Testing disintegration of plastic packaging material in laboratory scale compost environment

Abstract

This thesis work was implemented as a part of PIHI project by Tampere University of Applied Science (TAMK). The PIHI project aims to create and establish a composting environment under controlled conditions for studying and testing material compostability. The objective of the thesis was to study the disintegration of a specific packaging material in a laboratory-scale composting environment according to SFS Standard EN 14045:2003. A bioplastic material was used as the test material and was received from VTT while a cellulose materialwas used as a reference material. Materials were mixed with compost media under controlled conditions. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks and included monitoring operations as well as visual inspection of the test and reference materials. At the end of the test, disintegration was assessed by sieving the compost and calculating the degree of disintegration.

The test material disintegrated in the compost media and the material retrieved was minor. To conclude, the test material was well disintegrated and had reached the requirement for disintegration stated by SFS Standard EN 13432:2000. However, to be categorized as a compostable material, other tests need to be performed to evaluate the biodegradability and compost quality. Also, the thesis study resulted in suggestions for future development of PIHI project.