Discussion points for today

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Jemima Lynch
5 years ago
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1 17 March

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4 Annabé Pretorius B.Sc Hons Polymer Science in 1986 Textile research Explosives manufacturing Plastics Federation of SA in 1990 Technical trainer Technical Support Manager Started own company in July 2007 Plastics advice, information, assistance & training 4

5 Discussion points for today 1. Waste Hierarchy 2. Different plastics 3. Facts & Fiction 4. Environmental friendly packaging 5. Questions 5

6 Packaging Packaging: Protects and preserves; Extended shelf life Makes modern lifestyle possible Convenient, on-the-go Single person households smaller portions, more packaging Less preservatives Carries vital information Provides public health solutions - tamper-evidence Keeps hazardous contents from children Complies with legal requirements Provides branding opportunity 6

7 Packaging Packaging attracts media attention: Environmental impact energy Packaging vs. food supply system Packaging vs. shopping, storing and cooling Manufacturers use excessive packaging Major contributor to waste Most litter is packaging No, or very little, recycling of packaging Packaging carries a health risk 7

8 Waste hierarchy Most favoured option Prevent Reduce Re-use Recycle Recover energy Least favoured option Dispose of 8

9 Prevent waste No packaging - naked packaging 9

10 Prevent waste Fresh meat Food wastage Not an option!! 10

11 Re-used packaging Using the product for exactly the same, or similar application 11

12 Re-used 12

13 Re-used packaging Milk 13

14 Re-used packaging Milk Crates 14

15 Re-used packaging Milk Crates Health risk Consumer takes responsibility for hygiene Not always an option! Seldom convenient! 15

16 Reduction of waste Reduction, i.e. less packaging, less waste, without compromising the preservation function of packaging 16

17 What is the driver? Why should the consumer buy it? 17 17

18 Reduction of waste Less material: Thinner bags Lighter tubs, tubes Smaller packs Material replacement Less... PET wine bottles Minimum material thinner less! 18

19 Recycling of waste Recycling is not collection! Waste re-utilisation Most common form of recycling in SA is mechanical recycling 19

20 Plastics recycling tons of plastics recycled in ,3% tons of packaging recycled 28,9% of all packaging was recycled 20

21 Plastics tonnages recycled (2009) PP, 43,000, 19% PET, 33,870, 15% PVC-P, 11,645, 5% PVC-U, 3,845, 2% PE-HD, 36,547, 16% Other, 10,614, 4% PS, 3,389, 1% PMMA ABS Other PA PE-LD/LLD, 92,381, 41% 21 21

22 Recover Recovery of the contained energy Energy is measured in Joules Plastics contains more energy than coal 22

23 Recovery of energy Materials Energy (MJ/kg) Gas 46 Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene 45 Coal 28 PVC 18 Paper 15 23

24 Recovery of energy Not yet in South Africa Packaging waste initiative includes energy recovery Waste Act 2009, but non-recyclables only Solid fuels as Alternative fuels for power stations and cement kilns Liquid fuels (2011??) 24

25 Dispose of Landfill 25

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27 tons recovered from landfills in 2009 (23%) 27

28 Waste hierarchy Most emphasis! Prevent Reduce Re-use Recycle Recover energy Least favoured option Dispose of 28

29 Discussion points for today 1. Waste Hierarchy 2. Different plastics 3. Facts & Fiction 4. Environmental friendly packaging 5. Questions 29

30 Different plastics 40 different families of plastics Roughly 20 of them are common everyday use materials Big 5 for packaging 30

31 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 31

32 Would it be safe to re-use my PET water bottle? 32

33 High density polyethylene (PE-HD) 33

34 High density polyethylene (PE-HD) 34 34

35 Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) Clingwrap 35

36 Low density polyethylene (PE-LD) 36

37 Which one? 37

38 Polypropylene (PP) 38

39 Integral hinge and a 5 at the bottom surely PP! 39 39

40 Polypropylene (PP) 40 40

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42 Polystyrene (PS) 42 42

43 Injection moulded PS (conventional) 43

44 Expandable PS 44 44

45 Packaging materials 1.PET 2.PE-HD 3.PVC (Flexible and Rigid) 4.PE-LD 5.PP 6.PS (PS-HI, GPS, PS-E) 45

46 46

47 Discussion points for today 1. Waste Hierarchy 2. Different plastics 3. Facts & Fiction 4. Environmental friendly packaging 5. Questions 47

