Advanced biodegradable plastics offer solution to crisis
The world is struggling with a plastic waste crisis, as conventional plastics take centuries to break down and pose a severe ecological threat. According to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, approximately 85% of plastics become unregulated waste in oceans and landfills, while only 10% have ever been recycled. The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) mantra has not yet effectively addressed the problem.
Symphony Environmental,
an Indian company, offers a potential solution through the development of biodegradable plastics using d2w additives. These modern plastics, which can be produced with existing machinery and processes, degrade within two years if they become single-use items. The d2w technology transforms the plastic material into CO2, water, and biomass at the end of its lifecycle, making it inherently biodegradable.
India’s plastic consumption has grown 23-fold between 1990 and 2022, necessitating urgent adoption of sustainable, environmentally safe, and economically viable technology to curb single-use plastic (SUP) waste. Symphony’s d2w technology, already implemented in numerous countries, meets these requirements and has been tested in India as per the ASTM D6954 standard.
However, India’s plastic industry faces challenges due to complex regulatory requirements and testing procedures for biodegradable plastics. With over 150,000 plastic manufacturing units in the country, many of which are part of the MSME sector, costly and lengthy testing processes have left manufacturers in limbo and caused job losses.
An alternate criterion for reducing biodegradability test duration, or adopting an existing global test standard like ASTM D6954, could alleviate this situation. By issuing provisional certificates to manufacturers, they could continue production while awaiting test results over two years. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) could certify suppliers of biodegradable additives, thus reducing the burden on local plastic manufacturers.
As the current BIS IS 17899 T:2022 standard is tentative and incomplete, adopting an established global test standard like ASTM D6954 could enable provisional certification of manufacturers. Notably, a Bis-accredited lab in India has successfully completed three biodegradability tests on Symphony’s d2w biodegradable plastic products following the American Standard ASTM D6954.
The Indian government has established a committee under Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Hon’ble Member of NITI Aayog (S&T), to develop alternative solutions and technologies to address single-use plastics. With representatives from various stakeholders, the committee is considering reducing testing time to expedite provisional certificate issuance.
Symphony Environmental Technologies plc specialises in developing and marketing a range of global plastic products and environmental technologies. As a world leader in controlled-life plastic development, the company offers pro-degradant additives and protective technologies for plastics through a growing network of international distributors and agents. With its innovative solutions, Symphony aims to help the world tackle the plastic waste crisis.