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All biodegradable polymers should be stable and durable enough for use in their particular application, but upon disposal they should easily break down. [citation needed] Polymers, specifically biodegradable polymers, have extremely strong carbon backbones that are difficult to break, such that degradation often starts from the end-groups.
Biodegradable polymers are classified into three groups: medical, ecological, and dual application, while in terms of origin they are divided into two groups: natural and synthetic. [18] The Clean Technology Group is exploiting the use of supercritical carbon dioxide , which under high pressure at room temperature is a solvent that can use ...
Biologically-based polymers, sourced from non-fossil materials, can decompose naturally in the environment, whereas some plastics products made from biodegradable polymers require the assistance of anaerobic digesters or composting units to break down synthetic material during organic recycling processes. [40] [14]
Biodegradable bags still strong enough to carry shopping after three years in the ground show that 'biodegradability' isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Boxed products made from bioplastics and other biodegradable plastics. Few commercial applications exist for bioplastics. Cost and performance remain problematic. Typical is the example of Italy, where biodegradable plastic bags are compulsory for shoppers since 2011 with the introduction of a specific law. [16]
Compostable plastic products contain a certification label from the U.S. Composting Council, typically the number "7" inside a recycling symbol along with the letters "PLA" underneath, which stand ...
Polymer degradation is the reduction in the physical properties of a polymer, such as strength, caused by changes in its chemical composition.Polymers and particularly plastics are subject to degradation at all stages of their product life cycle, including during their initial processing, use, disposal into the environment and recycling. [1]
An example of a compostable polymer is PLA film under 20μm thick: films which are thicker than that do not qualify as compostable, even though they are "biodegradable". [14] In Europe there is a home composting standard and associated logo that enables consumers to identify and dispose of packaging in their compost heap.