polymateria, based at Imperial College in White City, west London, has created a

polyethylene plastic that breaks down in 226 days and can be recycled in UK

facilities.

Last autumn it set the UK standard for biodegradable plastic with its invention,

which breaks down to a harmless sludge or wax, even when left out in the open

air.

Most biodegradable or compostable plastic, including bioplastics made from

sugars from corn starch or ethanol, is not suitable for conventional recycling

because it does not break down in the same way as plastic does.

But Polymateria’s biodegradable polyethylene plastic has now passed

independent tests clearing it to be recycled into products like flower pots or

pallets.

Polymateria chief executive Niall Dunne said: “This should give us all hope. This

should define a new era, in not thinking this is either/or.

“These shouldn't be mutually exclusive solutions, they have to be

complementary solutions. And this is the first time that we've seen anyone

provide ISO-accredited data and evidence that it's possible.”

The environmental benefits of bioplastics compared to traditional plastics are a

matter of debate.

While they are not made from oil, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions

created by the oil industry, they do not break down safely outside of industrial

composting facilities, meaning they can cause the same danger to marine life

that is posed by ordinary plastic.

Biodegradable plastic is controversial among industry and green groups, with

critics arguing that telling consumers plastic will break down encourages them

to dispose of it irresponsibly.

Earlier iterations of plastic claimed to be biodegradable by their manufacturers

also did not live up to the hype, causing scepticism.

Mr Dunne argues that most plastic in nature comes from leakage from waste

systems, rather than littering.

“If we just stay putting huge pressure on the recycling system and expecting

them to do everything, it's not going to happen.

“I think equally, if we just think biodegradability is the answer, it's also not

going to happen. The key is both of those things working together, and then

we've got a chance,” he said.

IN NUMBERS | The plastic problem

150 million tonsThe amount of plastic in the world’s oceans

5 million tonsThe amount of plastic that goes on sale in theUK annually – 48 per cent of that is packaging

550,000 tonsThe amount of plastic taken for recycling bylocal authorities in 2017

4The number of times you need to reuse a supermarket bag-for-life to equal the carbonfootprint of four single-use bags

450 yearsThe length of time it takes for a plastic bottle to decompose – so if Shakespeare had drunkEvian, the bottle would still be around today

April 2020 The date plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds were banned in the UK

Polymateria’s plastic is based on the same structure as traditional polyethylene,

but has been biologically and chemically altered to mean it disintegrates in

nature and does not leave behind microplastics, the company says.

Its process involves adding a substance to the plastic as it is manufactured,

which will later start a chemical reaction that causes the crystalline structure of

the plastic to break down when exposed to the elements, something that does

not happen in ordinary plastics.

It also biologically modifies the plastic to make it “attractive to nature”, allowing

microbes and fungi to digest it.

The start of this process can be delayed by different amounts of time depending

on the product, with plastic labelled with a “recycle by” date after which it can

start to break down.

Dr Michail Kalloudis, director of polymer science at Impact Solutions, the lab

which independently tested the plastic, said it was the first biodegradable plastic

which could be safely recycled.

“Biodegradable packaging materials are not meant to be mixed with

polyethylene materials. Polymateria's is an exception because it’s based on

polyethylene," he said.

The plastic is already on British supermarket shelves in food packaging, but the

company will not yet say in which specific products.

As well as for cling film, the flexible, thin plastic can be used in salad bags, post

bags for fashion items and in plastic used to bind together multipacks for

shipping.

Last week House of Cards actress Robin Wright announced that her fashion

brand Pour les Femmes would be using the plastic in its clothing deliveries to

customers and shops.

The company has also developed a rigid polypropylene material used for

making products such as drink cups, which is still in the final phases of testing

for recyclability but has already been found to break down in the natural

environment in 336 days.

Dr Simon Hepworth, director of enterprise at Imperial College London said: "As

a science-focused business developing technology to address global

environmental challenges, we're proud to see them flourish and to continue our

role in supporting Polymateria's efforts to build a circular economy."

The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and

respectful. Please review our commenting policy.

Related Topics

Recycling, Sustainability, Plastic

Related Topics

Recycling, Sustainability, Plastic

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