Apr 16-The Thai Bioplastics Industry Association is being urged to clarify its stance on whether oxo-biodegradable plastics -- known as "oxos" -- should be termed biodegradable, as they are by some supermarket operators.
The difference between oxos and biodegradable plastics are not clear among the public, said Wolfgang Baltus, the senior project manager with the National Innovation Agency.
Ittipol Jangchud, a lecturer at the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology's Lat Krabang Faculty of Science, said true bioplastics degrade without leaving residual fragments.
Oxo-biodegradable plastics, however, are still conventional petroleum-based plastic with a small quantity of additives that initiate degradation.
"Therefore, oxos are not biodegradable as they are fragmented or disintegrated into smaller pieces by sunlight, oxygen or microbes. Although they are eventually degradable, the process is very slow, taking two to five years compared with bioplastics taking six months," said Mr Ittipol.
Dr Baltus said that it was easy in Thailand to find oxos plastics described as true bioplastics, which in his view is incorrect.
"You can find the oxos plastics described as biodegradable in major supermarkets and shopping malls such as Siam Paragon and Villa Market," he said.
"There is still some confusion in the market from both sides, but under current conditions we should avoid the use [of the term] because we are not sure whether it is biodegradable or not."
The issue is important for plastic bag producers as other bioplastics are twice as expensive as oxo-biodegradable ones.
"We need commitment from the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA). It is very important that the TBIA in Thailand make a clear statement regarding its position on a definition of oxo-biodegradable plastic," said Dr Baltus.
"There is an ongoing dispute between oxo-biodegradable producers and the bioplastics industry."
Oxo producers claim they comply with the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). But Dr Baltus said the organisation, which develops voluntary consensus standards for products and materials, does not specify degradation rates or the period of time over which plastics degrade.
Countries considering regulations for oxos include Germany, the United States and Australia, he said.
Somsak Borrisuttanakul, the president of the TBIA, said the association did not support oxos.
"We support bioplastics that are compostable, in that they should turn into fertiliser within 180 days. Other countries are starting to oppose oxos because they have an effect on the recycling system," said Mr Somsak.
But most department stores in Thailand use oxos because they are cheap, while some manufacturers do not completely understand the term, he said.
TBIA honorary president Phietoon Trivijitkasem said the TBIA's standpoint is solely to promote compostable bioplastics, which have worldwide standard certification, whereas oxos have been widely criticised in Thailand.
"Oxo-biodegradable is very unsafe for open waste dumps or the unsealed landfill systems that are commonly used in Thailand," he said.
The TBIA has finished a draft of compostable standards and is in the process of submitting it to the Thai Industrial Standards Institute. Mr Somsak said he expected the standards to be finalised this year.
The difference between oxos and biodegradable plastics are not clear among the public, said Wolfgang Baltus, the senior project manager with the National Innovation Agency.
Ittipol Jangchud, a lecturer at the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology's Lat Krabang Faculty of Science, said true bioplastics degrade without leaving residual fragments.
Oxo-biodegradable plastics, however, are still conventional petroleum-based plastic with a small quantity of additives that initiate degradation.
"Therefore, oxos are not biodegradable as they are fragmented or disintegrated into smaller pieces by sunlight, oxygen or microbes. Although they are eventually degradable, the process is very slow, taking two to five years compared with bioplastics taking six months," said Mr Ittipol.
Dr Baltus said that it was easy in Thailand to find oxos plastics described as true bioplastics, which in his view is incorrect.
"You can find the oxos plastics described as biodegradable in major supermarkets and shopping malls such as Siam Paragon and Villa Market," he said.
"There is still some confusion in the market from both sides, but under current conditions we should avoid the use [of the term] because we are not sure whether it is biodegradable or not."
The issue is important for plastic bag producers as other bioplastics are twice as expensive as oxo-biodegradable ones.
"We need commitment from the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA). It is very important that the TBIA in Thailand make a clear statement regarding its position on a definition of oxo-biodegradable plastic," said Dr Baltus.
"There is an ongoing dispute between oxo-biodegradable producers and the bioplastics industry."
Oxo producers claim they comply with the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). But Dr Baltus said the organisation, which develops voluntary consensus standards for products and materials, does not specify degradation rates or the period of time over which plastics degrade.
Countries considering regulations for oxos include Germany, the United States and Australia, he said.
Somsak Borrisuttanakul, the president of the TBIA, said the association did not support oxos.
"We support bioplastics that are compostable, in that they should turn into fertiliser within 180 days. Other countries are starting to oppose oxos because they have an effect on the recycling system," said Mr Somsak.
But most department stores in Thailand use oxos because they are cheap, while some manufacturers do not completely understand the term, he said.
TBIA honorary president Phietoon Trivijitkasem said the TBIA's standpoint is solely to promote compostable bioplastics, which have worldwide standard certification, whereas oxos have been widely criticised in Thailand.
"Oxo-biodegradable is very unsafe for open waste dumps or the unsealed landfill systems that are commonly used in Thailand," he said.
The TBIA has finished a draft of compostable standards and is in the process of submitting it to the Thai Industrial Standards Institute. Mr Somsak said he expected the standards to be finalised this year.
