Researchers warn of global warming risk from breakdown products

Researchers warn of global warming risk from breakdown products

Biodegradable plastic packaging may cause greater damage to the environment than conventional materials, according to German research.

When biodegradables break down they present a far greater risk of producing methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide, said Dr Jьrgen Bruder, director of German packaging trade association IK, at the recent PlastEuroFilm meeting in Paris.

IK has established a centre of expertise for biodegradable plastic packaging. Bruder said its work had clearly shown that biodegradable materials can only provide an advantage where they offer an additional property to the function of packaging.

He also pointed out the continued cost disadvantage of biodegradables which are three to four times more expensive than conventional polyolefins.

The use of biodegradables in packaging produced in Germany has trebled in the last four years, but still only represented 0.14% of the total market. Bruder estimated that by 2010 the usage may rise to 1.2%. The major application is composting bags, making up a 55% share, and loose fill produce bags – such as potato bags – taking 21%.