Degradable plastics have a lot of space to replace traditional plastics
Degradable plastics refer to plastics that have various properties that meet the requirements of use, remain unchanged during storage, and can be degraded into environmentally sound substances under natural environmental conditions after use. Degradable plastic can be degraded in the soil within 3-6 months. At the same time, other microorganisms can multiply faster and make the land more fertile after eating this bioplastic. Degradable plastics are just like that. Under certain temperature and humidity conditions, they are degraded under appropriate microbial flora. Degradable plastics are mainly divided into degradable plastics, biodegradable plastics and photobiodegradable plastics. Since photodecomposable plastics need enough light to decompose, it has brought great restrictions, so the popularization of photodecomposable plastics is not good. Biodegradable plastics have become the mainstream type of degradable plastics.
According to the source of raw materials, biodegradable plastics can be divided into biodegradable plastics and petroleum-based biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics include polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxydimethyl), etc.). Degradable plastics prepared from biomass resources can reduce traditional energy consumption, but there is a problem of competing with people for food; petroleum biodegradation Plastics include polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethylene adipate/polybutylene terephthalate), PBAT), etc. The main raw materials are PTA, oxalic acid, butanediol and other oily or coal chemicals product. There are dozens of types of biodegradable plastics developed in the world, among which the main ones that can be produced in industry are PBAT, PLA, PBS, PHA, starch/PVA, starch/PBS, starch/PLA, etc.
According to data from the European Bioplastics Association, the global production capacity of biodegradable plastics totals approximately 1.077 million tons, mainly starch-based degradable plastics. In 2019, the production capacity of starch-based degradable plastics was 449,400 tons, accounting for 38.4% of the global production capacity of biodegradable plastics.
Degradable plastics are in line with the requirements of sustainable development strategies whether they are for environmental protection, the development and utilization of renewable resources, or the synthesis of polymer materials with special properties. Affected by high costs and high technical barriers, biodegradable plastics are still in the popularization stage. It is expected that in the future, with the strengthening of people's environmental awareness and the guidance of relevant policies, the development prospects of degradable plastics are broad.
