A new report by Austria’s Transfercenter fur Kunststofftechnik (TCKT) has confirmed that oxo-biodegradable (controlled-life) plastics produced with Symphony Environmental Technologies’ d2w additive has no material effect on the recycling process or recycled plastic products.
The d2w additive, which is now commercially available, converts plastic products made from polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene at the end of their useful life, into materials that can be composted in the open environment.
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According to the report, the recyclate from oxo-biodegradable plastic can be safely used to produce thick cross-section plastic products for long-term outdoor use.
The products include plastic lumber, garden as well as municipal furniture and signage posts.
In another report released in March, TCKT stated that recyclate from oxo-biodegradable plastic could safely be used to produce plastic film products.
In 2012 and 2013, Roediger Laboratories in South Africa conducted two studies on recyclable oxo-biodegradable plastics.
Symphony noted that when dumped into the open environment as litter, oxo-biodegradable plastics would biodegrade and would not lie or float around for decades.
Similar to the traditional plastics, the oxo-biodegradable plastics can be used and recycled if collected.
Furthermore, the hydro or compostable or bio-based plastics are different as they cannot be recycled with conventional or oxo-biodegradable plastic without affecting the resulting products.
Tests have shown that the hydro plastics can be recycled in an industrial composting unit, but not in open environments.
In addition, d2w oxo-biodegradable plastics can be made in plastics factories with the current machinery and workforce.
