Why do PLFs matter for sustainability? Around 36 million metric tonnes of PLFs are made and sold for $125 billion each year. The way PLFs are made using petrochemical feedstocks, used and disposed of is putting unnecessary strain on the environment by releasing carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, using up the earth's finite resources, relying on fossil fuels and generating waste. PLFs relate to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through both their applications and environmental impacts through their lifecycles. They can be linked to seven of the 17 SDGs:
Agrochemicals is the second largest market for PLFs, many of which are applied to land as components of fertilisers, soil conditioners, wetting agents and seed coatings. Increased sustainable agricultural productivity can reduce land requirement and biodiversity loss by improving soil and crop efficiency for global food productivity. Ensuring such materials are biodegradable is an important challenge.
PLFs used as flocculants make a significant contribution to clean water and wastewater treatment. However, PLFs also enter waterways as waste through products that are washed down drains. Designing these materials to be safely biodegradable in the environments they could enter will reduce any burden they may place on the environment.
A high percentage of PLFs are liquid at the point of waste and so will be discharged into waste water treatment systems or will be washed directly into water courses. It is imperative that industry understands how to mitigate harm for PLFs that go down the drain. Furthermore, as the chemical industry grows and supports other industries, a circular approach to PLFs and the products they contribute to can enable greater resource efficiency and reduced waste.
Moving away from fossil feedstocks and towards biobased feedstocks and a more circular economy will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with PLFs.
Curable PLFs such as paint or resins may enter the marine environment as solid objects and break down to microplastics. Biodegradability will reduce this environmental burden.
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