Plastic in the ocean and global warming: New challenges for geosynthetics

Abstract

The application of geosynthetics is state of the art onshore, at the coast and offshore. Geosynthetics complement conventional construction methods, or even replace them and generate advantages for the client, the designer and even more for the environment, e.g. by reducing carbon footprint. Decades of research and experience have resulted in standards and products, which are optimised for long-term performance and reliable application. Geosynthetics, by definition, are products covered by soil and thus protected against impacts or abrasion. As they are often used in contact to water, they are tested to be groundwater neutral. On the other hand, however, concerns about the use of plastic are omnipresent and must be taken into account. In some very limited but not negligible applications, temporary or periodical environmental influences have to be discussed, e.g. permanently or temporarily uncovered geotextile applications such as scour protection measures, coastal protection or riverbed stabilisation. As the geosynthetics, beside their technical beneficial use, can be subject to abrasion in this limited range of applications, further options for optimisation shall be discussed. One possible alternative is to design geosynthetics from or with the use of biodegradable raw materials. The subject of this article is the presentation of geosynthetic products made from alternative raw materials which biodegrade after their planned period of use. Other applications may require a defined degradation process over time, for example erosion control products. Making use of biodegradable materials, the potential risk of causing damage to the flora and fauna in case of an undesirable entry into the environment can be limited.