Experiences on the degradation of different plastic materials. Above, in the center and right, the bioplastic based on amylose of the researchers and a plastic made of cornstarch, respectively
Investigation contradicts conventional articles, produced with a virgin plastic of fossil origin. They are low cost and biodegradable products.
Bottles, packaging e MEASURES CUPS: instead of being produced in a conventional way, with thermoplastic starch, would be made from the native cornstarch.
This is the priority of a Portuguese innovation that seeks to promote sustainability in the consumption by industry.
A group of researchers and professionals is developing a new generation of products, from Native Corn, to Reduce the amount of virgin plastic of fossil origin – Widely used in these products.
The idea is to create a new product line with at least 30% elements derived from corn biorefinaria products and 70% recycled plastics or polymers of biological and/or biodegradable origin.
Investigators are also working on a new formulation of this material to present improved mechanical properties, Read in a statement sent to ZAP.
Experts want reduce dependence on non -renewable resources and contribute to a decrease in the ecological footprint of companies and community.
Also intend to accelerate the transition from the plastics industry to the circular economy and leverage the competitiveness of the international scale sector.
The incorporation of corn biorefinaria products into the plastics industry is a number of environmental advantages.
Besides reducing dependence on non -renewable resources, they are products of low cost and biodegradablecontributing to the decrease in the ecological footprint and, by inherence, of greenhouse gas emissions.
And corn compounds, such as starch, can be functionalized or modified, acquiring improved mechanical properties, resulting in innovative materials.
Another of the resources that will be on the basis of the new pieces are the recycled plastics that can come from post-consumer (rigid packaging used and discarded by end consumers) as industrial processes.
In this case, instead of being discarded, the residue Generated during the manufacturing process of plastic products are collected and subjected to recycling processes for the production of recycled plastics.
In addition to reducing waste, this methodology also allows to promote the sustainability in the production chain of this sector.
They are still used Biological and/or biodegradable polymers which, under industrial compost conditions, will be able to decompose, by action of microorganisms, in simpler components such as water, carbon dioxide and biomass.
According to investigators, future products – jars, packaging and meters, among others – will benefit from the advantages associated with new compounds, namely lightness, comfort in handling and transportation, as well as durability.
Beyond the environmentally friendly decomposition, conferred by its constituents, many of these articles may be reused, reused or recycled at the end of its lifetime.
The work is done by Centi, Copam – Portuguese Company of Starchs, Futura Plastics, Sirplast and Yes Shop Online.
