OCEAN PLASTICS
Marco, Alex, Mariana & Samhttps://www.projectaware.org/news/were-now-million-plastic-bottles-minute-91-which-are-not-recycled
● 8 million tons of plastic deposited into ocean annually - 10x increase by 2020
● 80% of marine debris estimated to be ocean plastics
● Marine life at risk● In 2015, only 9.1% of plastic was recycled
Ocean Plastics are a Serious Problem
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
www.coastalseekers.com/story/reducing-plastic-pollution-in-our-oceans-world-environment-day/
● PET and PE together account for up to 30% of all plastics, with some of the most common applications being bottles and product containers
● Both show negligible marine degradation○ Micro and nano plastics
● Both have been shown to lead to high rates of sorption of POPs○ Large surface area
Current Plastics are Inadequate
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
● Goal: If plastics reach the ocean, they will break down in the environment in as little time as possible○ Breakdown products will not pose
hazards to the marine environment○ Products will not pose health hazards to
humans
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/60939401183116790/?lp=true
Approach: Reduce Impact of Method Products
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Mechanical Thermal UV/Radical Hydrolytic Biological
Synthetic Polymer Degradation Processes
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Modern plastics degrade slowly in nature
A large number of polymers degrade readily in the environment due to bacterial and fungal processes:
1. Cellulose (polysaccharides)2. Keratin (proteins)3. DNA (nucleic acids)
Our goal was to find polymers with these same properties- high durability but susceptible to enzymatic degradation- that also maintained thermoplastic properties
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/27105228293
https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%C3%A6_(materiale)#/media/File:Egeved.JPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DNA_Structure%2BKey%2BLabelled.pn_NoBB.png
Inspiration: Natural Polymers
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Technical Performance
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Technical Performance: Strategies
Biopolymers as Thermoplastic
Alternatives
Polymer Crystallinity and Biodegradation
Non- Thermoplastic
Alternatives
Biodegradation Enhancing Additives
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
ThermoplasticsThermoplastics soften when heated and harden when cooled. This allows them to be remolded and recycledAdvantages:
● Recyclable● Reshaping capabilities● Chemical resistant● Hard crystalline or rubbery surface
Thermoplastic Disadvantages:
● Expensive● Can melt if heated
Before After
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plastic_bottle.jpg
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Technical Performance
Barrier PropertiesWater Permeability
Thermal Properties Glass transition and melting
temperatures
Tensile Properties Strength, elongation at break
Moisture and product dehydration
Resistance and flexibility
Polymer compatibility and stability
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Technical Performance
Polymer Barrier Properties Tensile Properties Thermal PropertiesH2O Permeability
(g mm/m2 day atm)Elongation at
break (%)Tensile
Strength (MPa) Tm (°C) Tg (°C)
PET 0.5-2 300 55 260 67-81PE 0.5-2 298 22-29 115–135 < -50
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Environmental Performance- % Degradation
1. Standardized biodegradation (based on ASTM standards): 90% converted to CO2 after 180 days at 30°C in seawater with indigenous microbial culture
2. Abiotic degradation (chemical hydrolysis only): relevant to aquatic environments with diluted microorganism concentrations
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Brannigan et. al. (2016)
Polylactic acid (PLA)
NatureWorks®-Cargill Dow (USA) and Galacid®-Galactic (Belgium)
● 10% of total biopolymer production capacities in 2013
● Made from renewable sources-100 % Bio-based content
● High transparency, high molecular weight, and good resistance to acids and oils
Biodegradable Polymers
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
http://www.worldcentric.org/biocompostables/cups/pla-cold-cups
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polylactid_sceletal.svg
Environmental Performance● PLA will compost in industrial
facilities. Hydrolysis needs higher temperatures
● Degradation according to ASTM standards: 3.11% in 180 days
● Abiotic degradation 14% after 18 weeks
