Biopolymer specialist Teysha Technologies has been issued a Certificate of Biodegradability for its polymer platform, AggiePol, following successful OECD 310 testing. Now AggiePol, a novel bioplastic derived entirely from natural feedstocks, has been confirmed to be readily biodegradable — meaning that it biodegrades to natural, non-harmful sugars. The material represents a genuinely sustainable plastic replacement, unlike conventional bioplastics that are partially petroleum-based and not readily biodegradable.
The global plastic additives market is worth approximately $50bn and is expected to reach roughly $75bn in five years’ time. Many additives are microplastics used in commercial products, like cosmetics, and contribute to the ongoing pollution of waterways and the food chain. For example, a shower using a traditional shower gel containing microplastics deposits up to 100,000 microbeads in the ocean. Globally, governments are implementing legislation, such as banning exfoliating plastic microbeads, and businesses are seeking sustainable alternative materials to combat the problem.
Teysha Technologies’ AggiePol platform represents a solution to the plastics pollution problem. Unlike conventional bioplastics that are partially petroleum-based and do not readily biodegrade in natural conditions, AggiePol contains no petroleum and is officially a readily biodegradable material after OECD 310 testing.
Matthew Stone, chairman of Teysha Technologies, said: “The limitations of conventional bioplastics, in terms of biodegradation, are well known, but the argument in their favour was that, while they were not perfect, they were the best available alternative to traditional plastics. Now AggiePol has been officially certified as being biodegradable, we can provide a truly sustainable material solution to additives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals that provides harmony with our waterways, ecology and food chain.
“In many ways, this can be seen as the holy grail in the search for plastic replacements and represents an opportunity for industries to switch to a truly sustainable alternative and drive policy change when it comes to industrial plastics. We will commence product testing and manufacturing and scale up immediately.”
Karen Wooley, chief technology officer at Teysha Technologies, said: “AggiePol’s tunability options mean it can be tailored to undergo slow or rapid biodegradation depending on the application. This makes it suitable for use in markets like packaging, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, where businesses still rely on either traditional plastics or partially petroleum-based bioplastics that contribute significantly to ongoing pollution.”
To discover more about AggiePol and learn how it can be used as a truly biodegradable alternative to conventional bioplastics, contact Teysha Technologies through its website.
