1.What are Normal Plastics? 

2.Why don’t they decompose? 

3.What are the harmful effects of these plastics? 

4.What can be done to make them decompose? 

5.What are Degradable Plastics? 

6.What is the unique feature in the plastic film which makes it degradable? 

7.How does degradation take place? 

8.What are Biodegradable Plastics? What is Biodegradation? 

9.What are Photo-degradable Plastics? What is Photo-degradation? 

10.What is the normal life cycle of a degradable plastic film? 

11.How has Bio-D^TM made the plastics degradable? 

12.What are the characteristics that a good degradable plastic film have?To what extent have they been achieved by Bio-D^TM? How ?  

13.What is ordinarily the difference between the chemical and physical parameters e.g tensile etc. of a degradable plastics film vis-a vis conventional virgin films? 

14.How does the process of degradation start?  

15.When does the process of degradation of the plastic start i.e after how much time? 

16.What is the shelf life of a degradable film? 

17.Does it require any special storage means or can it be stored like virgin plastic? 

18.How can the process of degradation be controlled i.e what are the accelerating factors and what are the decelerating factors? 

19.How does the degradable film react to colouring and printing processes? 

20.How does the degradation manifest itself physically?In how much time? 

21.What is the life cycle of the Bio-D^TM Plastic film- how do its physical and chemical characteristics change on a time scale vis-à-vis normal plastics? 

22.What is the effect of the unique nature of these degradable films on things which are preserved or kept in it? Does it adversely react or effect them? 

23.What is its toxicity and can it be used for keeping food items? 

24.What is the recommended method for storing and disposing these degradable films? 

25.What does one mean by weathering and how is the film effected-indoors/outdoors by temperature, moisture etc. 

26.How can the consumer distinguish between a Bio-D^TM film and an ordinary film? How will he know that what he is buying is genuinely biodegradable? 

27.Why use Bio-D^TM Plastics? 

28.What are the applications of Bio-D^TM Plastics? 

29.What are the studies related to health/environmental implications of Bio-D^TM Plastics in packaging? 

30.What is the status of biodegradable packaging in health and environmentally conscious western countries and the usage patterns?  

31.What  about its insulation against heat and electricity?  

32.If the degradable film is used with food items how would the following act on it? 

33.Can it be used for storing cut fruits and vegetables and any action thereof? 

34.How expensive is the degradable film from the conventional film? 

1.What are Normal Plastics? 

Plastics are materials made up of large organic molecules that can be formed into a variety of products.The word plastic is derived from the word "plasicus" which is Latin for ‘capable of molding’ and "plastikos" which is Greek for ‘to form’,‘to mold’ or ‘fit for molding’ and it denotes one of the important characteristics of all plastics.
Plastics are also used as a generic term for all synthetic macromolecular materials and belong to a chemical family referred to as high polymers.

2.Why don’t they decompose? 

Since plastics belong to a chemical family of high polymers they are essentially made up of a long chain of molecules containing repeated units of carbon atoms. Because of this inherent molecular stability (high molecular weight), plastics do not easily breakdown into simpler components. However plastics do decompose though not fully and that too over a very long period of time (100 to 500 years). Commercially available plastics (polyolefins like polyethylene,polypropylene etc) have been further made resistant to decomposition by means of additional stabilizers like anti oxidants.

3.What are the harmful effects of these plastics? 

Plastics per se are not harmful or chemically active.They are inert or neutral in the environment. However they pose a threat to the  environment essentially due to the lack of an efficient collection and disposal system. Plastics are most commonly used in the form of carry bags and as packaging material both of  which are non-biodegradable. Ideally speaking ,after use polythene carry bags ought to be incinerated, buried in landfills or recycled. However in the absence of a proper collection  and disposal system, they are usually strewn around in our surroundings or accumulate in garbage and  heaps.It is this accumulation of plastic bags which are non biodegradable which poses a serious hazard to the environment.
Animals specially cattle after consuming them  often choke  and die. These polybags are deep enough to act as receptors of water sufficient enough for mosquito breeding. According to environmentalists, they float on the rivers close to the cities, settle on their beds, cutting off oxygen to aquatic life. They clog sewage pipes and prevent methane gas from evaporating which often causes explosions. They block off air supply to anything they rest on. Since they are non biodegradable they cannot be destroyed and on burning emit toxic gases. They also effect soil fertility and water percolation in the ground preventing the growth of plants. nbsp;
Thus even though plastic bags are  an efficient and economical packing material their non biodegradable nature and absence of a safe mechanism for their disposal  makes them an environmentalists nightmare.

4.What can be done to make them decompose? 

By suitably incorporating the Bio-D^TM system, these plastics can be made to decompose or degrade.The decomposition or degradation of plastics (polyolefins) which are constructed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, results from the breakdown of these bonds in each molecule, leading to a lowering of the molecular weight and a resultant loss of strength and durability. Hence the carbon nutrients which they contain can be made available to the environment.