PLA Performance
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Technical Performance
Medium water barrier
Similar strength to PET
Low elongation at break, brittle
Tm and Tg similar to PE & PET
Biodegradable Polymers
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)Produced by the bacterial fermentation of sugars and lipids and are synthesised by a very wide range of microorganisms
Made up 1.6% of total biopolymer production capacities in 2013
PHBHx (Kaneka) and PHBO (Nodax by P&G) show greater biodegradation rates
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoates#/media/File:Poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrat.svg
PHA R
PHB -CH3
PHBV (BiopolTM) -CH3 and -CH2CH2CH3
PHBHx (Kaneka) -CH3 and -CH2CH2CH3
PHBO (Nodax) -CH3 and -(CH2)4CH3 Noda et. al. (2018)
Environmental Performance
PHBHx-Performance
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Technical Performance
Good water barrier
Similar strength to PE
Good elongation at break, ductile
Tm and Tg similar to PE & PET
Polymer Degradation according to ASTM standards
Abiotic degradation
PHA (Nodax) 45% in 180 days
PHB 89% in 43 days ~8.5% in 1 year
PHBHHx 88.1-89.4% loss 149 days at 30 °C
Biodegradable Polymers
Polycaprolactone (PCL)
CAPA®- Solvay (Belgium), Tone®- Union Carbide (USA) or Celgreen®-Daicel (Japan)
● Non-renewable feedstock (fossil fuel based)
● Used in medical applications for long-term implants and controlled drug release applications
● Not widely used in packaging because of large costs
● Good chemical resistance to water, oil, solvent and chlorine
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactone#/media/File:Polycaprolactone_structure.png
Environmental Performance● Degradation according to ASTM
standards 80% in 56 days at RT● Abiotic degradation <2% after 18
weeks● Slow hydrolytic degradation time
because of its hydrophobicity● PCL degrading microorganisms
were found in deep water (high pressure, low temperature)-these were not able to degrade PHAs or PLA
PCL Performance
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Technical Performance
Poor water barrier
Similar strength to PET
Low Tm Good elongation at break, ductile
Biopolymer BlendsBlends can improve:
1. Biodegradation
2. Material properties● PLA/PHA, PHA acts as
lubricant and plasticizer● PLA/PCL improved
mechanical properties, little degradation
3. Cost ● PCL +starch (plastic bags)
Sashiwa et. al. (2018)
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Entry PHBHHx/PLA (wt/wt) Form Average Particle
Size (µm)
1 100/0 Powder 440 342 80/20 Powder 420 333 60/40 Powder 430 324 40/60 Powder 440 265 0/100 Powder 490 1
Amylose, Cellulose, or Starch:- improve degradation times by up to 70% with minimal changes to physical properties. -Polysaccharide believed to initiate bacterial growth, leading to co-polymer breakdown
Polymer Additives: Sacrificial PolymersConfounding issues:● Little data available in
biopolymers● Very few studies
available using similar metrics to those used in biopolymer comparisons
● Polymer dependent effects are hard to predict
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/219_Three_Important_Polysaccharides-01.jpg
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Photosensitizing compounds:● Primarily Fe or Ca Stearate, Cu
Phthalocyanine-added at <1% level● Generate singlet oxygen- leads to radical breakdown
of polymer chains. ● Up to 95% decrease in Mw, 40% decrease in weight
Polymer Additives: PhotosensitizersConfounding issues:● Little data available in
biopolymers● Very few studies
available using similar metrics to those used in biopolymer comparisons
● Polymer dependent effects are hard to predict
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Crystallinity & Polymer Degradation Processes
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Amorphous_vs_Crystalline.jpg
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Crystallinity & Polymer Degradation Processes
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Amorphous_vs_Crystalline.jpg
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Crystallinity & Polymer Degradation Processes● Lower crystallinity leads to faster
degradation● This holds true for many polymers● Relative impact is polymer dependent and
affected by polymer molecular weight● Decreasing crystallinity affects mechanical
properties- less brittle- less stable● Barrier properties altered with crystallinity,
particularly water and oxygen permeability● Maximum impact is 2% increase in
degradation per 1% change in crystallinity
