Oxo-degradable
Oxo-degradable is a term used to describe plastic polymers that, via an oxidative process, are more easily degradable into smaller pieces, although those pieces may not necessarily degrade further at the same rate, in effect becoming microplastics, which have a series of associated issues. Oxo-biodegradable infers the potential for further biodegradation but the definition is not clear or standardised.
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN, for Comité Européen de Normalisation) has established the following definitions, in TR 15351:[7]
- Oxo-degradation is degradation resulting from "oxidative cleavage of macromolecules";
- Oxo-biodegradation is "degradation resulting from oxidative and cell-mediated phenomena, either simultaneously or successively".
These plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polystyrene (PS) contain an additive prodegradant catalyst, salt of manganese or iron, that can help in breaking the material down into smaller pieces.
Oxo-degradables are a category unto themselves, they maybe confused with, but are not biodegradable plastics. As they are neither a bioplastic nor a biodegradable plastic, but more accurately plastic mixed with an additive in order to imitate biodegredation. They break down into microplastics, but not to the molecular or polymer level in the same way as biodegradable and compostable plastics. The resulting microplastics left in the environment have increasingly been found to be problematic.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Biogenic.
- Biobased materials.
- Bio-plastics.
- Plastic coating market.
- Plastic in construction.
- Plastic and recycling.
- Types of biobased materials.
- Types of plastic in construction.
- The Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) 2022.
- WRAP voluntary agreements lead industry crisis response.
- UK Plastics Pact.
- Waste and Resources Action Programme WRAP.
- Wood plastic composites market for construction.
Featured articles and news
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.
Comments
[edit] o make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.