By Linky van der Merwe

Interview with Anika Nell, CEO of Stripform Packaging (Pty) Ltd, manufacturers of flexible, customized ziplock bags since 1975. The interview is exploring a remarkable new product, the development project of a truly biodegradable plastic.

Tell us about your Research and Development around biodegradable plastic?

Stripform Packaging has been manufacturing plastic packaging for more than 30 years. Due to the negative impact on the environment, I wanted to ensure that at least some of the products we produce, would be more environmentally friendly.  

South Africa has relied on recycling for many years as the option for a better future.  Although all products produced by Stripform Packaging are 100% recyclable, we all know that plastic is extremely durable, very slow to degrade and has a long staying power, in some cases longer than a human’s life-span! Recycling is certainly an important way of ensuring less pollution, but it is only part of the solution and it is time to explore other options.

Through my research it became clear that South Africa is not up to speed with environmental progress made on plastic.  Internationally two main types of biodegradable plastics are possible.  

The first, oxo-biodegradable plastic, is made of petrochemicals and requires a catalyst to break down the polymer chains through oxo-biodegradation.  The second, bioplastics, are plant based and break down through hydo-biodegradation.

Since my experience and knowledge is from petrochemical plastic, I wanted to ensure that the plastic products we produce would biodegrade in a relatively short period of time, would be non-toxic and affordable. Therefore, I opted to perform my R&D on oxo-biodegradable plastic.

You say that your existing products are 100% recyclable; how many times can a ziplock bag be recycled before it becomes too old or unuseable?

Since the standard plastic bags that we produce are made of virgin material, it can be recycled as many times as it ends back into the recycling stream.  The problem is that we are not dedicated to recycling and re-using.  The bags that we produce are made from Polyethylene which is the most recycled plastic in South Africa.  but these only amount to about 42% of all Polyethylene manufactured.  I am concerned about the 58% that lands up somewhere else….

How long does biodegradable plastic take to break down completely?  Will this continue to happen at refuse dumps? 

Oxo-biodegradable plastic breaks down through nature itself.  UV light and heat starts the degradation.  The polymer is made up of strong carbon bonds that are being broken by the catalyst that was added to the polymer mix during manufacturing.  The carbon atoms then bind to oxygen to form biodegradable material.  

Biodegradation depends on the material’s thickness, temperature, moisture and oxygen content as well as other environmental factors.   This process will take between 15 – 24 months for the oxo-biodegradable products. If these products end up on the refuse dumps, they will continue to biodegrade until oxygen is no longer available.

Top of mind when I developed the biodegradable plastic, was the pollution I saw daily on my way to work.  It is fantastic to know that these new plastic products could biodegrade within a very short time and that it is possible that the plastic bags that Stripform manufactures can biodegrade and “disappear” after the end up in the field.

What are some of the challenges you had with the research and prototype development?

Research and Development is exciting, but costly and time consuming.  I am a business owner and the chemist developing the biodegradable plastic at work. It was tough taking on the additional responsibility while still keeping my focus on the core business.  It was a real balancing act to manage the company while developing a new product of this kind. 

The costs of the tests to ensure that the plastic will indeed biodegrade and not only break up in million pieces of plastic were high, but in the end worth every cent.

Another hindrance was finding other scientists to bounce off new ideas. Although the internet is a great source of information, it cannot replace brain storming with other scientists.

Are you already manufacturing biodegradable plastic?

Yes, Stripform Packaging started to manufacture for a growing list of clients already. The biodegradable ziplock bags are safe to use for any item from sandwiches, cheese, hardware items and agricultural products to dispensing of medicine.

Did your company treat it as a project, in order for it to become part of the standard products that you offer?

Yes, Stripform Packaging considered the project as a solution to plastic pollution and as part of the standard range of products that we offer. With time we will expand to include other biodegradable products. 

Is there market interest to manufacture a biodegradable plastic?

