Biodegradable packaging materials for waste management

Packaging waste has become an important part of urban solid waste, so the treatment of packaging waste has attracted international attention. In order to reduce packaging waste, the EU has strengthened its laws and regulations. Among other materials, the current packaging materials are mainly derived from oil-based polymers. They have high molecular weight and are not biodegradable. It is particularly noteworthy that due to the mixing of different levels of pollutants and complex compounds, they are very Difficult to achieve recycling and reuse.

In recent years, especially in EU countries, the use of renewable natural resources to produce biodegradable packaging materials has become a research hotspot in the field of packaging materials, and the production of functionally similar degradable materials for oil-based packaging materials has been Made a breakthrough. It is expected that such materials derived from renewable natural resources will be beneficial to human sustainable development strategies. At the same time, if properly managed, they will not have negative impacts on the environment when they are disposed of. Davis, G, in his research article "Biodegradable packaging based on raw materials from crops and their impact on waste management" published in the journal "Industrial crops and its products", discusses the disposal of biodegradable packaging materials in landfills. Potential impact on waste management in the areas of incineration, recycling/recycling and composting.

The article points out that while satisfying functional requirements and legislative requirements, it is necessary to redesign packaging materials in detail to achieve the minimization of packaging materials. Biodegradable polymers are superior to traditional plastic materials, which expands the options for waste management. The end-of-life treatment method for this material is household and urban composting, and the worst treatment is landfill. Its recycling technology is also different from traditional polymer materials, and the value of the material will be reflected in the form of compost. Therefore, biodegradable polymer materials will make a significant contribution to material regeneration, reducing landfill impacts, and applying reliable renewable resources.

Reprinted from: Ministry of Education Science and Technology Development Center