5.What are Degradable Plastics? 

Degradable Plastics are plastics that are designed to undergo a significant change in their chemical structures under specific environmental conditions resulting in a loss of some properties that may vary as measured by the test methods appropriate to plastics and applications in a period of time that determines their classification.

6.What is the unique feature in the plastic film which makes it degradable? 

The Bio-D^TM system of degradation essentially modifies the polymer matrix to make the polyolefins oxo-biodegradable which leads to chain scissions and hence a lowering of molecular weight besides creating a hydrophilic surface which can be bio-assimilated by microorganisms in the soil. Hence the unique feature would be the controlled modification of the polymer matrix.

7.How does degradation take place? 

There are primarily three mechanisms involved in the degradation of plastics:

a)oxidation or photo-oxidation of the polyolefin or other plastic polymer which leads to chain scissions and breaking of the polymer chain and hence a lowering of molecular weight. 

b)microbiological digestion of the natural ingredient such as certain carbohydrates etc. wherein the directly biodegradable natural polymer is removed by the action of microorganisms, the structure is opened up to the oxidative mechanism.This effect has been proven by studying carbonyl formation in the vicinity of the voids formed by the removal of the carbohydrate which showed faster oxidation. 

c)microbial digestion of the polymer fragments. 

The microbiological species involved are fungi,yeasts and bacteria. Some low molecular weight hydrocarbons result from the free radical breakdown mechanism, it is more likely that the compounds with a hydrophilic group- alcohol, acid etc are more readily attacked.

8.What are Biodegradable Plastics? What is Biodegradation? 

Direct Biodegradable Plastics are degradable plastics in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occuring microorganisms such as bacteria,fungi,algae etc.This mechanism of degradation is referred to as Biodegradation. Biodegradable plastics are those which in a suitable environment completely disintegrate into carbon-di-oxide, water and biomass.

9.What are Photo-degradable Plastics? What is Photo-degradation? 

Plastics where degradation results from the oxidation or photo-oxidation of the polyolefin are called Photodegradable Plastics i.e Plastics in which degradation results from the action of natural day light.This mechanism of degradation is referred to as Photo-degradation.

10.What is the normal life cycle of a degradable plastic film? 

The life cycle of the degradable film would depend on the kind of application and the environment in which it is to be used. Hence you can in a way ‘program’ the film to degrade in a time span depending on its utility and the environment in which it is to be used. Films can be made to degrade in a time span of 4 months to 6 months.

11.How has Bio-D^TM made the plastics degradable? 

By suitably modifying the polymer matrix during compounding to make the polyolefins oxo-biodegradable which leads to chain scissions and hence a lowering of molecular weight besides creating a hydrophilic surface which can be bio-assimilated by microorganisms in the soil.

12.What are the characteristics that a good degradable plastic film have?To what extent have they been achieved by Bio-D^TM? How ? 

The Bio-D^TM system of degradation essentially modifies the polymer matrix to make the polyolefins oxo-biodegradable which leads to chain scissions and hence a lowering of molecular weight besides creating a hydrophilic surface which can be bio-assimilated by microorganisms in the soil. Hence the unique feature would be the controlled modification of the polymer matrix.

13.What is ordinarily the difference between the chemical and physical parameters e.g tensile etc. of a degradable plastics film vis-a vis conventional virgin films? 

Chemically the degradable film is only slightly different from a conventional virgin plastic film since it incorporates certain additives which aid in modifying the polymer matrix of the compound and thereby help in initiating the degradation process in the film. Physically the properties of the degradable film are only slightly modified but at the same time they do not in any way compromise on the integrity and utility of the film for the respective intended application. Hence it would be difficult to differentiate between a degradable plastic film and a conventional virgin plastic film , by mere visual inspection.

14.How does the process of degradation start? 

The degradation process starts by photooxidation of the polyolefin and hence photodegradation can be said to be the first step followed by biodisintegration/biodegradation of the polyolefin. However in general all the major degradation mechanisms as mentioned earlier occur parallel to degrade the polyolefin. 

15.When does the process of degradation of the plastic start i.e after how much time? 

As soon as the polyolefin is suitably modified using the Bio-D^TM system and is converted into a plastic product by a suitable production process and is subsequently brought into a suitable environment the degradation process would start.The three major degradation mechanisms as mentioned earlier in fact occur  in parallel: 

-the oxidative or photooxidative breakdown of the polyolefin. 
-the microbial digestion of the directly biodegradable components. 
-the microbial digestion of the polymer fragments.

16.What is the shelf life of a degradable film? 

