Fully biodegradable film is a film material that can be completely decomposed into water, carbon dioxide and biomass by microorganisms under specific conditions. It is different from "degradable plastics" or "partially degradable plastics". Its degradation process does not leave harmful residues and is an environmentally friendly material that meets international standards (such as EN13432, ASTM D6400).
This type of film is usually made of natural polymers or modified bio-based materials, such as polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), starch-based polymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), etc. Its core feature is that it can be completely decomposed through the metabolism of microorganisms in natural environments such as compost, soil, and oceans, without causing plastic waste pollution.
The raw materials of fully biodegradable films are mainly divided into two categories: one is natural polymers, and the other is synthetic bio-based polymers.
Natural polymers include corn starch, cassava flour, cellulose, chitosan, etc. These raw materials are widely available and have strong renewability.
Synthetic bio-based polymer materials are mainly polylactic acid (PLA) and PBAT. PLA is derived from fermented sugars and is one of the most widely used biodegradable materials. PBAT is a petroleum-based but fully biodegradable copolymer, usually mixed with PLA or starch to improve toughness and softness.
The reasonable combination of these materials can meet the needs of films in packaging, agriculture, express delivery, e-commerce and other fields.
Compared with traditional plastic films (such as PE, PP, PVC, etc.), fully biodegradable films have the following key differences:
* Different environmental impacts: Ordinary plastics are difficult to degrade in the natural environment and are prone to long-term pollution, while fully biodegradable films can be completely decomposed by microorganisms under reasonable conditions.
* Different degradation paths: Ordinary plastics are more "physical decomposition" or "oxidative decomposition", which is a slow process and may even take hundreds of years, while fully biodegradable films belong to "biological decomposition" and are usually degraded within a few months to a year.
* Different source materials: Ordinary plastics are mostly made from petroleum, while biodegradable films can be partially or entirely derived from plant-based renewable resources.
These differences make biodegradable films have alternative value in green transformation.
Although biodegradable films emphasize environmental protection attributes, they also have certain physical properties, including:
* Transparency: Some materials such as PLA have good transparency and are suitable for display packaging.
* Temperature resistance: Generally, the heat resistance is not as good as traditional plastics, but after modification, it can be used in heat sealing, steaming and other environments.
* Strength and ductility: Materials such as PBAT have good flexibility and tensile properties, and can be compounded with PLA to enhance the overall mechanical properties.
* Processability: It can be formed by blowing, casting, extrusion and other methods, suitable for existing plastic processing equipment, and easy to promote industrialization.
Although these properties are different from traditional plastics, they can meet the basic functional requirements in many application scenarios.
The degradation process of fully biodegradable films mainly depends on the action of microorganisms. Its degradation effect is affected by various environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, pH value, type and number of microorganisms.
* Composting environment: High temperature, high humidity, and aerobic composting environment are most suitable for its degradation, and it usually decomposes within 3 to 6 months.
* Soil environment: The degradation time in natural soil is relatively long, which may take 6 to 12 months, depending on soil activity.
* Marine environment: Some materials can also degrade in seawater, but at a slower rate, so not all fully biodegradable materials are suitable for marine use.
After degradation, no harmful microplastics or heavy metals will be left, and it is basically harmless to plants, animals, and humans.
Fully biodegradable films have been widely used in many industries, especially in the following areas, showing their potential for substitution:
* Food packaging: used for vegetable and fruit bags, cooked food bags, cutlery bags, etc., which can directly contact food.
* Agricultural mulch: used to cover cultivated land, increase soil temperature, and directly plow into the soil after use without recycling.
* Industrial packaging film: such as electronic parts packaging, dust-proof film, pallet wrapping film, etc.
* Express and shopping bags: replace disposable PE plastic bags, support personalized printing and heat sealing.
*Medical and sanitary products: used for disposable gloves, clothing packaging, etc., for easy handling and recycling.
The scope of application continues to expand, which also promotes the continuous optimization of material performance and process upgrading.