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Nature already contains attractive solutions for fluid containment
Fruits as Containers
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35832540@N03/3330701660
Coconuts represent a 2 part containment: cellulose exterior with a fatty/ waxy interior to hold fluid
Tomatoes use a thin hydrophobic barrier coupled with interior structures to contain fluid. Biological degradation rapidly eliminates
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomato-cut_vertical.png
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Calcium Alginate:
Non-Thermoplastic Alternatives: Alginate
● Alginate is a linear polysaccharide extracted from brown algae
● Calcium reduces the solubility in water of alginate films, as well as their flexibility
● Modifying the Ca2+ counterion (eg. lactate) improves barrier properties
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perles_d%27abricot_et_feuille_de_basilic.jpg
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Composite packaging:
Non-Thermoplastic Alternatives: Composites
● Alternating layers of polymer, paper, and optional metal film
● Reduces polymer required by supplementing paper/cellulose
● Difficult to recycle due to combination of materials preventing separation
● Cellulose acts as a natural sacrificial polymer
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:TBA_packaging_components.gif#/media/File:TBA_packaging_components.svg
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Alginate performance metrics:
Composite packaging performance metrics:
Performance of Non-Thermoplastic Alternatives
Barrier Properties H2O Permeability(g mm/m2 day atm) <12500
Tensile PropertiesElongation at break (%) 11.5Tensile Strength (MPa) 59.7Tensile Modulus (GPa) 0.6
Barrier Properties H2O PermeabilityDependent on polymer .5-300
Thermal Properties Tg(°C) 10-150
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Poor water barrier
Good water barrier
Health Performance Overview
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
● Primary toxicological pathways1. Micro & nano plastic toxicity 2. POP exposure through plastic sorption 3. Direct toxicity in products
Health Performance Overview
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Microplastic Exposure is a Threat
● 2 potential exposure routes:○ Directly in Method
products○ Marine organisms
→ trophic transfer
Lusher et al. 2017.
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
● Micro and nano plastics causes significant toxicological outcomes
Lusher et al. 2017.
Micro and Nano Plastics Health Impacts
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Microplastics> 150 µm no absorption< 150 µm110 µm in portal vein
≤ 20 µm
Biological Level Polyethylene size Effect
Macromolecules 110nm - 30µm DNA damage, changes in gene and protein expression
Cells 300nm - 10µm Cell clotting, necrosis, apoptosis, oxidative stress
Tissues 600nm - 21µm Inflammation and bone osteosis
Exposure to POPs through microplastics in seafood constitutes a small proportion of total dietary intake of POPs
Smith et al. 2018.
Human Exposure to POPs through Microplastics
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Compound Ratio Intake Microplastic/Total Dietary Intake (pg/kg bw/day) (%)
Non-dioxin like PCBs 0.03 - 0.007
DDT 0.1 - 0.02
PAHs 0.004 - 0.0000002
BPA 0.00002 - 0.000005
PBDEs 0.003 - 0.0007
Health Impacts of POPs
● Human health outcomes linked to POP exposure through micro/nano plastics is limited
● Chronic exposure is a concern○ Epigenetic alterations○ Neurobehavioral deficits ○ Altered insulin secretion
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DDT_chemical_structure_highres.png
DDT
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
● Exposure in Method products will typically be dermal
● Group 1 endpoints○ Chronic and/or life threatening endpoints○ Potentially induced at low doses○ Trans-generational potential
● Group 2 endpoints ○ Endpoints that can typically be mitigated
Direct Toxicity Health Exposure & Endpoints
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Direct Toxicity Methodology
3 = Low Risk No (+) studies, no (+) modeling, or stated by AL2= Moderate Risk 1 (+) study or prediction, or stated by AL1 = High Risk 2+ (+) studies, or stated by AL
Unknown Following extensive review of the literature, no significant evidence could be found
Data Gap As labeled in GreenScreen or authoritative body
LegendPrimary Chemical
Breakdown Product
Additives/ contaminants
Monomer
Hazard tables for each chemical is generated
through literature review & toxicity modeling
