Page 39 - Plastics news December 2023

FEATURE

for washing. For example, Bitterfeld- corresponds to a reduction of 77 per can produce a footprint of up to 0.21
Wolfen causes 0.93 kg of CO2e per cent. kg of CO2e per kilogram, which cor-
kilogram of rPET. This means the re- ALPLArecycling’s recycling plants responds to a reduction of up to 93
cycled material produces 68 per cent in Austria and Poland, for which the per cent. Switching to renewable en-
fewer emissions than virgin material. PCF was likewise calculated in recent ergy is currently also being considered
At the PET recycling site in Bad Salzu- years, prove that there is still potential for plants in other countries.
flen, North Rhine-Westphalia, it is just for optimisation. Through the addi-
0.68 kg of CO2e per kilogram, which
tional use of renewable energy, rPET

Innovation in biopolymers (bioplastics) and plastics recycling has hit an
all-time high, according to the latest-available patent data published by
intellectual property firm, Appleyard Lees.

he third annual edition of the previous pinnacle in the early 2000s.” The proliferation of South Korean pat-
Tcompany’s Inside Green Inno- Two key bioplastics trends emerge ent filings – totalling twice the num-
vation: Progress Report reveals that ber of second place Europe – may be
priority patent filings in bioplastics Technology innovation by the top pat- driven by its government’s stated aim
increased by almost a quarter in the ent filers indicates two trends in the to reduce plastic waste by a fifth by
12 months to 2021 (from 458 to 569), bioplastics sector: improving bioplas- 2025 and ultimately replacing fossil-
with the 2020-21 period revealing a tics’ mechanical properties and ap- based plastics.
level of innovation in the field not seen pearance in line with conventional Plastics recycling technology expands
since 2002. plastics and improving the materials’
biodegradability. Alongside pyrolysis as the dominant
Year-on-year rises in patent filings method in thermal recycling for plas-
among the different types of bioplas- For example, South Korea’s LG tics, Appleyard Lees’ research reveals
tics – including PHAs, butylene-based Chemical has filed applications includ- other technologies growing:
polymers and PLA – is broadly similar, ing copoloymers of lactones, lactic
while the latter remains ahead of the acid and other hydroxyacids, aiming Patent filings for microwave de-
pack by a total of 93 patent filings in to improve thermal and mechanical polymerisation have been mostly in-
2021, only 10 filings short of its pre- properties when compared to PLA. creasing since 2014, while bacterial
vious high in 2011. However, starch It has also shown innovation in resin biodegradation – combining chemi-
blends’ recent patent numbers have compositions which blend bioplastics cal catalysts and engineered bacteria,
fallen for the first time in six years. with the intention of replacing tradi- such as cells from larvae to convert
tional plastics such as polyethylene plastic waste – is now an emerging
Meanwhile, recent innovation activ- films. area attracting patent activity.
ity in chemical recycling of plastics is
sharply reversing the decline seen in Meanwhile Mitsubishi Chemical Cor- Improving the ability to turn recycled
the previous decade, with applica- poration of Japan has focused on im- plastics into something new has also
tions for thermal recycling pyrolysis proving bioplastics’ biodegradability, seen innovation, with patent applica-
technology increasing for three con- such as finding bioplastic alternatives tions remaining constant from 2020-
secutive years and up by 25% from to PLA in additive manufacturing and 2021.
2020 to 2021. blending polyesters with PHAs to use Partner and patent attorney, Chris
in shopping bags or food packaging.
Appleyard Lees patent attorney, Da- Mason, said: “The sector is showing
vid Jasiewicz, said: “We’re in the midst CJ Cheiljedang Corporation – bet- strong growth, both in terms of the
of a second peak in bioplastics inno- ter known as a South Korean food number of innovators and the amount
vation, with the 2018-2021 period manufacturer but now one of the top of innovation being produced. This
showing a significant increase in pat- patent filers in bioplastics – is concen- reinforces the expectation that chem-
ent filing activity which outstrips the trating on applications with PHA for ical recycling growth and innovation is
packaging and multi-layer films. set to continue.”
PLASTICS NEWS 3939
December 2023 PLASTICS NEWS