Although fully biodegradable films have environmental potential, they still face several challenges in the promotion process:
* High cost: Compared with petroleum-based plastics, the cost of raw materials and processing is relatively high.
* Limited degradation conditions: Not all environments can degrade quickly, and reasonable use needs to be guided.
* Limited consumer awareness: Some end users are still not clear about the principles and classification of degradation.
* The standard system needs to be improved: Some "degradable" products on the market have mixed fish eyes and pearls, and the supervision and certification system needs to be improved urgently.
Future development trends will focus on reducing production costs, optimizing material performance, expanding raw material sources, and strengthening environmental education and policy support.
Against the backdrop of the global promotion of green and low-carbon transformation, the problem of plastic pollution is becoming increasingly prominent. As a green alternative material, fully biodegradable film not only meets the basic packaging function, but can also be safely decomposed in the natural environment to reduce the environmental burden. Understanding its principles, performance and applicable conditions will help governments, businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, while promoting environmental transformation of the entire industrial chain.
Plastic products have long been widely used in packaging, building materials, daily necessities and other fields due to their lightness, durability and low cost. However, traditional plastics are extremely difficult to degrade in the natural environment, and are prone to white pollution, microplastic accumulation and other problems, which have aroused global environmental and health concerns. As a new type of environmentally friendly material, fully biodegradable film is gradually replacing traditional plastics in some fields.
Traditional plastics are mainly derived from non-renewable resources such as petroleum, and their processing relies on fossil energy, which will produce a certain amount of carbon emissions during the refining and synthesis process. Common traditional plastics include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc. These materials have stable structures and long service life, but are difficult to be decomposed by the natural environment.
The raw materials of fully biodegradable films are mostly derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch, sugarcane, cassava, lactic acid, etc. Among them, polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and starch-modified polymers are common representatives. These materials can achieve a certain degree of carbon neutrality during the production process and gradually reduce dependence on non-renewable resources.
The biggest problem with traditional plastics is that the degradation cycle is extremely long. Under natural conditions, plastics such as PE and PP may take hundreds of years to gradually degrade, and harmful chemicals may be released during the process, causing damage to soil, water and marine ecosystems.
Relatively speaking, fully biodegradable films can be decomposed into water, carbon dioxide and a small amount of biomass within 3 to 6 months in an aerobic composting environment. They can also degrade slowly in soil and water, and the specific speed depends on the ambient temperature, humidity and microbial activity. Its degradation process does not leave microplastics and has little interference with the ecosystem, so it has gradually gained recognition in scenarios such as food packaging and agricultural films.
Traditional plastics are relatively mature in mechanical properties, with good tensile strength, elongation at break and impact resistance, and are suitable for packaging and load-bearing applications under a variety of harsh conditions. In particular, PE and PP have good flexibility and stability and are the main force of modern plastic packaging.
The performance of fully biodegradable films is constantly improving. PLA materials are rigid but brittle, and PBAT is flexible but easy to deform, so the overall performance is usually improved by compounding. For example, a mixture of PLA+PBAT or PLA+starch can take into account both strength and softness. Although the overall mechanical properties are not completely equivalent to traditional plastics at present, they have basic substitution capabilities in light packaging and short-term use products.
Traditional plastics are strong in thermal stability and have a wide range of processing temperatures. They can be mass-produced through blow molding, injection molding, extrusion and other methods, and are widely adapted to existing industrial equipment. It can be repeatedly heated, melted and shaped for easy recycling.
The thermal stability of fully biodegradable films is relatively limited. For example, PLA is easy to deform at high temperatures, and its softening temperature is around 60°C, which limits its application in hot packaging or high-temperature transportation. In terms of processing equipment, most bio-based materials can be processed using modified traditional plastic equipment, but they are more sensitive to temperature and shear rate, and the process parameters need to be adjusted in a targeted manner.
Traditional plastics do not cause immediate harm during use, but their waste management issues are becoming increasingly prominent. A large amount of plastic waste cannot enter the effective recycling system and is commonly found in public spaces such as rivers, oceans, and roads, affecting the living environment of animals and plants. Microplastics may also enter the human body through water bodies, posing health risks.
