Biodegradable plastics will replace conventional commodity plastics in those segments where recycling is difficult and heavily penalized from an ecological point of view. In the shelves of Supermarket chains in Europe & North America, one can find packages made out from BP materials and no doubt that the BP products would slowly but surely gain a foothold in the markets of developing countries of the world as well.

Dr. Sushil K. Verma Director General, Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology, Chennai

The term "Bio-degradable Polymer" refers to a polymer or plastic material that undergoes enzymatic degradation in the physiological or microbial environment and where the secretion of degrading enzyme(s) is linked to a chemically recognizable cleavage of the molecular structure of the polymer. Conventionally, the family of synthetic polymers comprises of thermoplastics commodity, engineering, high performance specialty materials/ blends and alloys, which find numerous applications because of their versatility, durability, strength and cost effectiveness. Nevertheless, these polymeric materials are resistive to degradation, which present disposal problems when their usefulness ceases. Most of the synthetic plastics materials were developed for durability and resistance to all forms of degradation. The degradation could be caused through microbial, hydrolytic or oxidative attack on susceptible linkages built into the backbone of the polymer, or additives that catalyze breakdown of the polymer chains in specific environments. The characteristics of bio-degradable materials should be such that they can be processed alike conventional polymers in the standard processing equipment or machinery and retain their end-use property requirements, but could be readily degradable in a biologically rich environment. The goal of development of bio-degradable polymeric materials is to emulate Nature's cycle. Every year, photosynthesis generates over 60 billion tonnes of organic material worldwide, most of which is degraded by microorganisms into CO2, water and biomass. Development work on Biodegradable Materials is, therefore, focused on renewable resources as well as on the property of biodegradability and its waste management alternative, compostability (Fig.1). Biodegradable polymers are expected to become alternative materials for solving environmental implications related to plastics waste.

....contd.

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