The world is in desperate need to find solutions to climate change and global warming.  Although South Africa is behind in terms of oxo biodegradable plastic, bioplastics and recycling, it is widely used in America, UK and at least 10 countries have legislated to make oxo biodegradable plastic mandatory.  It is impossible to export to these countries a wide range of plastics or goods wrapped in plastic unless the plastic is oxo biodegradable.  In April 2019 the SA government published the requirements for markings and identification of degradable plastics.  It is the first step in acknowledging the entry of this technology into the South African market.

You are operating in the Pharmaceutical industry, how do you see this spreading to other industries which are heavily reliant on packaging?

I believe that South Africa should consider various options to tackle climate change and plastic pollution.  We have wonderful organizations to assist with recycling, but it is time to open the door to new ideas and technology.  All industries using plastic packaging should explore options that are sustainable and will contribute to the solution.  I am not a believer of one size fits all.  Every solution offers positive and negative aspects.  With a holistic approach South Africa can reduce plastic pollution drastically.

Oxo-biodegradable plastic may not be the perfect solution to all plastic pollution, but the benefits of this technology is widely accepted internationally. Together with recycling, plant based plastics, biodegradable and several other innovations a cleaner planet is possible. 

Do you think your break-through formulae will be adopted by other big packaging manufacturers?

Yes, I think that South Africa will embrace new ideas to slow down the pace at which we pollute this earth.  Whether it is Stripform’s development or another creative solution, the time is right to implement alternatives.  

The topic of biodegradable plastics is highly controversial and intensely debated. The more we debate these solutions, the more options will become available and the closer we are to a sustainable environment. 

Internationally a wide variety of biodegradable products are already available. These include cups, plates, coatings of paper items, etc.  Unfortunately plastic is not plastic is not plastic.  Every application such as the container in which your take away sandwich is packed differs from the wrapping around your bread rolls or from the plastic of your shopper bag.  Creative solutions for each of these items must be found.

Will recyclable plastic eventually be replaced by biodegradable plastic?

I am not sure if it is necessary to choose between the two.  There is a place for both.  Some biodegradable plastic can also be included in the recycling stream. It all depends on the level of sophistication of recycling and composting facilities available.

Are there alternative biodegradable products?

In fact there are several biodegradable plastic options available. These plastics derive from plants, petrochemicals and combinations thereof.  For example: biodegradable thermo plastic also known as PLA; synthetic polymers such as PCL and combination of starch and PCL known as Mater-Bi and many, many more are known.  New products and combinations of raw materials for specific applications are launched continuously to replace long lasting plastic products.  

What can we look forward to for our and our children’s future in terms of green technology and sustainability?

Once you start reading about the exciting development of green technology and replacement of packing material as we know it, you realize that the entire world woke up to the fact that we are destroying our planet by continuous consumption and waste.  Researches are actively pursuing different solutions and I am encouraged with the progress made.

For many years scientists worked on perfecting the best plastic packing to keep food fresh and to increase the shelf life.  Marketing ensures that all products on shelf were packed in primary, secondary and tertiary packaging to enhance shelf appearance. 

It is time to go back to basics and take cognizance of the cost of our actions. The impact of global warming and climate change has changed perceptions and research toward a greener future is happening NOW.  

Initially it will be more costly to change to green technology such as biodegradable plastic.  As technology improves and more solutions are found internationally, it will become affordable and more accessible.  

I see a world where very little will end up in landfills.  Products will either biodegrade, be reused or recycled. The alternative is too hard to bear.

About Anika Nell: Contact her on LinkedIn

As a wife, mother of twins and a doctor in Chemistry who is running as the CEO of Stripform Packaging, manufactures plastic ziplock bags for the pharmaceutical industry, Anika is resourceful, creative and passionate about what she believes in.  With a background in the Wine and Cosmetic industries, she is now making in-roads in the Plastic manufacturing with her break-through Biodegradable plastic products and knowing that she’s making a positive contribution to society.