Fully biodegradable film emphasizes that it can be naturally degraded without recycling after use, and is suitable for packaging scenarios that are not easy to recycle in a centralized manner, such as agricultural films and disposable food bags. The products after degradation will not remain in the environment for a long time, and do not contain heavy metal additives, reducing the ecological burden. However, it should be noted that they are not suitable for being mixed into the traditional plastic recycling system, which is easy to cause material pollution.
Traditional plastics have a low unit cost due to mature technology and large production scale, especially in the bulk packaging market. This is also a realistic factor that makes it difficult to be completely replaced at present.
The cost of fully biodegradable film is mainly affected by raw material prices, process control and market size, and is usually more than 30% higher than similar traditional plastics. Although costs are gradually decreasing with technological progress and the improvement of the industrial chain, large-scale substitution still requires multiple impetus such as policy guidance, market mechanism support and consumer awareness.
The application scope of traditional plastics covers almost all life and industrial fields, from supermarket shopping bags to auto parts, from medical devices to building insulation materials, showing a wide range of versatility.
Fully biodegradable films are currently mainly used in short-life cycle products, such as:
* Food-grade packaging bags;
* Fresh food and express packaging;
* Garbage bags, pet poop bags;
* Agricultural mulch;
* Medical protective packaging.
These fields have higher requirements for the degradability of films, while the requirements for strength and long-term weather resistance are relatively low, thus becoming the core target market for the development of biodegradable materials.
Most traditional plastics have been included in the mature quality inspection and production standard systems of various countries, such as ISO, ASTM, etc., with unified safety standards.
Fully biodegradable films need to meet specific biodegradable certification systems, such as:
* EU EN13432 standard;
* US ASTM D6400 standard;
* Domestic GB/T 19277 standard, etc.
It is also necessary to pass composting degradation tests, ecotoxicity tests and heavy metal tests to prove its degradation ability and ecological compatibility in the natural environment. The improvement of the standard system will help the market to develop in a standardized manner and avoid "fake degradation" products from confusing the market.
Traditional plastics and fully biodegradable films differ in many aspects of performance, each with its own advantages. Traditional plastics are more mature in physical properties, cost control and equipment compatibility; while biodegradable films emphasize environmental value, renewability and degradability, and are suitable for specific application scenarios.
In actual use, the choice of materials should be based on a comprehensive assessment of product life cycle, recycling possibilities, environmental policy pressure and consumer preferences. With technological progress and the expansion of the scale of the biomaterials industry, fully biodegradable films are expected to assume environmental responsibilities in more segments and provide more solutions to the problem of plastic pollution.
Fully biodegradable films are a type of material that can be decomposed into carbon dioxide, water and biomass by microbial action in the natural environment. Its core advantage is that it can be completely degraded within a certain period of time, without residual solid pollutants, and avoiding microplastic problems. Although the material itself has the potential for degradation, the degradation effect in actual use is still affected by multiple external and internal factors.
Ambient temperature is one of the main external factors affecting degradation efficiency. Microorganisms have an optimal temperature range when decomposing biopolymers, usually 30℃ to 60℃. At lower temperatures, microbial metabolism slows down, resulting in a slower degradation rate; while too high a temperature may inhibit the survival of some microorganisms.
Under composting conditions, the temperature is often generated by the metabolism of the microorganisms themselves. When entering the hot phase (>50℃), the degradation process is accelerated, especially for materials such as polylactic acid (PLA). In natural soil or water bodies, due to large temperature fluctuations, the degradation time may be significantly extended. In material evaluation or actual application, the degradation cycle should be evaluated according to the specific ambient temperature.
Humidity also plays an important role in the degradation of fully biodegradable films. Most biopolymer materials are more easily degraded by microorganisms after hydrolysis. A humid environment promotes the transmission and diffusion of enzymes, which is conducive to the occurrence of enzymatic reactions.
