IJCA - Volume I - Flipbook - Page 13
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The International Journal of Conformity Assessment
2022 | Volume 1, Issue 1
DOI: 10.55459/IJCA/v1i1/AV
the available evidence cannot
justify the safety of the proposed
design, additional mock-up
tests (e.g., large-scale tests, as
shown in Figure 3) are required.
This completes the in-principal
approval.
Verification Study of Food Packaging
Materials Recoverable through Composting and
Biodegradation
Tier Three
By A.V. Chandrajith, Ph.D., Managing Director, Wimpey Laboratories
Installation inspections are
conducted at 20%, 40%, 60%,
80%, and 100% completion of the
cladding works. Along with the
use of ISO/IEC 17020 by specialist
fire consultants to assess
inspections, the contractors,
facade specialists, and
material suppliers also assume
responsibility of the supplies and
workmanship to complete the
assurance.
Safe Building Envelopes
Along with the example of the
UAE fire code, it is important
to note that processes and
procedures often do not get
implemented with very high
precision. There will always be
cracks and gaps in systems
that need iterative work and
review. But correct usage of such
evolving standards that form
the backbone of progress will
always be lightyears ahead of a
process that relies on subjective
decision-making. Regulations
and specifications that hard-code
specific suppliers or non-iterative
fixed routines will always become
a hinderance as technologies,
supply chain factors, materials,
and installation methodologies
evolve.
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-ABSTRACTBiodegradable packaging has the potential to reduce water usage, solid waste, electricity, and emissions
compared to conventional packaging processes. Biodegradable plastics created from renewable sources
(cellulose or starch) have novel functionalities and processibilities. The European Union standard EN
13432:2006, “Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation – Test scheme
and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging,” solves this issue by explaining clearly how a
material becomes biodegradable as well as compostable.
Figure 3: Table from the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice defining the
compliance routes and option for ACP/MCM materials
-AUTHOR BIOAbhishek Chhabra currently serves as the market development
manager at Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants, a
Dubai-based engineering firm he joined in 2013. Throughout his
career, he has advocated for compliance with standards that
improve safety and quality across various types of industries.
He has worked on several standards and codes development
initiatives, including Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), ASTM
International, UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice, and
Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO).
Additionally, Abhishek speaks often at industry events worldwide
and writes frequently for magazines and trade publications.
He received a Post Graduate Diploma in Finance Management
through SVKM’s NMIMS program in India and a Bachelor of
Technology degree in electronics and communications from
BCET at Punjab Technical University in India.
The present work is a verification study of EN 13432:2006 using food packaging materials, which were
categorized as biodegradable. Spectroscopic analysis of the samples, inoculum, and compost were performed
using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.
The aerobic and anaerobic degradation of the samples was conducted in accordance with ISO 14855-1 and
ASTM D5511, respectively. An ecotoxicity study using the compost of the samples was performed as per OECD
208 guidelines. The nature of carbon dioxide evolution and biogas accumulation in biodegradability studies
was on par with the ISO as well as ASTM standards. The quality of the compost and the ecotoxicity studies
using the samples meet the requirements as stipulated by OECD 208 guidelines. The results proved the material
possesses the characteristics recommended by EN 13432:2006; so, the material is undoubtedly biodegradable
plastic.
Keywords: biodegradable packaging, food packaging materials, biodegradable plastics,
composting, biodegradation, environment, EN 13432, ISO 14855, ASTM D5511, OECD 208
Introduction
Biodegradable packaging has the potential to reduce
water usage, solid waste, electricity, and emissions.
While this is beneficial for the environment, it also
lowers expenses associated with the packaging
process. Conventional food packaging materials we
use have several drawbacks. However, most of the
drawbacks are related to environmental conditions—
especially pollution. The destructive impact of
single-use plastics originating from petroleumbased sources on the environment remains an
urgent crisis. In order to mitigate these issues, it
is necessary to switch from single-use plastics
to biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics
created from renewable sources (cellulose or starch)
have novel functionalities and processibilities
compared to conventional plastic materials and
are seeking attention nowadays. The usage of
biodegradable plastics is mounting in the form
of food containers, bottles, packaging, etc. The
disposal of packaging materials is predominant in
cases of waste management. This means, if the
waste is not disposed of properly, it will adversely
affect the environment even though the material is
biodegradable plastic or bioplastic. Biodegradable
materials, bioplastics, biodegradability, and
compostability are common terms that are
frequently misinterpreted. The European Union
standard EN 13432:2006, “Requirements for
packaging recoverable through composting and
biodegradation – Test scheme and evaluation
criteria for the final acceptance of packaging,”
solves this issue by explaining clearly how a material
becomes biodegradable as well as compostable.
The benefits of plastics over metal and paper has
gained attention in various packaging applications,
especially in the food sector. One key advantage
is how plastic packaging enhanced the shelf life
of products without using any preservatives.