ChemicalGroup I Human Endpoints Group II and Group II* Endpoints
Carcinogenicity/Mutagenicity
Developmental/Reproductive
Toxicity
Endocrine Activity Acute Toxicity Systemic
Toxicity (acute)Systemic Toxicity
(C)Neurotoxicity
(A)Neurotoxicity
(C)Skin, Eye, Respiratory
Irritation (A)
Existing ChemicalsPET 2, L U 2, L 3, L U U U U 2, LEthylene glycol 3, H 1, H 3, L 2, H 1, H 1, H 1, H 3, H 2, HTerephthalic acid 2, L 2, H 2, L 3, H 2, H 1, H 2, H 3, H 2, HPhthalic acid 2, L 2, L 3, L 2, L 2, L U U U 1, LPolyethylene (PE) 1, L U U 3, M U 3, M U U 2, HEthylene 2, H 3, L 3, L 2, L 2, L U 2, L 1, L 2, L
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Direct Toxicity Methodology cont. ● Final evaluation, based on Faludi et al. (2016)
○ Weighted average across monomers & polymers ○ Averages & Ranges → worst case & best case ○ Limitations & Assumptions
■ Weights ■ Unknowns & data gaps → scoring ■ Successful evaluation of the literature ■ Scores impacted by # monomers/breakdown products included■ Toxicity of monomers/breakdown as significant as parent compound
Note that numerically low scores indicate a higher hazard
Carc/Mut Dev/Repro/ED Acute ST/N/Ir Chronic ST/N Overall Hazard ScorePET range 2-3 (1 U) 1-3 (1 U) 1-3 (3 U) 1-3 (3 U) 1.26-3PET average 2.25 2.14 1.92 2.2 2.14weighting coefficient 0.2625 0.2625 0.2125 0.2625
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Direct Toxicity Methodology cont. ● Graphs represent the weighted
range and weighted average of the hazard score for each chemical
Note that numerically low scores indicate a higher hazard
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Existing ChemicalsPET 1.26-3 2.14PE 1.74-2.74 2.17
Guiding principles:● If a compound is good at
concentrating Persistent Organics (POPs) but has a short lifetime, it can still be a good option
● Absolute data is rare, hard to assign confidence rating
● Hydrophobicity has non direct correlation to sorption rate
Risk Assessment Degradation time Sorption of POPs
Low Risk <6 months with some hydrolytic <50 ug/g polymer
Moderate Risk 6 months to 1 year 50 to 300 ug/g polymerHigh Risk > 1 year >300 ug/g polymer
Unknown Following extensive review of the literature, no significant evidence could be found
Data Gap As labeled in GreenScreen or other authoritative body
Environmental Performance: Methodology
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Guiding principles:● If a compound is good at
concentrating Persistent Organics (POPs) but has a short lifetime, it can still be a good option
● Absolute data is rare, hard to assign confidence rating
● Hydrophobicity has non direct correlation to sorption rate
Risk Assessment Degradation time Sorption of POPs
Low Risk <6 months with some hydrolytic <50 ug/g polymer
Moderate Risk 6 months to 1 year 50 to 300 ug/g polymerHigh Risk > 1 year >300 ug/g polymer
Unknown Following extensive review of the literature, no significant evidence could be found
Data Gap As labeled in GreenScreen or other authoritative body
Environmental Performance: Methodology
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Existing Chemicals Particle Degradation Sorption of POPsPolyethylene terephthalate(PET) High Risk Low Risk
Polyethylene(PE) High Risk Moderate Risk
Strategy #1
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Strategy 1: Bio-polymers● Our goal is to provide a potential solution with limited health effects
that exhibit fast degradation times and promising mechanical properties
● PCL and PHAs (PHBHx) exhibit fast degradation times in seawater systems with microbial cultures present
● PHBHx has the best barrier and tensile properties among the biopolymers
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Overall Score Average
Particle Degradation
Sorption of POPs Barrier Tensile
PropertiesPHA 2.05-2.79 2.55 Low Risk Moderate GoodPHBHx 2.05-2.78 2.59 Low Risk High Risk Good GoodPLA 2.56-2.99 2.81 High Risk Low Risk Moderate ModeratePCL 2.31-2.99 2.71 Moderate Risk High Risk Poor Moderate
Strategy 1: Bio-polymers
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Overall Score Average
Particle Degradation
Sorption of POPs
PET 1.26-3 2.14 High Risk Low RiskPE 1.74-2.74 2.17 High Risk
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Overall Score Average
Particle Degradation
Sorption of POPs Barrier Tensile
PropertiesPHA 2.05-2.79 2.55 Low Risk Moderate GoodPHBHx 2.05-2.78 2.59 Low Risk High Risk Good GoodPLA 2.56-2.99 2.81 High Risk Low Risk Moderate ModeratePCL 2.31-2.99 2.71 Moderate Risk High Risk Poor Moderate
Strategy #2
