Comparison of the degradability of poly(lactide) packages in composting and ambient exposure conditions

Abstract

AbstractThe adoption of biodegradable polymeric materials is increasing in food and consumer goods packaging applications, due to concerns about the disposal of petroleum‐based polymers and the increasing cost of petroleum‐based polymer resins. Currently, poly(lactide) (PLA) polymers are the biggest commercially available bio‐based polymeric packaging materials. As the main motivation for adopting biopolymers is environmental, there is a need to address the degradability and environmental performance of biodegradable packages. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the degradation of two commercially available biodegradable packages made of PLA under real compost conditions and under ambient exposure, using visual inspection, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. A novel technique to study and track the degradability of these packages under real compost conditions was used. Both packages were subjected to composting and ambient exposure conditions for 30 days, and the degradation of the physical properties was measured at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 15 and 30 days. PLA bottles made of 96% l‐lactide exhibited lower degradation than PLA delicatessen (‘deli’) containers made of 94% l‐lactide, mainly due to their highly ordered structure and, therefore, their higher crystallinity. The degradation rate changed as the initial crystallinity and the l‐lactide content of the packages varied. Temperature, relative humidity and pH of the compost pile played an important role in the rate of degradation of the packages. First‐order degradation kinetics and linear degradation trends were observed for both packages subjected to composting conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.