The shelf life of the degradable film would depend on the kind of application and the environment in which it is to be used. Hence you can in a way ‘program’ the shelf life of the film so as to degrade it in a time span depending on its utility and the environment in which it is to be used. Films can be made to degrade in a time span of 4 months to 6 months.Degradable films should not be stored for periods longer than 6 months. (Remember they are degradable).

17.Does it require any special storage means or can it be stored like virgin plastic? 

Due to the presence of certain integrated substances, the degradable films absorb moisture (water) from the atmosphere. In case the degradation process needs to be delayed it is recommended that these films should be stored under 20^oC i.e at low storage temperatures. It is advisable that these degradable films should be stored in a cool and dry environment and away from direct oxygen access.For instance films or the end products could be sealed and stored in paper sheets.This would also help in clean transportation of the film from one location to another.

18.How can the process of degradation be controlled i.e what are the accelerating factors and what are the decelerating factors? 

The process of degradation can be controlled by the following means: 

a)Nature of Let down Polymer (Polyolefin): in case the let down polymer is a standard stabilized one the degradation process is slower, in case it is a non stabilized one the degradation process is faster. 

b)Higher the average temperature, higher the accessible level of oxygen leading to faster photo-oxidation and hence faster the degradation process and vice versa.Hence the environment in which the degradable film is to be used is a crucial factor in controlling the degradation process. 

c)By controlling the modification of the polymer matrix by suitable process control methods.Hence more the modification of the compound faster is the degradation and vice versa.  

d)Film thickness: the thicker the film slower the degradation and vice versa. 

e)Colouring and Printing: More the colouring and printing slower the degradation process and vice versa.

19.How does the degradable film react to colouring and printing processes? 

Colouring and Printing do not change the mechanisms of degradation.However colourind does shade off the level of oxyzen and UV light.Hence slower photoxidation consequently the degradation process is slower in coloured films. The quality and consistency of colouring and printing on degradable films is comparable to that of conventional virgin plastic films.

20.How does the degradation manifest itself physically?In how much time? 

Physically the degradable films would begin to loose their tensile strength and elongation, besides a lowering in its molecular weight. Chemically the structure would show an increase in the rate of formation of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups which can be analyzed in a laboratory. The time again would vary depending on the application and the environment in which the film has to be used. For instance a 15 micron film, suitably modified and kept in a field might breakdown within 15 days. Similarly an 80 micron film suitably modified and stored at 20^oC to 25^oC might still be strong after 1 year.

21.What is the life cycle of the Bio-D^TM Plastic film- how do its physical and chemical characteristics change on a time scale vis-à-vis normal plastics?  

See previous questions.

22.What is the effect of the unique nature of these degradable films on things which are preserved or kept in it? Does it adversely react or effect them?  

The degradable films are safe for use as they pass the toxicity tests as per accepted protocols. Hence their use in these kind of applications is not much different from that of virgin conventional plastic films.

23.What is its toxicity and can it be used for keeping food items?  

These degradable films are non toxic and conform to toxicity tests as per accepted protocols.They are food grade and can be used for storing food items in similar applications as for virgin conventional plastic films.

24.What is the recommended method for storing and disposing these degradable films?  

Storing: It is advisable that these degradable films should be stored in a cool and dry environment and away from direct oxygen access.For instance films or the end products could be sealed and stored in paper sheets.This would also help in clean transportation of the film from one location to another.

Disposing:The recommended way of disposal is via an industrial aerobic (containing oxygen) compost. Since the film is designed to degrade in applications where thermal incineration is not carried out, it would anyway degrade in the environment in case it is littered. 

25.What does one mean by weathering and how is the film effected-indoors/outdoors by temperature, moisture etc.?  

Weathering is what naturally occurs in the open environment but is as well a test method using UV radiation,temperature and moisture to study the degradation behavior of plastics.The major difference indoor and outdoor on the film would be the absence or presence of direct UV light, oxygen and higher changes in moisture and temperature which would accelerate or decelerate the process of degradation.(Also see question 18).

26.How can the consumer distinguish between a Bio-D^TM film and an ordinary film? How will he know that what he is buying is genuinely biodegradable?  

Look for the Bio-D^TM logo, special embossing and bar-code on the Bio-D^TM film. Besides this the film would also mention the recommended method of disposal and a warning that the film should not be used beyond three to six months. However the ultimate test would be to stretch the film between two hooks and expose it to the sun for a period of 30 to 45 days and watch the film degrade.  (Try it !?!).

Buy films and other end products from authorized distributors,shops only. 

Bio-D^TM  is a trade mark of Bio-D^TM Plastics. Any infringment or duplication of the same would invite appropriate stringent legal action.

27.Why use Bio-D^TM Plastics?  

Imagine the benefits of plastics that when thrown into landfill sites: 

• Disappear 
• Save tonnes of valuable landfill space 
• Save you vast amount of money