Barrier materials
Barrier materials Opinion Despite such advances, the maturity of these developments needs to grow to substitute the wellconsolidated fossil-based counterparts in terms of costs and markets. Besides, the number of progresses improving the end of life of conventional plastic packaging can also change the conditions of the competition. New emerging solutions for recycling standard multilayers packaging e.g., a preferential solvent based extraction of each of the main fractions in multi-materials laminates or composites, is being brought to semi-industrial scale in the Multicycle project [9]. All these solutions, also compatible with biobased barrier coatings, shall co-exist in a global plastic strategy to solve the different issues currently met by the plastic industry. This shows that, for circular biobased barrier solutions to get a lion’s share in this massive opportunity for change in the plastic packaging sector and lead to an actual decarbonisation of the society, further innovations embedded in a concerted action along the value chain are needed including not only materials providers but also waste management bodies and end users (including consumers). References [1] DAFIA, H2020 BIOTEC, GA 720770, Biomacromolecules from municipal solid bio-waste fractions and fish waste for high added value applications. [2] “Films with excellent barrier properties”, E. Bugnicourt, M. Schmid; Bioplastics magazine; Vol. 8, p 44; Sept. 2013. [3] Barrier… but also bio-based and thermoformable!, E. Bugnicourt, Bioplastics magazine, Vol 5, p 36. Sept. Oct 2015 [4] OPTINANOPRO, H2020 NMP, GA 686116, Processing and control of novel nanomaterials in packaging, automotive and solar panel processing lines [5] Dispersion and Performance of a Nanoclay/Whey Protein Isolate Coating upon its Upscaling as a Novel Ready-to-Use Formulation for Packaging Converters. Bugnicourt, E.; Brzoska, N.; Kucukpinar, E.; Philippe, S.; Forlin, E.; Bianchin, A.; Schmid, M. Polymers 2019, 11, 1410. [6] BIOnTop, H2020 BBI, GA 837761, Novel packaging films and textiles with tailored end of life and performance based on biobased copolymers and coatings [7] Whey protein layer applied on biodegradable packaging film to improve barrier properties while maintaining biodegradability”, P. Cinelli, M. Schmid, E. Bugnicourt, J. Wildner, A. Bazzichi, I. Anuillesi, A. Lazzeri, Polymer Degradation and Stability. 07/2014; DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2014.07.007 [8] Recyclability of PET/WPI/PE Multilayer Films by Removal of Whey Protein Isolate-Based Coatings with Enzymatic Detergents”, P. Cinelli, M. Schmid, E. Bugnicourt, A. Lazzeri, Materials 9(6):473 · June 2016, DOI: 10.3390/ma9060473 [9] MULTICYCLE, H2020 SPIRE, GA 820695, Advanced and sustainable recycling processes and value chains for plastic-based multimaterials www.iris.cat | www.ivv.fraunhofer.de www.hs-albsig.de | www.instm.it ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In addition to other past projects quoted in footnote, the authors would like to acknowledge the H2020 and BBI-JU fundings for the DAFIA project under Grant Agreement No. 720770, MultiCycle project under Grant Agreement No. 820695 and BIOnTop project under Grant Agreement No. 837761. They would also like to thank the collaboration of AIMPLAS plastic technology centre. Equal footing for LCAs I n the current efforts to develop an LCA methodology for biobased polymers by the JRC (Joint Research Centre), fundamental problems must be confronted if an equal and fair comparison is to be made between the environmental effects of biobased polymers and those of petrochemical polymers, write four scientists from Germany’s nova Institute in an open letter to the JRC. The JRC is the European Commission’s science and knowledge service, tasked with carrying out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy. Its activities currently include the elaboration of a consistent and appropriate LCA-based method for the purpose of a “Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of alternative feedstock for plastics production.” The final report is expected by end of this year, or early 2020. The authors of the open letter, led by Michael Carus, point to the various methodological and technical stumbling blocks that remain to be overcome and put forward a number of proposals in aid of the development of LCA standards for biobased polymers. As the authors write, biobased technologies are subject to highly critical evaluation, while the petrochemical industry, which uses non-renewable resources and which has been and still is involved in many environmental disasters, is not scrutinized with the same level of detail and transparency, making a comparison on equal footing impossible. In addition, the importance of renewable carbon is not sufficiently valued in the LCA methodology developed by the JRC. The LCA methodology for biobased polymers will also differ considerably from the methodology for biofuels, “which could lead to greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for biofuels being relatively higher than for biobased polymers, purely as a result of the different methodologies (each in comparison to their petrochemical counterpart)…. The only option: the same LCA rules must apply to all uses of biomass, whether it is for fuels or for chemicals!”, they argue. The solution proposed by the nova Institute lies in the use of a prospective LCA. To that end, a scenario could be developed and a quasi-standardised life cycle assessment conducted for the year 2050, in addition to the present situation. “A comparison between bio- and petro-based polymers would then look entirely different,” write the authors of the open letter. “Biobased polymers are considered as a sustainable solution for the circular economy of the future. That is why, for a fair comparison, it is so important to consider how they perform not only in the present, but in particular in the future. This is not accounted for in the methods prevailing today,” the scientists conclude. MT The complete text of the open letter to the JRC can be downloaded from: https://tinyurl.com/openletter-jrc 46 bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/19] Vol. 14
Barrier materials PVOH for barrier applications Today’s expectations are very high for primary packaging for such applications as food, cosmetics and household goods, as the products packed should be kept clean, fresh and sweet-smelling. In addition, nothing from the surroundings should get into the packaging. However, the entire pack should also be sustainable as well as environmentally friendly. The matter of recycling is also an important issue. A PVOH barrier layer could be a possible solution. PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) is a synthetically produced water-soluble polymer which is non-toxic and environmentally friendly as it biodegrades into water and CO 2 . In waste incineration, it burns without residues. As a result of its good processing and printing properties, PVOH is particularly suitable to produce mono films. The common applications include laundry bags for hospitals, detergent packaging and sachets. PVOH films also demonstrate high flexibility and tensile strength. In combination with other bioplastics as a multilayer film, it can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to EVOH or aluminum due to its outstanding gas barrier properties towards oxygen and carbon dioxide. Its resistance to chemicals, oils and greases means that it can also be used as a shield against oils, fats and solvents. FKuR Kunststoff GmbH (Willich, Germany) now has PVOH in the portfolio of their biobased and biodegradable plastics, offering their customers individual solutions, either as mono or multi-layer applications with PLA-based film materials. This guarantees films with particularly good breathability which also have good barrier properties against O 2 and CO 2 . If used with compostable films, organic recycling may be possible. MT www.fkur.com Material “Oxygen permeability (ml/m²day) “ Hot-water soluble PVOH 0.24 Warm-water soluble PVOH 0.36 Cold-water soluble PVOH 1,85 Ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) 0.29-2.4 Nylon 6 26-38 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 40-80 PVC 50-390 HDPE 1,700-2,400 Polypropylene 2,000-10‚00 Low Density Polyethylene 12,000 Join us at the 14th European Bioplastics Conference The leading business forum for the bioplastics industry 3/4 December 2019 Titanic Chaussee Hotel Berlin, Germany @EUBioplastics #eubpconf www.european-bioplastics.org/events REGISTER NOW! For more information email: conference@european-bioplastics.org bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/19] Vol. 14 47