In a composting environment, it is considered more appropriate to maintain a humidity of 40%-60%. Too low humidity will inhibit the reproduction of microorganisms, while too high humidity may lead to the formation of anaerobic zones, which will lead to odor or incomplete decomposition. For film materials, moisture will also accelerate surface lysis, thereby increasing the area of microbial attachment. Therefore, humidity control is an important means to improve degradation efficiency.
The type and number of microorganisms are direct factors affecting degradation efficiency. Microorganisms that degrade fully biodegradable materials include bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, etc., some of which have special enzymatic hydrolysis capabilities for materials such as PLA, PBAT or PHA.
In the natural environment, the microbial population is complex and the number varies greatly. Some areas may lack specific decomposition bacteria, resulting in low degradation efficiency. In the composting system, the decomposition efficiency can be artificially improved by controlling the species and number of microorganisms. If the surface structure design of the material is not conducive to the attachment of microorganisms, it may also delay the start-up phase of its degradation. Therefore, understanding and utilizing the characteristics of microorganisms is the key to promoting the continuous degradation reaction.
Different types of biodegradable polymers have structural differences, which directly affect their degradation mechanism and speed. Common polylactic acid (PLA) degrades slower than polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). This is related to the branching density, crystal structure and hydrophobicity in its molecular structure.
In addition, plasticizers, fillers, stabilizers and other additives are often added to actual products. These components may inhibit or accelerate the degradation reaction. For example, adding some natural starch can increase hydrophilicity and accelerate the hydrolysis process, while some antioxidants may delay the degradation process. Therefore, formula optimization needs to balance degradation performance while retaining basic functions.
The thickness and structural form of the film material have a direct impact on the degradation effect. Generally, the greater the thickness, the more difficult it is for moisture and microorganisms to penetrate deeply into the interior, resulting in a slower degradation rate. Especially for double-layer or multi-layer composite structures, the middle layer is difficult to be quickly penetrated, forming a degradation blind spot.
On the contrary, thin materials or porous structure designs are conducive to moisture penetration and microbial attachment, improving the overall degradation efficiency. In addition, curled, folded or sealed packaging states may also limit air circulation and moisture contact, thereby delaying the degradation reaction. Therefore, the impact of material thickness and morphology on degradation behavior should be fully considered during the product design stage.
The activity of enzymes in the biodegradation process is affected by pH. Under different pH conditions, the structure of specific enzymes will change, affecting their catalytic efficiency. Most enzymes involved in polyester hydrolysis are active in slightly acidic to neutral environments, and the most suitable pH value is between 5.5 and 7.5.
If the environment is too acidic or alkaline, some enzymes may be inactivated, or chemical changes may occur on the surface of the material, forming a chemical film layer that is not conducive to degradation. In addition, if the acidic byproducts produced by the long-term degradation process are not neutralized in time, they may also change the local pH environment. Therefore, maintaining an appropriate pH helps maintain the stable operation of the microbial enzyme system.
Completely biodegradable films can be decomposed in aerobic and anaerobic environments, but the reaction paths and products are different. Under aerobic conditions, degradation mainly produces carbon dioxide, water and trace organic acids; under anaerobic conditions, greenhouse gases such as methane may be produced.
In an aerobic environment, there are more microbial species, the degradation rate is faster, and the byproducts are easy to be further mineralized. In a closed environment or deep landfill environment, oxygen is limited, resulting in a slower degradation rate or even interruption. Some materials such as PLA are difficult to completely degrade in an anaerobic environment. The material application scenario should choose a treatment method based on its degradation path to avoid environmental pressure caused by improper use.
The use method, placement location and subsequent treatment path of the film have a decisive effect on its final degradation effect. For example, if products used as agricultural mulch are not recycled and processed in time after use and exposed to natural soil, their degradation time will be affected by environmental fluctuations.
If the product is mixed into the ordinary plastic waste treatment system, it may be incinerated or landfilled, losing its degradation significance. On the contrary, if it is sent to a professional industrial composting facility, the material can achieve biodegradation more efficiently. Therefore, a sound recycling classification system and the user's environmental awareness are indirect factors that affect the final realization of degradation.
