Japan Develops New Marine-Degradable Plastic, PES
In January 2025, Japanese chemical company Nippon Shokubai successfully developed a new polymer based on a polyethylene succinate (PES) backbone. This polymer can be used as a modifier for polylactic acid (PLA), imparting marine biodegradability and softness. With the growing production and expanding applications of PLA, this new polymer is expected to help address the problem of marine plastic waste and advance sustainable development goals.
Although PES can biodegrade in soil and riverine environments, it is difficult to decompose in the ocean due to the low concentration and sparse diversity of degrading bacteria in the ocean. The newly developed polymer, by partially incorporating long-chain dicarboxylic acids such as sebacic acid and dodecanedioic acid, significantly improves the mobility of the polymer chains, resulting in marine biodegradability comparable to cellulose.
This new polymer not only possesses the gas barrier properties of PES, but also surpasses those of conventional biodegradable polymers while also offering flexibility and toughness. Film tear test results show that its performance is comparable to that of low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
In addition, the new polymer can be added to PLA, which only biodegrades under composting conditions at 60°C, to render it marine biodegradable. Furthermore, the new polymer's inherent softness can effectively improve PLA's rigidity and brittleness. Furthermore, the new polymer has the potential to be used in polybutylene succinate (PBS) to impart marine biodegradability.
As a copolymer, the new polymer offers a wide range of flexible mechanical properties through varying its composition. Furthermore, in addition to the succinic acid and ethylene glycol that make up PES, sebacic acid, a component of the new polymer, is primarily derived from castor oil, making it possible to achieve full biomass production.
The continued development and application of this technology is expected to have a positive impact on global marine environmental protection and sustainable development, addressing the threat posed by plastic waste to the marine ecosystem while providing related industries with more high-performance, environmentally friendly material options.