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49 Facts or Fiction? Plastics use up valuable natural resources Plastics are a major cause of the greenhouse effect Plastics are toxic and harmful to health (BPA, phthalates, dioxins) Plastics should all be biodegradable Plastics are the major cause of litter Banning thin plastic bags will reduce litter Plastics are filling up available landfill sites 49

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51 Facts or Fiction? Plastics use up valuable natural resources 51

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53 From crude oil to monomer (In South Africa we use coal) Crude oil 100% Diesel & Heating Fuel 70% Light petroleum spirit 20% Others 10% Motor fuel 13% Raw materials for chemicals 7% Plastics 4% Other chemicals 3% 53

54 Facts or Fiction? Plastics use up valuable natural resources True in absolute terms, but the minimal percentage of fossil fuels which go into the manufacture of plastics is more than offset by their low mass and the resultant savings in fuels during transportation. It also plays a significant role in the conservation of other resources like trees 54

55 Plastics use up valuable natural resources 55 55

56 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are a major cause of the greenhouse effect 56

57 57 Expandable PS 57

58 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are a major cause of the greenhouse effect Contrary to general believe, plastics play a significant role in minimising the greenhouse effect by virtue of lower CO 2 emissions when compared to other packaging forms. 58

59 Carbon dioxide Emissions in grams (Milk packaging) PE-HD Cardboard Glass* * Acknowledged that glass is re-used but causes emission of a further 144g on each trip, e.g. washing and capping Plastics are a major cause of the greenhouse effect 59

60 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are toxic and harmful to health 60

61 Facts or Fiction... Do not re-use your water bottle... Don t leave your water bottle in the hot car... 8 reasons why you should not drink bottled water... 61

62 Water bottles one contaminant that appears regularly in reused water bottles was DEHA, a suspected human carcinogen that is known to cause weight loss and liver and reproductive problems 62

63 1. DEHA = Di-2-ethyl-Hexyl-Adipate = DOA 2. DEHA = Di-ethyl Hydroxyl Amine (not found in PET or in the production of PET bottles) 3. DOA, is one of the organic contaminants commonly found at trace levels in drinking water 4. A Calgary University student study water bottles and found bacteria in school children s bottles. They reported it as being DEHA Should have said DOA! 63

64 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are toxic and harmful to health 64

65 Facts or Fiction Additives leach out of the toys into the mouths of babies... Vanilla teething rings, BPA and phthalate free... Cling film is not microwaveable 65

66 Soft PVC Soft toys Teething rings Cling wrap 66

67 Medical applications 67

68 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are toxic and harmful to health 68

69 Facts or Fiction... How safe is your baby s bottles? Only buy BPA-free bottles... Dangerous chemical can leach from baby bottles... 69

70 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are toxic and harmful to health Bisphenol A is found in metal containers (lining), metal closures and is a building block for Polycarbonate. Daily tolerable intake is so small that a baby should drink 80 bottles of formula in one day and eat the bottles! 70

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72 Facts or Fiction... Polystyrene is not plastic... Polystyrene cannot be recycled... Polystyrene is not safe in the microwave... 72

73 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are toxic and harmful to health Styrene monomer can leach out of polystyrene if heated to above its softening point. Not a good idea to keep food in PS-E containers for extended periods in ovens, neither to heat it up in your microwave oily contents is the problem, not the PS-E! At normal temperatures (< 45 C) no problem! 73

74 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are toxic and harmful to health Plastics are non-toxic and, in most cases, can be considered as totally inert in normal use. No toxic effluents are generated during manufacture

75 Dioxins are a family of chemical substances which are produced in many types of combustion, e.g. such as cigarette smoke, car exhausts or even a braai! Plastics are toxic and harmful to health 75

76 Facts or Fiction? Plastics should all be biodegradable 76

77 Green Packaging Claims Green washing 100% compostable in commercial composting facilities Easy to compost 100% biodegradable Can be used for bio-energy Recyclable and Compostable 77

78 Degradability and other terms Degradability Ability of materials to break down, by: bacterial (biodegradable), thermal (oxidative) or ultraviolet (photodegradable) action. 78

79 Biodegradable Biodegradable materials Degradable due to the action of microorganisms and enzymes (such as fungi or bacteria) The mineralisation of organic structures by micro-organisms converts the bioplastics into CO 2, methane, water and biomass, i.e. it decomposes Plastics are not biodegradable 79

80 Oxo-biodegradable Oxo-biodegradable plastics Materials made from traditional plastic with an additive that initiates degradation under the action of heat, UV and oxygen This kind of material could encourage littering, doesn t degrade in landfill, and is a real danger for marine life 80

