Comparison

Whilst there are alternative products which nominally compete in this field, their properties are substantially different from one another. This means that for most applications they are not competitors at all as specific properties are likely to make one or other technology either particularly appropriate or unsuitable for a particular use.

The table below sets out the principal alternative technologies and their properties, the main differentiating features are:

Environmentally Degradable Polymer	Pros	Cons	Application
Polyolefins plus pro-degradant additive
Oxo-biodegradables (PE and PP with low levels of pro-degradant additive) Includes d₂w^™ technology	Very low price Maintains all plastic properties Good barrier properties Degrades as litter Easy processing	Slow in domestic compost	Packaging - esp. sacks, bags and food Films esp. wraps Disposables
Naturally occurring polymers
Pure Starch and blends of starch and LDPE (potato, corn etc)	Low price Good compostability Renewable	Low strength Water soluble Poor processability Poor clarity Recycling not possible	Packaging Compost sacks Loose fill
Synthetic aliphatic polyesters
PCL's (Polycaprolactones incl. modified starch blends)	Good compostability Biocompatible	High price Low strength Poor barrier properties Recycling not possible	Compost bags Adhesive Bottles Film
PHA's, including PHB and PHBV (Polyhydroalkanoates)	Good compostability Biocompatible Renewable	Bad smell High price Poor processability Recycling not possible	Food packaging Bottles Medical
PLA (Polylactic acid)	Transparency Strength Stability Biocompatible	High price Poor processability Brittleness Poor flexibility Recycling not possible	Food packaging Bottles Medical
Other synthetic Environmentally Degradable Polymers
PVA (Polyvinylalcohol)	Good compostability Clarity	Water soluble High price Difficult processability Recycling not possible	Water solubles Personal hygiene prods Disposables

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