Yun-Xuan Weng1, Hui-Di Yang2, Han-Jie Hu3
1.Biodegradable Materials Group(BMG) 2.China Plastic 3.NSFC
（
Today, I would like to talk about Four topics. The first topic is about the market status of biodegradable plastic. The another topic is mainly in standards about degradable plastic. Thirdly, I’d like to talk about the certification system about degradable plastic. At last, I’d like to introduce the activities of BMG in 2004.
1. Market of biodegradable materials in China.
It began to research degradable plastic from 1980’ in China. At that time, the products is mainly concentrated on photo-degradable and partly biodegradable (starch-filled) polymer. The completely biodegradable materials began to research at middle of 1980’ ,but it is not developed quickly until in 1996. The situation of biodegradable plastic is shown on fig.1 and the consist of biodegradable materials in 2003 is described on fig.2
As shown in fig.1, from 1996, biodegradable materials has been researched. In 1999, it’s output is increased rapidly. The reason why it is developed so quickly in 1999 is that the government has published a policy to forbid to produce, use single-use lunch container made of plastic foam (mainly is PS foam) and recommend to use degradable single-use lunch container which led more and more enterprises involve in producing degradable materials including photo- degradable plastics and biodegradable materials such as paper, organic fiber, starch, starch covered with PLA or PCL or PHBV, etc. We also can see from fig.1, from 1999 to 2003, the output of biodegradable materials is decreased due to the imperfect technology to produce biodegradable products especially for complete starch product. But it’s estimated the market of biodegradable materials in China will be increased from 2003 for some reasons. The first reason is some factories have been built or are being built or will be built to produce biodegradable plastics such as PHBV, PLA, PCL, starch, etc. The another reason is the wide application of biodegradable plastics in China including agriculture, packing, medicine industry which is mostly imported now which need more and more bio-materials. Finally, some new products of biodegradable materials such as biodegradable polyurethane, PLGA, polysaccharide have been produced with laboratory-scale.
It’s contrary to little output of biodegradable plastics, the market of partly degradable plastics in China is large which is more than 100000 t in 2003 including photo-degradable plastics and starch-filled polyolefin.
The fig.2 shows the distribution of biodegradable materials in China in 2003. we can see from fig.2, in 2003’ market of biodegradable materials the main materials are organic fiber of crop and starch while the amount of biodegradable plastics is little which is about 3000 t. In present market, it’s mainly PLA,PCL, PHBV, PHAX, PVA(film), PPC, starch plastics.And now starch plastics, PPC have being produced in some factories with pilot scale and applied in some fields while PHB, PBS, PGA, PPDO, PLGA, bio-PUR, etc. have being studied in laboratory-scale.
But in 2006, the total output of biodegradable plastics will be increased with following reasons. Firstly, it’s said that there are two PLA factories have being built in Shanghai and Zhejiang with ability of 10000 t/a. Secondly, it’ s said that the pilot factory produced the PPC with 3000t ability has been built in Nei MengGu, Guangzhou. Thirdly,the Jilin Oilfiled is planning to invest the produce-line with 30,000 t scale to produce PPC for it’s a lot number of CO2 existing in oilfield. Fourthly, the output of PHBV, PPC, PVA(film), PBS will be 4000 t/a, 3000 t/a, 3000t/a, 2000t/a respectively. Finally, the biodegradable plastics used in medicine industry such as PHAX, PPDO, PLA+PEG, PLGA, polysaccharide, and so on will be produced more and more.
The main application of biodegradable materials in China in 2003 are listed on table 1. As shown on table 1, starch and organic fiber are mainly made to single-use lunch container. PVA, PVA/Starch, PCL are mainly made to packing film or mulch film. PHBV, PLA, PHAX, etc. are made to film or injecting or medical appliances.
2. The standards and testing
a) Standards about testing method according to ISO
BMG has and being formulated some standards according to ISO which is listed on table 2.
b) Some standards about products have or being formulated
Now in China, there are some standards about products have or being formulated which are specified the biodegradability of materials which are listed on table 3.
c) Testing
BMG&NTSQP has tested respectively the sample of PBS, PBSA, PLA, PVA, PHBV, PCL, AC, St., Corp fiber, PPC, paper, etc. according to GB/T 19276.1, GB/T 19276.2, GB/T 19277 (IDT ISO 14851, 14852, 14855) . Some apparatus are set according the above standards(see fig3,fig4,fig5).
3. The certification system
A. Certificated by the Secretariat of China Certification Committee for Environmental Labeling Products(SSCEL)
The SSCEL has been set up by State Environmental Protection Administration and certificated the degradable packing film with HJBZ 12-2000 and the degradable single-use lunch container with HBC 1-2001. If the sample passes the testing including degradability and other properties, the SSCEL will certificate and label the products with market as fig3. The table4 shows the criterion of SCCEL’s certification for degradable products.
B. the Plan to certificate the biodegradable materials by BMG(named as BMSG in 2001)
BMG is organized in 2001 by national center for standardization for plastics of SAL(known as CSBTS) and now also became a group of China Plastic Processing Industry Association(IPPA). BMG has planed to design national standards about degradable materials according ISO standards e.g. ISO 14851,14852,14855 and other foreign national standards. BMG try it’s best to make it possible to certificated the biodegradability of products by new finished standards identified to ISO 14851,14852,14855,etc. in 2004. And BMG will do the certification cooperation with BPS.
4. Activities of BMG in 2004
BMG has done or planned to do some activities to promote the development of biodegradable materials in China which is listed as following.
In Feb. 2004, has Joined in NWIP(ISO Part2) for ring testing. • • • • •
In Oct. 2004, plan to hold a international conference about biodegradable testing methods cooperation with BPS, etc.
ISO/TC61 meeting in China in Oct. 2004
Sign the agreement cooperating with BPS in certification system of biodegradable plastics
To finish the national standards identified to ISO 17556, the national standard To define what is photo-degradable plastic, thermo-&oxygen-degradable plastic, Compostable plastic, and what is biodegradable plastic, class and mark the different degradable plastics etc.
中国生物降解材料标准、检验、认证和市场现状
翁云宣1, 杨惠娣2, 胡汉杰3
1.生物分解材料工作组（BMG） 2.中国塑料3.NSFC
（http://www.cnbmg.org）
本文介绍四个主题。第一是关于生物降解塑料得市场状况。第二个主题主要是关于降解塑料的标准。第三，将介绍关于降解塑料的认证体系。最后介绍2004年BMG的主要活动。
论文来源：1st International Conference on Technology and Application of Biodegradable Polymers and Plastics,October,2004
