Biodegradable polystyrene: the world’s greatest paradox?

It washes up on our beaches. It blows in the wind. It dominates cold supply chains.? It’s polystyrene: a key offender in the global waste crisis. Each year, as the amount of plastic in the ocean charges past the 11 million metric tonne mark, the need for responsible supply chains becomes blindingly clear. As with any global problem, many ideas emerge as potential solutions. ‘Biodegradable’ polystyrene is one of them. However, is it a feasible solution? Or is it another blatant attempt at greenwashing as companies scramble to profit off the sustainable transition?

Why is polystyrene a problem for businesses?

At its core, polystyrene wreaks havoc on our environment. In addition to the excessive waste it leaves behind, businesses that utilise polystyrene packaging find themselves riddled with logistical issues:

• It is bulky, requiring excessive warehouse space.
• It is extremely flammable, causing high insurance costs.
• It is not flat-packed; few fit on a pallet, leading to increased freight costs.

Is polystyrene recyclable?

Despite what EPS companies may tell you, polystyrene is not recyclable. There are a few reasons for this:

1. Most local facilities don’t accept it.

In many countries, Australia included, the number of facilities with the capacity to process EPS is dismal. It’s challenging to repurpose foam blocks; in fact, it requires specific compacting equipment that most don’t have. It is not kurbside recyclable and requires end users to drop it off at specific collection points, many of which are unevenly concentrated in large urban areas.

2. It is too expensive to recycle.

There’s a reason why you often see polystyrene littered in nature. It can only be recycled at specific plants, and its bulky nature makes it extremely inefficient to transport. This, coupled with the cost of reverse logistics to get it back to the collection points, deems it an economically poor option.

3. There is no market for it.

Of the many challenges that plague polystyrene recycling, this is the most difficult to overcome. Having a market is crucial for creating a sustainable recycling loop. With the lack of demand, it’s simply not (economically) worth it for recycling facilities to repurpose EPS.

Is biodegradable polystyrene the answer?

So, surely ‘biodegradable’ polystyrene steps in as the perfect solution?

Incorrect.

‘Biodegradable’ polystyrene is standard EPS accompanied by an additive or resin, which supposedly accelerates the biodegradation of plastic. Despite the shiny name, it is replete with challenges. Firstly, it can only be disposed of in biologically active landfills; a rare kind of landfill that pumps heat and air into the waste to promote sufficient microbial activity. Unlike natural fibres like wool (which disintegrates in the soil within 3-6 months) biodegradable polystyrene requires an engineered system for its safe disposal.

In a country as large and sparsely populated as Australia, waste management is already a huge problem. Poorly distributed infrastructure and long transportation distances mean that recycling is a challenge for many regional communities. As such, large landfills have become the go-to destination for waste, receiving 40% (20 million tonnes) of waste each year.

This highlights a long-standing problem in our society; we currently do not have the infrastructure for large-scale waste recovery. The chances of ‘biodegradable’ polystyrene making it to a biologically active landfill are pitifully small. To put it into context, out of Australia’s 1,168 landfills, 75% of overall waste disposal takes place in large, conventional landfills.

Its impracticality is not the only thing to be cautious of; bioreactor landfills produce more gas emissions than conventional landfills. Ultimately, the truth of the matter is this: businesses looking to reduce their waste should not invest in a slightly-less-bad version of polystyrene.

What does ‘biodegradable’ mean?

Claims of biodegradability should always be met with wariness. By definition, a biodegradable product is capable of being decomposed by living organisms. However, the lack of testing and regulation has led to businesses flaunting this term in their efforts to greenwash. It has lost its meaning. After all, a plastic bottle is ‘biodegradable’, even if it takes 500 years to decay.

Does ‘biodegradable’ polystyrene tick the boxes?

Microbial Interaction

While home-compostable materials must undergo stringent testing to gain the AS 5810 credential, biodegradable products lack a standardised and industry-wide certification. As such, it is difficult to verify whether a material interacts well with microbial activity in the environment, or whether it harms its surroundings.

Byproducts

Biodegradable polystyrene never quite disappears. It breaks down into microplastics that are invisible to the naked eye, and deadly to the environment. Microplastics - particularly those containing the carcinogen styrene (present in polystyrene) - pose grave risks to marine life. Once in seafood, they dominate the food chain.?

Time frame

To gain the home-composting certificate in Australia, the material must decompose at least 90% within 12 months. Biodegradable materials, on the other hand, can take years to disintegrate. Remember - if it isn’t sent to a bioreactor landfill, it will not decompose naturally. Instead, it will follow in the steps of most polystyrene products, ending up in large landfills or nature.

Conclusion

‘Biodegradable’ polystyrene hangs by a thin thread; the fact that biodegradability is impossible outside of the bioreactor environment makes it disastrously futile. Without adequate collection systems in place, ‘biodegradable’ polystyrene becomes another blasphemous case of greenwashing.

Instead of relying on distant technologies and unviable systems, companies should focus on proven sustainable packaging solutions. Get in touch with our friendly team at Planet Protector to see how we could help your business on its sustainable transition.