A Vessel that Returns to the Earth to Unwind the Future: The Challenge of Biodegradable Plastic, 1995
In 1995, Japan was in the midst of a recession and a mountain of waste. The Containers and Packaging Recycling Law was enacted in the same year, and the foundation for a system of staged enforcement began to be laid. This legislation, which set the proposition of resource recycling, signaled the beginning of a rethinking of our disposable-centered lifestyles.
The idea behind biodegradable plastics is simple and powerful. Microorganisms will eventually convert it into water and carbon dioxide. However, its promise is conditional and requires a controlled environment of industrial composting. EN13432 in Europe and ASTM D6400 in the United States have established a framework to prove degradation in commercial composting by setting standards for the degree of degradation and residues.
The genealogy of materials also branched out at this time. PLA, with its excellent moldability and heat resistance, was improved by crystallization and blending; PHA, with its degradability in soil and seawater, attracted attention and continued to be studied for practical applications; and PCL, with its high heat resistance, was improved by crystallization and blending.
In response to international trends, the introduction of PHA to the market was discussed in Europe, and Japan followed suit. Domestic demand was estimated to be on the order of 3 million tons per year, and there was potential for the creation of a new market. However, since the decomposition rate is slow in the ocean, a recovery and treatment system was required for its use.
In other words, the challenge around 1995 was pursued in a two-pronged manner: improvement of the material and development of a social receptacle. Standards set the standard, and technology expanded the scope of application. These two wheels formed the foundation of the future biodegradable plastics market.
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