Teijin Develops Photodegradable, Biodegradable Plastic

Teijin Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer of fibers, plastics and pharmaceuticals, announced on September 10, 2004 that it has successfully developed a plastic that is both photodegradable and biodegradable.

Photodegradable polyethylene has already been used in agricultural applications. Although this type of polyethylene breaks down into small pieces when exposed to sunlight, it still remains in the environment, e.g. in the soil. The newly developed plastic not only breaks down in sunlight but is also degraded by soil microorganisms. The combination of these properties was achieved by using a photodegradable agent and biodegradable material derived from biomass such as corn together with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the major component.

Because PET is the major ingredient of this plastic, recycled resin from PET bottles can be used as the raw material. The new plastic also has higher resistance to heat (melting point: 205 degrees Celsius) and better mechanical properties than existing biodegradable plastics. Because it can be used in a microwave oven and has other improved features, expectations are high that it will be used in a variety of applications.

In March 2004, Teijin's plastic was certified as a biodegradable plastic ("GreenPla") by the Biodegradable Plastics Society, a private organization for promoting the practical application of biodegradable plastics in Japan. It plans to use this plastic for various products, such as food containers and farming materials including non-woven sheets and films, and aims to put them on the market within two years.



Posted: 2005/01/09 02:56:19 PM
Japanese version