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Strategy 2: Additives
Chemical Overall Hazard Score RangeO Particle
DegradationSorption of
POPsIron stearate 2.00-2.21 2.21 Low RiskCopper phthalocyanine 3 3 Low RiskCellulose 2.00-3.00 2.5 Low Risk
● UV sensitizers decrease the time required to take plastics below the 10,000 MW cutoff for efficient biodegradation
● Relatively low concentration (<1% by mass) and low toxicity make for promising alternatives
● Sacrificial polysaccharides can be added with minimal decreases in performance while promoting bacterial growth and breakdown
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Strategy 2: Additives
Chemical Overall Hazard Score RangeO Particle
DegradationSorption of
POPsIron stearate 2.00-2.21 2.21 Low RiskCopper phthalocyanine 3 3 Low RiskCellulose 2.00-3.00 2.5 Low Risk
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Overall Score Average
Particle Degradation
Sorption of POPs
PET 1.26-3 2.14 High Risk Low RiskPE 1.74-2.74 2.17 High Risk Risk
Strategy #3
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Strategy 3: Non-Thermoplastics
Non- Thermoplastic Alternatives
● Non-thermoplastics provide an attractive model that breaks from traditional packaging styles
● Composite packaging utilizes all of the methodologies from thermoplastics to ensure the hydrophobic layer degrades rapidly
● Alginate packaging is as a fun new direction for consumers and represents the most attractive solution in terms of degradation rate and potential health impact
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Overall Score Average
Particle Degradation
Alginate 2.00-3.00 2.57 Low RiskCalcium lactate 1.73-2.74 2.46 Low Risk
Strategy 3: Non-Thermoplastics
Non- Thermoplastic Alternatives
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Overall Score Average
Particle Degradation
Alginate 2.00-3.00 2.57 Low RiskCalcium lactate 1.73-2.74 2.46 Low Risk
Chemical Overall Hazard Score Range
Overall Score Average
Particle Degradation
PET 1.26-3 2.14 High RiskPE 1.74-2.74 2.17 High Risk
Strategy #4
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Strategy 4: Combinatorial Strategy
Crystallinity
● Each of the three strategies could be used in combination to fine tune polymer properties
● This solution represents a new set of dials to adjust when designing new packaging
AdditivesBiopolymers
+ +
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Conclusion
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Health/Technical Performance EvaluationChemical Health Hazard
RangeHealth Hazard
AverageParticle
DegradationSorption of
POPsExisting Chemicals
PET 1.26-3 2.14 High Risk Low RiskPE 1.74-2.74 2.17 High Risk Moderate Risk
Alternative BiopolymersPHAs 2.05-2.79 2.55 Low RiskPHBHx 2.05-2.78 2.59 Low Risk High RiskPLA 2.56-2.99 2.81 High Risk Low RiskPCL 2.31-2.99 2.71 Moderate Risk High Risk
Alternative Non-thermoplasticsAlginate 2.00-3.00 2.57 Low RiskCalcium lactate 1.73-2.74 2.46 Low Risk
Alternative AdditivesIron stearate 2.00-2.21 2.11 Low RiskCopper Phthalocyanine 3 3 Low RiskCellulose 2.00-3.00 2.5 Low Risk
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Direct Toxicity of Current Chemicals & Alternatives
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
Existing Chemicals Particle Size
PET Moderate Risk
PE
Alternate Chemicals
PHAs Low Risk
PHBH
PLA
PCL
Alginate Low Risk
Cellulose Low Risk
Alternatives’ Improvements
● Improves on technical/environmental performance by:1. Fast degradation leading to little accumulation2. Bypassing recycling barrier by making everything degradable/
compostable3. Renewable feedstocks available for most polymers
● Improve on health safety by:1. Decreasing direct toxicity compared to PE and PET2. Decreasing nano, micro & macroplastic exposure3. Potential decrease in POP exposure due to increased degradation time
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
● Further steps:○ Evaluate impact of combinatorial solutions ○ Photo-oxidants must be evaluated to determine
impact on aquatic degradation of biopolymers○ Health & environment impacts of biopolymer
production ● Scale of marine plastics● Understand link between human health outcomes
and bioaccumulation
Future Directions
Background Approach Inspiration Technical Performance Overview
Health Overview Strategies Conclusions
ANY QUESTIONS?https://www.projectaware.org/news/were-now-million-plastic-bottles-minute-91-which-are-not-recycled
Special Thanks to:Kaj JohnsonMichelle ByleRyan Williams
Meg SchwarzmanDavid FaulknerBilly Hart-CooperTom McKeag
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