In summary, the degradation effect of fully biodegradable film is affected by a variety of factors, including ambient temperature, humidity, microbial community, material formula, thickness structure, pH value, oxygen content, and use and treatment methods. The factors do not exist in isolation, but interact with each other to jointly determine the degradation speed and thoroughness.
In the process of product research and development, design and promotion, the actual application environment should be used as the basis, and the raw materials, structural design and additive formula should be reasonably selected. At the same time, policy support, technical standard construction and public awareness will also promote the wider application of degradable film materials in the environmental protection industry.
With the continuous global attention to the problem of plastic pollution, environmentally friendly packaging has become an important issue facing many industries. Traditional plastic packaging is non-degradable and easy to cause environmental residues, which has caused ecological burdens in all stages of production, use and disposal. The "plastic ban" at the policy level and consumers' recognition of green products have promoted the rapid development of alternative materials. In this context, fully biodegradable films have gradually gained widespread attention and application in environmentally friendly packaging because of their characteristics of being degradable under natural conditions and not producing microplastic residues.
Fully biodegradable film is a type of packaging material made from renewable resources or degradable polymers, which can be decomposed into carbon dioxide, water and biomass by microorganisms under certain conditions. Common raw materials for this type of film include polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), etc., which have certain mechanical strength, barrier properties and heat sealing properties, and can achieve environmental protection properties while meeting the basic functions of packaging. Compared with traditional petroleum-based plastics, this type of film does not leave toxic residues and is suitable for packaging applications with short-term use.
Disposable plastic packaging has become one of the important sources of urban solid waste due to its wide application in food, express delivery, retail and other fields. A large number of plastic bags, takeaway packaging, film envelopes, etc. are difficult to recycle or degrade, and remain in the soil, ocean and even enter the food chain for a long time, causing extensive ecological risks.
The introduction of fully biodegradable film provides an alternative to such problems. It can be gradually decomposed naturally without special treatment facilities after use. It is suitable for a large number of scenarios involving disposable use such as logistics, food, and agriculture. It can reduce plastic residues from the source and reduce the pressure of landfill and incineration.
The food industry has many requirements for packaging materials such as cleanliness, barrier, and sealability. Fully biodegradable film is widely used in fruit and vegetable bags, takeaway bags, food lining bags, tea packaging and other scenarios because it meets the basic needs of food packaging and has environmentally friendly properties.
PLA films have certain transparency and rigidity, which are suitable for the packaging of dry or low-moisture foods, while PBAT films have good flexibility and can be used for soft packaging such as takeaway bags and disposable handbags. Through composite structure design, multifunctionality can also be achieved, such as heat resistance, waterproof, oil resistance and other characteristics, to meet different food packaging needs.
The express industry produces a large number of plastic bags, filling films and packaging bags every day. Traditional plastics are widely used because of their low price and convenient processing, but their processing difficulty and environmental risks are becoming increasingly apparent.
Fully biodegradable films have been used in some green express systems for express bags, envelope bags, electronic waybill bottom films, etc. Combined with digital tracking and recycling mechanisms, this type of packaging material can be used for a short time and will not cause secondary pollution after disposal, which is in line with the green development direction of the express industry. Some e-commerce platforms are also trying to promote alternative solutions for degradable packaging bags to enhance their sustainable brand image.
Agriculture is an important area for the use of plastic films, especially in ground films, covering films, seedling bags, etc. Traditional ground films are difficult to recycle, and the residues in the fields affect the soil permeability and crop growth.
The use of fully biodegradable ground films can gradually decompose in the soil after the crops are harvested, avoiding the problem of "white pollution". PLA or PBAT-based degradable films can be designed to have a degradation rate according to the crop planting cycle, ensuring that the shading and heat preservation functions are maintained during agricultural operations, and automatically decompose after the end, greatly reducing the burden of manual recycling.
Although fully biodegradable films have great potential in environmentally friendly packaging, they are still facing multiple technical and economic challenges.
