4 If in the future the energy produced no longer replaces fossil energy, the advantages would not be as high as today. On the
contrary, the energy used for recycling would generate fewer environmental impacts.
5 The increased use of cogeneration would optimise the energy efficiency of incinerators.
6 Separate collection ensures the recovery of materials of higher quality and thus a lower loss rate for recycling.
7 The development of domestic recycling facilities would reduce the environmental impacts of the recycling process by avoiding
transportation
4.4 Relevance of findings in the UK context for biopolymers
As they are based on renewable resources, biopolymers contribute to the conservation of fossil resources and
reduction in CO 2 emissions and thus appear to be a promising innovation for sustainable development (European
Bioplastics, 2009). The UK is currently seeing a significant growth in the development and use of biopolymer and
compostable packaging especially in the retail grocery sector while there is currently no appropriate infrastructure
for the biopolymer materials to be collected and treated in the UK (WRAP, 2009 (c)). The end of life issue is
believed to be a major barrier for mass production of bioplastics and biopolymers (InCrops, 2009). Their market
share in the EU is currently insignificant compared to conventional plastics, i.e. 50,000 tonnes compared to 40
million tonnes according to the European Bioplastics Association. Nevertheless, the market is growing strongly,
especially for certain application areas such as packaging and agricultural films (European Bioplastics, 2009).
There is also considerable confusion among consumers regarding the appropriate end-of-life for biopolymers.
Consumers need to be informed about how to distinguish biopolymers from other polymers and how to dispose of
them appropriately at end of life. This study examined the available options in order to come up with some
recommendations regarding the options to be favoured. The main findings are summed up in the Table 93.
Table 93 Overview of the best and worst end-of-life options for managing biopolymer waste based on the results of the study^Biopolymer^ waste^ management^
Indicator Best option Worst option
Number of
studies
Climate change No clear preferred option (^7)
Depletion of natural resources Recycling/Incineration Composting (^2)
Energy demand Recycling/Incineration Composting (^4)
Acidification Recycling/Incineration Composting/Landfill (^5)
Eutrophication No clear preferred option (^4)
Issues around biopolymer differentiation
The principal problem that arises in the end of life stage comes from the fact that biopolymers are hard to
distinguish from fossil-based plastics.
While one advantage of biopolymers is that some are compostable, there is a risk of contamination with
conventional plastics. Because of this, currently no UK local authority will accept biopolymer packaging in the
organic waste collection, except kitchen caddy liners (WRAP, 2009 (c)).).
Compostable biopolymers may also end up in the recyclables stream and contaminate it. Biopolymers could
probably be separated from conventional plastics using near infra red and laser fluorescence technologies but this
would require a significant investment by waste management companies and would increase the cost of recycling
(WRAP, 2009 (c)).
Alternatively biopolymers could be added to the residual waste stream and increase the biodegradable waste sent
to landfill, making it harder for the UK to meet its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive and increasing the
amount of methane gases generated (WRAP, 2009 (c)).
The word biopolymers covers a very broad category of materials with differing properties. It is therefore difficult
to come up with a single recommendation for the end-of-life stage. And if the recommendations differ according
to the biopolymer type, then there is a risk that the consumer will get confused. Considering these issues,
incineration can appear as a good compromise, combining good environmental performances and simplifying the
routing after disposal. As conventional plastics, biopolymers have high calorimetric values and incineration thus