PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Global plastic production increased from 1.5 million tonnes per year in 1950 to 250 million tonnes in 2013, and it is estimated to triple by 2050. Around 30% of plastics used worldwide are used for product packaging, for example, for food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The most common plastic compounds are petroleum-based polymers such as polystyrene. For instance, around 450 billion disposable coffee cups are used per year in the EU and the USA combined (equal to 6.7 million tonnes of waste per year). These cups are often made with polystyrene and, even if the rest of the components are organic, the use of fossil fuel-based materials makes this waste difficult or impossible to recycle. This is a common problem and in total around a half of all plastic waste in the EU is landfilled. Therefore, much energy and processed raw material is lost, instead of being recycled into new products.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the BIODOLOMER for LIFE project was to demonstrate an innovative 100% fossil fuel-free biomaterial, Biodolomer®, which can replace plastic in product packaging. The project aimed to test its use in four different commercial reference products (freezing bags, cutlery, and food and drink packaging) to verify the possibility of introducing it to the European plastic and packaging industry. This new material can be treated as organic waste through energy recovery/incineration, organic recycling/composting and material recycling, thus avoiding landfilling and upgrading management practice to comply with the waste hierarchy established by the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC). The new material is also cost efficient and highly transferrable, as it can be produced with plastic processing machinery already on the market. Another key innovation is that no waste will be generated during its production, making it resource efficient. Furthermore, its production process requires less energy than used for producing plastics, cardboard and aluminium, with energy consumption reductions of up to 30%.
RESULTS
The BIODOLOMER for LIFE project developed versions of a new polymer, called Biodolomer®. These can replace fossil fuel-based plastic for a number of applications, for example, trays for food packing, carrier bags, waste bags, freezer bags and disposable cutlery. One polymer version has reached a level of 90% fossil-free content, which is considered among the best achievements in the industry.
The end-products produced were tested in the laboratory and with users. They were proved to comply with required standards. The Biodolomer® version used for the production of carrier bags and waste bags has been certified as fully compostable and biodegradable.
Incineration of waste containing Biodolomer®, which has a low content of petroleum-based materials, fits into the strategies of the municipality of Helsingborg. Project partner NSR has tested the degradation of the new material in a traditional biogas plant, supplemented by tests of biogas production in laboratory conditions. These results have been disseminated in Sweden and are helping to optimise existing biogas plants.
The project’s key innovation has been to develop a family of biologically-based polymers to a level that can replace a number of different fossil fuel-based plastics. The Biodolomer® products, especially carrier bags and trays, are now being produced commercially and are attracting significant attention.
The project is fully in line with the aim of the 7th Environment Action Programme to transform the EU into a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy. For every ton of fossil fuel-based plastic replaced, 6.6 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 eq.) is saved, so the project supports EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. After being reused and recycled, the material becomes an effective renewable material, in line with circular economy policy objectives; and when converted to energy for electricity and heat it is in line with renewable energy objectives. Furthermore, when decomposing, the material does not create any microplastics in nature or at sea. The project team have worked on influencing future legislation within the EU Plastic Strategy and the Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive. A barrier for replacing a larger part of petroleum-based plastic with Biodolomer® materials is that presently the SUP Directive treats both materials in the same way; so the project team have proposed a change in classification to act as a driver for change.
A future full-scale implementation of the material will mean a significant reduction in energy intensive plastic and packaging materials within the EU. It will allow for several industrial actors across Europe to consider substituting state-of-the art alternatives with a more environmentally-friendly version.
The project is in line with the aims of the participating communities in Sweden to become a fossil-free. In the near future, everyone in Båstad, Helsingborg and the region will benefit from being able to use Biodolomer® waste bags for food collection. This collected food will be turned into biogas. Using Biodolomer® materials will also generate less CO2 emissions.
According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Sweden uses 1.3 million tons of fossil plastic per year. A replacement of 80% volume plastics would result in savings of about 6.9 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, corresponding to carbon dioxide emissions from about 2.3 million cars, almost half of the Swedish car fleet.
Project partners GAIA works in close cooperation with Samhall, a state-owned company with a mandate to create meaningful work for people with functional impairments. Samhall has placed 3-4 persons at GAIA premises. Another cooperation is with Arbetsförmedlingen, Swedish Employment Agency, where GAIA has taken on board newcomers from Syria and Iran.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
