BASF develops new biodegradable plastic packaging

Recently, BASF, the world's largest chemical company, has developed plastic bags that can be converted into fertilizers. This bag is made from fully degradable plastic Ecoflex. Films and packaging made from Ecoflex rot with organic waste, leaving only water, carbon dioxide, and natural remains of organisms.

At present, in food packaging materials, the use of natural materials (such as paper lunch boxes or pulp boxes) may have a big drawback, that is, grease and liquid will seep out quickly, and covering with a layer of Ecoflex can improve this.

Water-resistant and grease-resistant properties also make it possible to use Ecoflex as trash bags, sundries bags and films. After use, waste plastics can be treated with organic waste. This means that existing municipal facilities can be left unadjusted because Ecoflex breaks down almost as fast as vegetable starch in the normal decomposition process. In agriculture, with Ecoflex, the film used in agriculture will be reborn. After use, as long as it is buried in the land and allowed to decompose, it will be converted into nutrients needed for the land in a short period of time.

In the production of Ecoflex, BASF's chemists mixed adipic acid, butanediol and terephthalic acid and finally obtained the polymer. This combination of variability allows Ecoflex to serve as a molecular structure to manufacture products based on customer needs. Whether it is a soft film or a rigid box, they are all degradable. In general, the compositional structure of Ecoflex accurately mimics the structure of natural compounds. Because of this, microorganisms in the soil can break down this plastic.

Reprinted from: Global Flexible Packaging Industry