On the one hand, some degradable materials have high energy consumption during the production process, resulting in generally higher costs than traditional plastics; on the other hand, the degradation efficiency in low temperature or dry environments is relatively low, affecting their application effect in natural environments. In addition, the physical properties of the product, such as puncture resistance and heat sealing performance, are still far behind those of traditional films, and need to be continuously optimized through modification or composite processes to meet diversified packaging needs.
National-level plastic ban and restriction policies are important factors in promoting the application of degradable materials. For example, China and many EU countries have successively introduced plastic product control measures, stipulating that shopping bags, express bags, disposable tableware, etc. must use degradable materials.
At the same time, corporate green procurement and sustainable development goal setting are also continuously increasing the proportion of environmentally friendly packaging. As consumers' environmental awareness increases, the group willing to pay a certain premium for degradable packaging is gradually increasing, further expanding the market space. Policy incentives, industrial guidance and terminal market feedback constitute the three major supports for the development of fully biodegradable films.
Although fully biodegradable films have self-degradation characteristics, the recycling and treatment system still needs to be reasonably designed in practical applications. Some materials degrade slowly under natural conditions, and if they are mixed into ordinary plastic recycling systems, they may affect the overall quality.
By establishing supporting facilities such as classified collection, professional composting, and pyrolysis recycling, the degradation goal can be achieved more efficiently. At the same time, the product itself must have clear identification to facilitate consumer identification and classified placement. Establishing an effective connection mechanism between the application end and the end treatment is a prerequisite for the comprehensive promotion of degradable packaging materials.
With the continuous advancement of green material technology, fully biodegradable films will play a more important role in environmentally friendly packaging. Future development trends include:
Diversification of raw materials, using more extensive renewable resources such as seaweed and cassava;
Functional integration, such as improving barrier properties and waterproof properties through nanotechnology;
Cost reduction and efficiency improvement, reducing manufacturing costs through large-scale production;
Improvement of certification standards, promoting a unified classification and evaluation system for the industry;
Combining with carbon footprint management and incorporating it into the corporate ESG system.
Driven by the joint efforts of policies, technology and markets, fully biodegradable films are expected to become an indispensable part of the environmentally friendly packaging system, providing effective support for building a resource-circulating society.
With the widespread use of disposable plastic products around the world, the problem of plastic waste disposal is becoming increasingly serious. Traditional plastic films have become one of the important sources of land and marine pollution due to their stability and difficult to degrade characteristics. Plastic microparticles pollute water sources, affect the health of wild animals, and gradually enter the human food chain, triggering widespread attention from all walks of life to alternative materials. Fully biodegradable film, as a naturally degradable material, has become a way to reduce the environmental burden.
Fully biodegradable film refers to a film material that can be completely decomposed into water, carbon dioxide and organic matter by microorganisms in the natural environment, especially in soil, compost or water. Its raw materials usually include polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate/terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), etc. These polymers can be naturally decomposed under certain conditions and will not leave residual plastic fragments in the environment.
Traditional plastic products include PE, PP, PET and other types. They have a short service life but a long degradation cycle. Once they enter the natural environment, the degradation process may last for hundreds of years. In the process, they not only destroy the ecosystem, but also release toxic substances that affect the health of animals and plants. Plastic waste floats in water bodies and accumulates in soil, posing a continuous threat to biodiversity. The use of fully biodegradable films can reduce such risks from the source and reduce the cumulative effect of plastic pollution.
Fully biodegradable films often use renewable resources as raw materials, such as corn starch, sugarcane bagasse, etc., which are more sustainable sources of raw materials than petroleum-based plastics. In the manufacturing process, if energy utilization and processing technology can be optimized, the overall carbon emission level can also be relatively reduced. In addition, some raw materials can also absorb carbon dioxide during the planting process, which helps to balance the carbon footprint. Driven by green manufacturing, the impact of the entire product life cycle on the environment is relatively lower.
A large amount of plastic pollution comes from disposable use scenarios in daily life, such as shopping bags, food packaging, express outsourcing, agricultural covering films, etc. Fully biodegradable films are suitable for such short-term packaging uses. They can provide basic packaging strength, barrier properties and flexibility. They can be naturally degraded after use, effectively replacing traditional plastic films, thereby reducing the frequency and amount of plastic waste.