81 Bio-plastics or Biomass materials Bio-plastic A bio-based plastic is a plastic derived from a renewable source, e.g. corn, sugar cane, starch, etc Can be recycled, but not with other materials in normal recycling stream Not necessarily biodegradable 81

82 Compostable Compostable plastics Degradable due to a biological process occurring during composting and are converted into CO 2, water, and biomass There are no toxic side effects Conform to an officially recognised standard (EN 13432) There are no commercial composting sites in SA 82

83 Get more on: Factsheet_on_bioplastics_ pdf 83

of heat, oxygen and sunlight to cause degradation leading to

84 Biodegradability? Technologists mimic nature by using the environmental forces of heat, oxygen and sunlight to cause degradation leading to biodegradation In direct sunlight from 30 June to 25 Feb 8 months; Only the RHS bag was oxo-biodegradable 84

85 Facts or Fiction? Plastics should all be biodegradable Biodegradable plastics are available, at a price, but do not biodegrade in landfill sites. Most plastics are photo-degradable, i.e. they are degraded by the UV rays of the sun and break up into smaller pieces which become incorporated into the soil with no harmful effects. 85

86 Facts or Fiction? Plastics should all be biodegradable Biodegradable plastics are available, at a price, but do not biodegrade in landfill sites. Most plastics are photo-degradable, i.e. they are degraded by the UV rays of the sun and break up into smaller pieces which become incorporated into the soil with no harmful effects...all of them biodegradable? 86

87 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are the major cause of litter 87

88 Post-consumer waste of all types is a major environmental problem, as well as a highly visible one. Littering is an extremely serious problem in South Africa Plastics are the major cause of litter 88 88

89 Facts or Fiction? Banning thin plastic bags will reduce litter May 2003: All bags must be thicker than 30µm 20% Printing must be less than 50% 89

90 Beverage can g 2 litre PET bottle Checkers bag µm g µm g g 47 g 15 µm µm Banning thin plastic bags will reduce litter 90

91 Facts or Fiction? Plastics are filling up available landfill sites Despite the widespread use of plastics packaging, analysis of the solid waste stream shows that plastics represent only 7% by weight and 18% by volume. Other materials account for the bulk of waste. 91

92 % Landfill composition by weight Paper 37,1% Misc 1,8% Food 8,1% Building & Construction 17,9% Plastics 7,2% Metals 9,6% Glass 9,7% Other 8,6% Plastics are filling up available landfill sites 92

93 Facts or Fiction? Plastics use up valuable natural resources Plastics are a major cause of the greenhouse effect Plastics are toxic and harmful to health Plastics should all be biodegradable Plastics are the major cause of litter Banning thin plastic bags will reduce litter Plastics are filling up available landfill sites 93

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95 Discussion points for today 1. Waste Hierarchy 2. Different plastics 3. Facts & Fiction 4. Environmental friendly packaging 5. Questions 95

96 Environmentally friendly packaging Ensure packaging can be recycled If not, minimise material usage Don t lie to the consumer green washing 96

97 Recycling of packaging Design for recycling Choice of material(s) Application of labels Additives in material 97

98 Design for recycling PET bottle, PVC sleeve PE-HD bottle, PVC sleeve 98

99 Recycling of packaging Design for recycling Choice of material(s) Application of labels Additives in material Material identification codes 99

100 1 PET 2 PE-HD 3 PVC 4 PE-LD 5 PP 6 PS 7 Other, e.g. ABS, PC, PETG 100

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102 Should have said 2 for PE-HD 102

103 Universal Recycling Symbol Material Identification code Neither says anything about the recyclability of the product Neither indicates if it will be recycled in South Africa 103

104 Recycling of packaging Design for recycling Choice of material(s) Application of labels Additives in material Material identification codes Commitment towards recycling initiatives 104

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106 Discussion points for today 1. Waste Hierarchy 2. Different plastics 3. Facts & Fiction 4. Environmental friendly packaging 5. Questions 106

107 To summarise 1. Packaging is integral part of product 2. Environmental accountability and sustainability 3. Waste hierarchy 4. Partner with packaging provider and recycling initiatives 5. Commitment towards spent-product 107

108 Annabé Pretorius Tel

109 Annabé Pretorius Tel

PVC Recycling in SA. Annabé Pretorius. 17 April 2012

PVC Recycling in SA. Annabé Pretorius. 17 April 2012 PVC Recycling in SA Annabé Pretorius 17 April 2012 1 Discussion points for today 1. Introduction 2. Plastics Industry in SA 3. Recycled materials in 2010 4. What drives recycling in SA 5. What should be