Cradle to grave design of polymers for packaging
- Michigan Biotechnology Institute, Lansing, MI (United States)
Today`s polymeric materials are designed with little consideration for their ultimate disposability or recyclability. This has resulted in mounting worldwide concerns over the environmental consequences of such materials when they enter the waste stream after their intended uses. Of particular concern are polymers used in single use, disposable packaging applications. In the U.S., about 30% of synthetic polymers, totaling 16.5 billion pounds annually is used for packaging applications. Therefore, there is an urgent need to redesign and engineer new polymers that have the needed performance characteristics of the plastics, but can be transformed in appropriate waste disposal infrastructures to products that are compatible with the environment or recycled to the same or other products -- a {open_quotes}cradle to grave{close_quotes} design concept for materials. A {open_quotes}Cradle to Grave{close_quotes} design, use and disposal of new biodegradable polymers used in fast-food packaging will be presented. Integration of the biodegradable materials production with waste disposal infrastructures, specifically composting, will be discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 141797
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930304-; TRN: 93:003688-1483
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 205. American Chemical Society national meeting, Denver, CO (United States), 28 Mar - 2 Apr 1993; Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of 205th ACS national meeting; PB: 1951 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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