Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
case-by-case basis where there is a well-proven commercial opportunity, and such
schemes are typically open to a wide range of sectors. Biobased technologies
must therefore compete for their share of support.
8.5.2
Demand-Side Drivers
8.5.2.1
Corporate Social Responsibility
The business decisions of brand owners and key chemical and material manufac-
turers are increasingly influenced by internal CSR programmes, designed to help
protect brand market shares and corporate image. CSR programmes drive the
development of environmentally sustainable solutions to ensure compliance with
environmental legislation and ethical standards, often with the aim of exceeding
the minimum legal requirements. CSR programmes influence corporate
purchasing and other decisions in order to minimise any negative environmental
impact of its activities.
The actions underpinning such strategies often include environmental auditing
of production procedures and analysis of energy use, which can highlight
particular risks. Key issues of concern include potential future high cost and
volatility of fossil fuel costs and associated feedstocks. Increasingly, companies
are also examining the carbon footprint of their activities to examine how energy
and materials can be used more efficiently. Other issues affecting brand owners
include the impacts of tightening legislation on issues such as reducing packaging
and waste and increasing recycling. Companies have looked to see how biobased
materials can assist with meeting their environmental and efficiency objectives,
particularly in the packaging materials sector.
Policy drivers to reduce waste volumes going to landfill have pushed up the
cost of waste disposal. In turn this has helped to boost the market for biobased
biodegradable polymers, particularly for items with a short life, including
shopping carrier bags, disposable catering utensils and packaging materials.
This has favoured the development of starch-based and latterly lactic acid and
other microbial fermentation polymers to provide an increasing range of poten-
tial polymer materials with different technical characteristics to suit a variety of
market needs.
There is also growing interest in biobased durable polymers because of better
GHG credentials or other exploitable advantages. The falling price of biopolymers
such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET; a widely recycled unique biopolymer)
and biobased PE (a ubiquitous polymer in fossil form) has also increased company
interest in such alternatives, as well as opportunities for examining alternative
end-of-life opportunities to disposal by landfill. For example, biobased PE and
other bio- and partially biobased polymers could effectively be used as a green
fuel once recycling opportunities have been exhausted, possibly reaping financial
rewards where such renewable energy generation is supported.
