Biodegradable polymers have experienced strong growth over the lastthree years and are set to

make further inroads into markets traditionallydominated by conventional thermoplastics in

future.Demand is being driven by a number of factors.The cost of biodegradable polymers has
come down considerably overthe last three years while at the same time standard thermoplastic
priceshave increased considerably. Now, some classes of biodegradablepolymers are price
competitive with polymers such as PET.The biodegradable polymers industry itself has
established an agreedframework for testing and certification and there is growing
politicalpressure in developed countries to reduce packaging waste and developa composting
infrastructure. Biodegradable polymer producers have alsoinvested in product and process
improvements. Finally, consumers andbrand owners are beginning to recognize the benefits of
sustainable or‘green’ packaging.Four main classes of biodegradable polymers are analyzed in
this report,polylactic acid (PLA), starch-based polymers, synthetic biodegradablepolymers, such
as aromatic aliphatic co-polyesters, andpolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The report analyses their
key performance properties, applications development, market drivers and futureprospects. Each
product section also contains an estimate of market sizeby world region and end use market, plus
forecasts to 2010. There is alsoan analysis of key suppliers and their products.
Key Features
•
Biodegradable polymers market size by geographic region, polymertype and end use sector,
2000 and 2005, plus forecasts to 2010.
•
Market opportunity analysis by end use sector, such as packaging,bags and sacks, foodservice,
agriculture, medical, consumer productsand fibres.
•
Illustrations of product and applications development over the lastthree years.
•
Supply chain analysis: including details of thirty leading biodegradablepolymer suppliers and
profiles of around fifty of the world’s leadingbiodegradable polymer processors.Analysis of
biodegradable polymer performance properties, marketdrivers, applications and product
developments.Biodegradable polymers are polymers that break down and lose their
initial integrity. Biodegradable polymers are used in medical devices toavoid a second operation
to remove them, or to gradually release a drug.
History
First medical use : CatgutsuturesBiodegradable polymers were used in the times of the Romans.
Onedesired property of a suture is that it slowly degrades as the woundheals. The Romans used
cat gut, though this elicited a bad inflammatoryresponse.
Applications
Applications of biodegradable polymers include sutures, controlled drugrelease, and tissue
engineering. Biodegradable polymers also could beimplemented in drug delivery. The polymer
slowly degrades into smallerfragments, releasing a natural product, and there is controlled ability
torelease a drug. The drug slowly releases as polymer degrades.Biodegradable polymers have
been used to coat a stent and releasedrugs in a controlled way.A holy grail is to create organs,
such as the kidney from basicconstituents. Scaffolding is necessary to grow the entity into
afunctioning organ. The scaffolding should dissolve away and needs to bebiocompatible.Another
application involves the breakdown in landfills after being strongduring its useful lifetime.
Required Properties
Biodegradable polymers should be 1) non-toxic, 2) capable of maintaining good mechanical
integrity until degraded, and 3) capable of controlled rates of degradation. A goal is not to illicit the
immuneresponse, and the products of degradation also need to be non-toxic.With regard to
controlled degradation, is it possible to triggerdegradation?A goal is to control the rate at which
water can get into polymers. Factorscontrolling the rate of degradation include: 1) percent
crystallinity, 2)molecular weight, 3) hydrophobicity. The degradation rate depends onthe location
in the body.
The environment surrounding the polymer isdifferent depending on the location in the
bodyBiodegradable plastics areplasticsthat willdecomposein natural aerobic (composting) and
anaerobic (landfill) environments.Biodegradation of plasticscan be achieved
byenablingmicroorganismsin the environment tometabolizethe molecular structure of plastic
filmsto produce an inerthumus-like material that isless harmful to the environment. They may be
composed of eitherbioplastics, which are plastics whose components are derived fromrenewable
raw materials, orpetroleum-based plastics which utilize anadditive. The use of bio-active
compounds compounded with swellingagents ensures that, when combined with heat and
moisture, theyexpand the plastic's molecular structure and allow the bio-activecompounds to
metabolize and neutralize the plastic.
Biodegradable plastics typically are produced in two forms: injectionmolded (solid, 3D shapes),
typically in the form of disposable foodservice items, and films, typically organic fruit packaging
and collectionbags for leaves and grass trimmings, and agricultural mulch.
Scientific definitions of biodegradable plastic
In theUnited States, theFederal Trade Commissionis the authoritative body for biodegradable
standards.ASTM Internationaldefines appropriate testing methods to test forbiodegradable
plastic, both anaerobically and aerobically as well as inmarine environments. The specific
subcommittee responsibility foroverseeing these standards falls on the Committee D20.96
onEnvironmentally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products. The currentASTM standards are
defined as standard specifications and standard testmethods. Standard specifications create a
pass or fail scenario whereasstandard test methods identify the specific testing parameters
forfacilitating specific time frames and toxicity of biodegradable tests onplastics.
Currently, there are three such ASTM standard specifications whichmostly address
biodegradable plastics in composting type environments,the ASTM D6400-04 Standard
Specification for Compostable Plastics,ASTM D6868 - 03 Standard Specification for
Biodegradable Plastics Usedas Coatings on Paper and Other Compostable Substrates, and the
ASTMD7081 - 05 Standard Specification for Non-Floating BiodegradablePlastics in the Marine
Environment.
The most accurate standard test method for anaerobic environments isthe ASTM D5511 - 02
Standard Test Method for Determining AnaerobicBiodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-
Solids Anaerobic-DigestionConditions. Another standard test method for testing in
anaerobicenvironments is the ASTM D5526 - 94(2002) Standard Test Method forDetermining
Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials UnderAccelerated Landfill Conditions, this test has
proven extremely difficult toperform. Both of these tests are used for the ISO DIS 15985
ondetermining anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials.
Examples of biodegradable plastics
While aromaticpolyestersare almost totally resistant to microbial attack,most aliphatic polyesters
are biodegradable due to their potentiallyhydrolysableesterbonds:Naturally
Produced:Polyhydroxyalkanoates(PHAs) like thepoly-3- hydroxybutyrate(PHB),
polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) andpolyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH);Renewable Resource:Polylactic
acid(PLA);Synthetic: Polybutylene succinate (PBS),polycaprolactone(PCL)
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Polyanhydrides
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Polyvinyl alcohol
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Most of thestarchderivatives
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Cellulose esterslikecellulose acetateandnitrocelluloseand their derivatives (celluloid).
Environmental benefits of biodegradable plastics depend upon proper disposal .
Biodegradable plastics are not a panacea, however. Some critics claim