Page 32 - Platics News June 2022

Polymateria Bringing e Next Generation Biodegradable Plastics

Polymateria provides a tailored biodegradable solution for conventional plastic packaging, aiming to stem the global plastic
pollution endemic and has developed world’s first biodegradable solution that leaves no microplastic behind
ral environment. plastic conversion processes. Typical
Says Niall Dunne, CEO, Polymate- loading rate is 2% weight percentage
ria, “our mission is to advance sci- (wt%).
ence to help nature deal with the Polymateria has developed world’s
plastic pollution crisis. Born from, rst biodegradable solution that
and now based at, Imperial College leaves no microplastic behind and
London, we’re the rst company in decomposes plastic into a wax-like
the world to prove scienti cally that structure that is nature-friendly. e
you can take the most likely sources product is called Lyfecycle.
of fugitive plastic and return them to e startup, based at Imperial Col-
nature without creating microplas-
lege, London, claims to be the rst
tics, harming the natural environ- company in the world to o er such
ment or interfering with recycling
a fully biodegradable solution with-
streams at scale.”
out creating micro plastics that harm
With the potential to revolutionise the natural environment or inter-
W hat if your drinking cup could the ght against plastic waste glob- fere with recycling streams at scale.
Yes a
tell you its best-by date?
ally, this ‘biotransformation’ tech- eir time-controlled technology is
UK based technology startup, Polymate-
nology is nothing but a proprietary focused on plastic packaging waste,
ria, has developed a ground-breaking in-
additive that can break down plastics such as takeaway containers, dispos-
novation that aims to tackle global plas-
safely if they escape into the environ- able cups and another packaging
tic pollution. e company has come up
ment. Formulated as a Bespoke Mas- that isn’t usually recycled but often
with a technology that alters the proper-
terbatch. Each Bespoke Masterbatch disposed of.
ties of plastic to make it biodegradable
is tailored to the resin’s footprint,
and recyclable at the same time. Polyma- e additives help break down plas-
application pro le and required use
teria’s revolutionary Biotransformation tic polymers and turn the plastic into
life. Compatible with the normal
technology is a new approach to ensur- a wax that’s fully digested by mi-
plastic conversion processes. Typical
ing that plastic which has escaped refuse crobes like natural bacteria and fun-
loading rate is 2% weight percentage
streams can fully biodegrade in the natu- gi. ese can also be used to create a
(wt%).
thin plastic lm used for food storage
With the potential to revolutionise or more rigid materials to make cups
the ght against plastic waste glob- or drink pouches. Also, the biode-
ally, this ‘biotransformation’ tech- gradable products are labelled with a
nology is nothing but a proprietary ‘recycle by’ date, to show consumers
additive that can break down plastics the timeframe to dispose of them re-
safely if they escape into the environ- sponsibly before they start breaking
ment. Formulated as a Bespoke Mas- down.
terbatch. Each Bespoke Masterbatch
According to Niall Dunne, CEO of
is tailored to the resin’s footprint, Polymateria, the plastic breaks down
application pro le and required use
in as little as 226 days for polye-
life. Compatible with the normal
thene-based products, and 336 days

32 PLASTICS NEWS June 2022