Biodegradable additive makes PE, PP more sustainable

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A new biodegradable resin can degrade safely in nature if it ends up as litter, according to the developer, Symphony Environmental Technologies, England.

The new product, named NbR (natural biodegradable resin), is made with natural minerals to reduce the amount of fossil-derived polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) used and is compatible with traditional plastics recycling streams.

The biodegradable resin is available worldwide, including in the United States.

“This is a major innovation as it will make a dramatic environmental difference by reducing fossil-derived content of plastic products by 20 percent, cutting CO₂ emissions and reducing microplastics,” Symphony CEO Michael Laurier says.

“Like ordinary plastic products, a product made with NbR can be recycled and made with recyclate, but it will biodegrade within months if exposed in the open environment instead of fragmenting into microplastics and lying or floating around for decades.”

The company has applied for trademarks but says it is not releasing details about which minerals it uses to produce the resin.

“This is currently a trade secret,” Laurier tells Plastics Recycling in an email.

NbR packaging will biodegrade completely within two to three years or in even less time, depending on the stabilization of the particular product, the age of the product at the time of disposal and the extent to which it has been exposed to heat and sunlight, according to Laurier.

“It contains a special ingredient that accelerates the reduction of the molecular weight of the polymer, allowing it to be consumed by bacteria and fungi in the open environment,” he says. “It does not need to be taken to a composting facility because it will degrade anywhere with access to oxygen. By reducing the molecular weight, the special ingredient converts the fossil-based polymer into oligomers, ketones, aldehydes, etc., which are biodegradable and not plastic.”

But manufacturers and consumers do not need to worry about NbR packaging degrading prematurely while in use.

“It will not degrade prematurely because Symphony adjusts the balance between catalysts and stabilizers within the NbR to ensure the product has the shelf and service life the commercial end-user requires,” Laurier says.

The addition of NbR to PE or PP has no impact on the plastics’ recyclability, he adds.

“NbR will typically form 25 percent of each plastic product and (unlike plastic marketed as ‘compostable’) would have no impact on traditional mechanical recycling and no effect on the recycled plastic,” Laurier says.

NbR is appropriate for use in a variety of packaging and other products—“all short-life products made with PE or PP, such as packaging, garbage sacks, bottles, pallet wrap [and more],” Laurier says.

In addition, Symphony says NbR offers improved postmold shrinkage and barrier properties.

Symphony began developing the technology in 2011, but growing demand for more sustainable plastics led the company to upgrade the product and introduce NbR last year. Demand for more environmentally friendly resins coincides with a growing demand for packaging in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, consumer goods and ecommerce sectors, the company says.

NbR complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations for food-contact packaging, and the resin has been tested for biodegradability and nontoxicity, according to the company.

The author is a senior staff reporter at Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and can be reached at bgeiselman@endeavorb2b.com.