This post is more like a request to help me to understand the reality that surrounds us.
It is aimed at an audience, the Linkedin subscribers, with big knowledge and skills in this the specific sector.
The old continent, better the Europeans people pare certainly the first to have understood that one of the methods to reduce the negative impact of the packaging on the environment is to use biodegradable and compostable materials for the latter.
In fact, in the case of "involuntary" release into the environment of manufacture goods made of biodegradable and compostable materials within a maximum of 5 years they are transformed into carbon dioxide, water and humus. In the case of traditional plastics (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, ... they are required between 1000-5000 years, in addition, after a few years the latter tend to fragment into very small and degradation-resistant particles that enter the food chain passing from plankton to humans with damage still all to study and understand.
Everything good? Not so if we consider the fact that these new materials (biodegradable and compostable) such as PLA, PBAT, PBST, PBS, (starch), .... are produced in minimal part here in Europe and therefore it is necessary to import them or from America or from Asia.
Except for the starch obtained either from the maize or from the potatoes the other products (real polymers) are usually purchased outside Europe.
The PLA consumption forecast in 2019 is approximately 75,000 tons; the installed capacity in Europe is about 5,000 tons.
The PBAT, and the PBST consumption expected in 2019 is approximately 175,000; the installed production capacity in Europe is about 170,000. Of this capacity 100.000 is only for captive use (Novamont).
The PBS consumption forecast for 2019 50,000 ton; the installed production capacity in Europe is (?)
According to this data, today in Europe compared to a requirement of about 300,000 tons, about 125,000 tons of basic materials are missing.
For the compounding capacity, that is the transformation process that starting from the single raw materials PLA, PBAT, PBST, PBS, (starch) ... for obtains materials ready for use, there are no shortcomings.
The numbers reported are the result of at least two years of dialogues with the various producers, readings of articles, .... and professional interest (myself working in the compounding company for biodegradable biodegradable materials for over 15 years).
I would like the data I reported to be supplemented, modified and why not upset if it is incorrect.
Thanks in advance to all those who will want to comment on my post.
Thanks in advance to all those who will want to comment on my post.