Fully biodegradable film can be gradually decomposed by microorganisms under suitable conditions, such as a moist, warm, aerobic composting environment. Its degradation products are water, carbon dioxide and trace organic matter, and no harmful residues are produced. Compared with traditional plastics, it does not form difficult-to-handle microplastics and has a low risk of secondary pollution to soil and water quality. By reasonably guiding its degradation in a closed composting system or an open environment, a virtuous cycle of the ecosystem can be achieved.
Although fully biodegradable film can degrade naturally, its environmental benefits will be more obvious if it can be combined with special composting treatment facilities. By setting up a classified recycling mechanism and guiding consumers to correctly place degradable packaging, the efficiency of its resource utilization can be further improved. Some countries and regions have established industrial composting plants to uniformly treat food waste, gardening waste and degradable materials, providing infrastructure support for the promotion and application of such materials.
Consumers' choices when purchasing products directly affect the market demand for environmentally friendly materials. Guiding users to actively choose to use fully biodegradable packaging through popular science education, product labeling and policy incentives is an effective way to reduce plastic pollution. For example, setting up green supermarket areas, giving points rewards to products using environmentally friendly packaging, and adding "environmentally friendly options" on e-commerce platforms can all promote material substitution at the end of consumption.
In many countries and regions, governments have successively introduced plastic restriction and plastic ban policies, such as banning ultra-thin plastic bags, promoting green packaging for express delivery, and stipulating the replacement ratio of disposable plastic tableware. It is under this policy background that fully biodegradable film has become an alternative. Through tax incentives, standard certification, procurement subsidies and other means, policies can effectively promote the expansion of its production scale and market acceptance, further reduce material and processing costs, and promote its implementation in more scenarios.
In the food industry, degradable films are used for vegetable and fruit packaging, tea bags, and food tray sealing, which can reduce the problem of plastic mixing in food waste; in the express delivery industry, the combination of degradable express bags and electronic face sheet adhesives is helpful for degradation classification management in the recycling process; in the agricultural field, degradable mulch films can avoid soil pollution caused by residual films; in the packaging of medical supplies, the application of degradable materials can alleviate the emission burden caused by incineration. These practical cases have reduced the load on the natural environment from different dimensions.
Environmentally friendly packaging is gradually becoming a new direction for market choice. Many brand owners have integrated environmental protection concepts into corporate responsibility and product design, and launched degradable packaging series to respond to consumers' expectations for sustainable products. In e-commerce, supermarkets, food manufacturing and other fields, the number of products using fully biodegradable films has gradually increased, driving the market to gradually establish an industrial chain supporting system for degradable materials.
Although degradable films have potential in environmental protection, there are still problems such as high cost, limited degradation conditions, and physical property adaptation, which affect their wider application. Future development directions may include:
Modification and optimization of material systems to make them more suitable for different climates and usage environments;
Promotion of cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancing technologies to make product prices more competitive in the market;
Development of identifiable labeling technology to improve the efficiency of recycling systems;
Cross-industry cooperation to build a complete environmentally friendly packaging ecosystem.
Sustainable development emphasizes meeting the needs of contemporary people without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This puts forward three basic requirements for industrial raw materials: resource renewability, safety of use, and closed-loop nature of the life cycle. Fully biodegradable films are mostly based on renewable resources such as corn starch, bagasse, and cassava, and have certain sustainable resource characteristics. After use, they can be degraded into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms, which conforms to the concept of closed-loop life cycle.
The global annual production of plastics has exceeded 400 million tons, of which disposable plastic products account for more than 40%. These materials have extremely long degradation cycles in nature, often forming "white pollution" and endangering ecological safety. Faced with the increasing pressure of waste disposal, both the policy side and public opinion have higher expectations for plastic substitutes. It is in this context that fully biodegradable films were born and promoted, and their market space is gradually opening up driven by environmental pressure.
