Energy from waste - how do renewable materials fit? Presentations Brochure (PDF 2.79 MB)

building sustainable supply chainsNNFCCThe UK’s National Centre for Renewable Fuels, Chemicals & MaterialsEnergy from WasteHow Do Renewable Materials Fit?Dr John WilliamsHead of Polymers & MaterialsRWM ConferenceSeptember 2009NNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsContentNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsIdealised Closed LoopADCourtesy European BioplasticsNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsThe Circular EconomyNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsWaste Policies to Maximise Resource EfficiencyNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsMechanical RecyclingNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsChemical RecyclingNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsIncinerationNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsCompostingNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsAnaerobic DigestionNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsPhasing Out Residual WasteNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsKey OpportunitiesNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsCriteriaNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsSustainable Polymer/Renewable Polymer –A Working Definition• Any polymer material extracted DIRECTLY or produced INDIRECTLY from the biomass. • This idea automatically obviously covers Celluloses, Starches, Proteins etc.• It also covers Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyglyconic Acids (PGA’s) produced from naturally occurring monomers• But it also includes:– Polyethylene produced from ethene, generated by dehydration of Bio-ethanol and;– Polypropylene produced from propene derived from Glycerol.NNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsSome Key Issues?• Recycling / (Reuse)– Can the polymer be recycled?• E.g. Thermoset (NO) versus Thermoplastic (Yes) – How pure does the recyclate need to be?• With respect to polymer type e.g. PE, PP, PET, PLA PHA.• With respect to grade E.g. HDPE, UHDPE, LDPE etc.– How much effort is needed to ensure any material and/or grade purities necessary for recycling?– How much infrastructure is needed to facilitate recycling?– How much effort is needed to allow regeneration of the monomer or conversion to another feedstock e.g. Syn Gas?– Can we make use of less sorted, or even unsorted, waste?– How much does the effort of recycling cost ?NNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsSome Key Issues?• Biodegradability: For polymers this seems to be a catch all statement requiring degradation mechanisms involving enzymatic and/or microbial actions. – Note this definition does not specify:• Aerobic or anaerobic actions• Where the degradation is taking place (e.g. In a contrived or natural environment) • What the polymer is degrading to, for example; CO2, H2O, CH4, biomass• The time scale over which any degradation occurs• Consider the Questions:– Is wood biodegradable? – Is PLA biodegradable?– Is traditional PE biodegradable?– Do polymers need to be Biodegradable BASF – Ecoflex FilmNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsSome Key Issues?• Compostability: defined standards now exist e.g. EN13432.• These standards typically define conditions, time scales as well as some outcomes, and required defined tests to be carried out before a claim can be made.• But they are specific to end use products not to polymer materials. – i.e. You cannot say PLA is compostable, and you can only claim, for example that 12µm thick PLA film is compostable after appropriate testing.• This second point often seems to be missed and compostabilityand biodegradability get confused.NNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsPackaging MaterialsNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsPrimary packagingNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsSecondary packagingNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsTertiary packagingNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsIssues• Renewable not biodegradable• Need for independent advice• Fragility of public opinion• Labelling packing as compostable• ‘Biodegradable’ plastics from petrochemicals• Overestimating the impact of biopolymers• Complex ‘engineered’ packaging• Preparing for success• Weight based recycling targets• Incineration as a key part of waste management• European focus on minimisation and recycling – not renewablesNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsPolicy Drivers• Lead Market Initiative• UK Low Carbon Transition Plan• Renewable Energy Strategy• Renewable Heat Incentive• Waste Framework Directive• Bio-based Carbon valorisationNNFCCbuilding sustainable supply chainsConclusions/Opportunities• Exploit interest in renewable polymers• Learn from paper and board• Develop the niches for renewable plastics• Building renewable polymers into eco-design thinking• Sell benefits of renewable feed-stocks• Communicate benefits of ‘partial’ renewable polymers• Composting & Anaerobic digestion• Ensure waste management technologies do not exclude biopolymersWebsite: www.nnfcc.co.ukEmail: j.williams@nnfcc.co.ukNNFCCwww.nnfcc.co.ukbuilding sustainable supply chains Energy from WasteHow Do Renewable Materials Fit? Content Idealised Closed Loop The Circular Economy Waste Policies to Maximise Resource Efficiency Anaerobic Digestion Phasing Out Residual Waste Key Opportunities Criteria Sustainable Polymer/Renewable Polymer – A Working Definition Some Key Issues? Some Key Issues? Some Key Issues? Packaging Materials Primary packaging Secondary packaging Tertiary packaging Issues Policy Drivers Conclusions/Opportunities