16th August 2021 – London, UK
- New peer-reviewed publication in the ‘Polymers’ journal utilises established international test methods to prove the difference between plastic that transforms into a harmless wax or fragments into microplastic.
- In a world-first, using ‘drop-point’ methodology, plastic containing Polymateria’s Biotransformation technology is shown to uniquely transform into a wax while a conventional plastic fragments into microplastics when exposed to the elements.
- New evidence is also published showing laboratory tests for biotransformed plastic are consistent with real-world experience in the Mediterranean climate region, where global microplastic accumulation is most acute.
Imperial College London-based Polymateria has added to its growing list of peer-reviewed publications with new research proving that plastic film containing its innovative new Biotransformation technology transforms into a harmless wax when exposed to mother nature. By contrast, a conventional plastic tested to the same method simply fragmented into microplastic.
This latest peer-reviewed publication utilises international test methods for classifying waxes, lubricants and plastics through their ‘drop-point’ when heated to prove that in real-world conditions the Biotransformed plastic changes into a harmless wax, clearly demonstrating the difference with a microplastic. The benign wax-like material is bioavailable enabling it to fully and quickly biodegrade leaving no trace in nature.
The research builds on previous peer-reviewed publications from Polymateria, including a recent study linking laboratory testing to real-world conditions in Florida. Florida conditions are equivalent to global hotspots of plastic pollution like Bangkok and Mumbai and is where approximately 50% of the global population live. Given the global nature of plastic pollution, the new research also includes a study correlating laboratory performance to real-world outdoor conditions in Southern France, selected due to the Mediterranean Sea containing the highest concentration of microplastics in the world[i]. 80% of plastics in the ocean are estimated to originate from unmanaged waste on land[ii].
At a global level, a staggering 32% of plastic packaging enters the natural environment as unmanaged waste[iii]. This means it is not even diverted to landfill or incinerated. The results of this study show that by including Polymateria’s technology, a plastic film that escapes into the natural environment will quickly and safely transform from a plastic to a wax which then biodegrades thereby avoiding the accumulation of plastic in our environment. Polyethylene plastic films are the most common source of plastic pollution.
As part of a considered plan to reduce our reliance on plastic, re-use materials where possible and recycle them where available, today’s announcement further enhances the place of Biotransformation as a key new tool to tackle the global plastic pollution crisis.
Niall Dunne, Polymateria CEO, said:
“In-line with our mission to advance science to help nature deal with the plastic pollution crisis, this latest peer reviewed research is another world first from Polymateria.
The study proves unequivocally the difference between transforming plastic into a harmless wax – as achieved through the inclusion of Polymateria’s technology – versus creating a microplastic when the material is exposed to mother nature.
The scientific evidence base behind our Biotransformation technology continues to grow as we break new ground in our fight to tackle this global environmental challenge.”
David de Rothchild, Explorer & Environmentalist said:
“10 years ago, my Plastiki expedition sought for the first time to illustrate how on the one hand plastic can be reused to accomplish spectacular feats of engineering but also to attract attention to our toxic relationship with plastic and how it contributes to the vast amounts of plastic floating in our oceans. Our awareness on the issue is thankfully rising but sadly robust research and innovation is still lagging behind. It is therefore great to see this new research from Polymateria helping to define the difference between harmful microplastics and bioavailable waxes which can be fully assimilated in nature”.
Dr Prashant Desai, Fibres Chief Innovation Officer at Indorama Ventures (IVL), said:
“Our most powerful evidence in addressing fugitive plastic waste is robust peer-reviewed science. This breakthrough work from Polymateria is another addition to our toolbox as it shows the difference between material which transforms into a harmless wax compared to conventional plastic which fragments into harmful microplastics in the open environment.”
Technical note:
The full open-access peer-reviewed journal article can be accessed here: Polymers 2021, 13(14), 2373; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142373
The paper is to be cited as follows:
Moreira, C.; Lloyd, R.; Hill, G.; Huynh, F.; Trufasila, A.; Ly, F.; Sawal, H.; Wallis, C. Temperate UV-Accelerated Weathering Cycle Combined with HT-GPC Analysis and Drop Point Testing for Determining the Environmental Instability of Polyethylene Films. Polymers 2021, 13, 2373. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142373
The methods employed for the drop-point testing utilise established international standards for the classification of waxes, lubricants and plastics produced by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The standard references are ASTMD127-19 & ASTM D3954-15.
‘Drop-point’ testing allows for scientific measurement of the temperature at which a material drops (i.e. melts) when heated. Plastic materials have a ‘drop point’ of above 140oC; materials with a drop-point below 140oC are classified as waxes and not plastics.
In the testing, the material is attached to the end of a high-temperature glass thermometer. The thermometer is suspended in a closed glass vessel and immersed in a glycerol heating bath and heated at a rate of approx. 0.5 °C/min. The temperature at which a droplet of molten material drops from the wax is recorded.
For visual reference, the following can be observed when these methods are applied to a polyethylene film containing Polymateria’s technology and a control sample of ordinary polyethylene film:
| Conventional plastic film creates microplastics – did not ‘drop’ before reaching 140oC and therefore is considered a microplastic after 60 days of exposure to the elements | Plastic film containing Polymateria’s Biotransformation technology transforms into a wax – ‘dropped’ at 114oC after 60 days and therefore is considered to have transformed into a wax after 60 days of exposure to the elements |
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Polymateria
Polymateria’s mission is to advance science to help nature deal with the plastic pollution crisis. Born from, and now based at, Imperial College London, we’re the first company in the world to prove scientifically that you can take the most likely sources of fugitive or unmanaged plastic waste and return them to nature without creating microplastics, harming the natural environment or interfering with recycling streams at scale.
In June 2021, Polymateria was named as a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer for 2021 on account of the company’s contribution to circularity and tackling plastic pollution. This sees us being part of a cohort of 100 companies globally that are expected to shape the future of business and society.
Earlier this year, Polymateria demonstrated a world first in creating a polyethylene film that is both recyclable and biodegradable in the open environment. The announcement was made by Imperial College London and covered by the UK Daily Telegraph.
Polymateria has partnership with some of the biggest technical partners in the world such as Clariant (now Avient), and Indorama Ventures for non-woven applications. Additionally the UK Government included the company as part of new trade with India, where Polymateria has a partnership with the Indian Government and a range of major local manufacturers and specifiers.
In its most recent collaboration, Polymateria will be providing Extreme E, an all-electric off-road racing series, with plastic cups and flexible films that in the unlikely event of escaping into the natural environment will safely and quickly biodegrade leaving no toxins and microplastics behind.
Pour Les Femmes, the ethical brand founded by Hollywood actor/activist Robin Wright and designer Karen Fowler, is the first apparel brand to introduce Polymateria’s technology into its packaging. Polymateria’s technology is also deployed by 7-ELEVEN in Taiwan in a range of takeaway food packaging applications (under the Cycle+ brand).
The company is proud to be a founding signatory of HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta (Earth Charter) established under the Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Contact:
[i] https://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/m/science/news/the-mediterranean-sea-has-the-highest-densities-of-plastics-in-the-world/
[ii] https://ourworldindata.org/ocean-plastics
[iii] https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/EllenMacArthurFoundation_TheNewPlasticsEconomy_Pages.pdf