Early biodegradable materials had problems such as weak physical properties, poor temperature resistance, and high prices, which limited their large-scale application. In recent years, with the continuous optimization of polymer synthesis technologies such as polylactic acid (PLA), PBAT, and PHA, the relevant properties have been greatly improved. For example, the new generation of degradable films can achieve stronger tensile properties, better transparency and heat sealing properties, and meet various application scenarios such as daily packaging and agricultural mulch. This provides a technical basis for its further replacement of traditional plastics.
Many countries and regions have successively issued regulations to restrict or prohibit disposable non-degradable plastic products. The European Union issued the "Disposable Plastics Directive", China proposed a "plastic ban and plastic restriction" timetable, and developing economies such as India and Indonesia have also formulated corresponding management measures. These policies provide policy dividends for fully biodegradable materials. At the same time, green procurement and carbon trading mechanisms also provide economic incentives for companies that use environmentally friendly materials, which will help the market to start quickly and gradually form economies of scale.
Currently, fully biodegradable films have been initially applied in the following industries:
* Food packaging: used for disposable shopping bags, food trays, sealing films, etc., to reduce dependence on traditional plastic films;
* Agricultural mulch films: replace traditional PE mulch films, effectively reduce residual film pollution and plough ground problems;
* E-commerce logistics: suitable for green packaging products such as degradable express bags and degradable bubble pads;
* Medical and daily chemical product packaging: some reagent packaging materials, wet wipes packaging, and personal care product outsourcing gradually adopt environmentally friendly materials;
* Service industries such as aviation and high-end hotels: promote green transformation in the replacement of disposable products.
The gradual implementation of these actual scenarios shows that the material is being accepted by the market and gradually increasing in volume.
Enterprise layout and industrial chain construction trends
In the field of degradable materials, many companies have begun to form a collaborative layout in the upstream and downstream. From raw material suppliers (such as corn starch refining companies), bio-based polymer production plants, degradable film film companies, to terminal application brands and retailers, a preliminary closed-loop chain has gradually been formed. For example, some companies are improving their cost control capabilities and market response speed by building an integrated industrial system of raw materials-resins-film materials-packaging-composting. This vertical integration is expected to lower the overall application threshold and accelerate the industrialization process.
The current production cost of fully biodegradable films is still generally higher than that of petroleum-based plastics such as PE and PP. The main reasons include factors such as raw material extraction, polymerization process, equipment adaptation, and insufficient production capacity. However, with the large-scale planting of raw materials, iterative optimization of processes, improved processing automation, and the expansion of green consumer demand, there is room for its unit cost to decline. In addition, if carbon cost calculations or environmental tax systems are included, the economic efficiency of environmentally friendly materials will be more competitive.
Consumers' attention to environmental issues continues to heat up. In many countries, more and more people are willing to pay a slightly higher premium for sustainable products. Especially among young consumer groups, when choosing products, they pay more attention to the source of ingredients, packaging materials, and the environmental responsibility behind the products. As a form of green packaging, fully biodegradable films have gradually become an important manifestation of brand image building and corporate sustainable commitments.
As the globalization of environmental regulations strengthens, export-oriented enterprises face more and more environmental compliance requirements. The EU's "Green New Deal" and the "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)" and other policy regulations may increase environmental costs in the export process of traditional plastic packaging. The use of degradable materials can help companies meet international standards and obtain environmental certification (such as OK compost, TÜV AUSTRIA, etc.), thereby expanding export opportunities.
Although the market potential continues to expand, the development of fully biodegradable films still faces multiple challenges:
* Strong environmental dependence on degradation: Some materials can only be effectively degraded in industrial composting environments, and supporting facilities need to be built;
* Identification and classification issues: Consumers and recycling systems have difficulty identifying degradable materials, which affects recycling efficiency;
* Inconsistent standards: Different countries have different definitions of degradation standards, which affects product exports and unified brand promotion;
* Performance and price balance: Some scenarios have high requirements for material performance, and the replacement process needs to weigh performance and cost.
The solution to these challenges requires technological innovation, policy support and industry collaboration.
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