Title: Biodegradation and incineration as the final stages of the life cycle of polymer packaging in a circular economy

Abstract

Changing the profile of world trade in the context of the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy is inextricably linked to global flows of "polymer waste," which lead to "plastic pollution" of the planet and are subject to international regulation (EU Framework Directive 2008/98/EC). Polymer packaging is one of the largest use areas of polymer composite materials. We have found that the biodegradability to polymer composite materials based on a number of synthetic polymers, practically not decomposable in pure form, gives arabinogalactan (AG), one of the most important components of Siberian and Daurian larch - these types of larch contain up to 30%AG. We have established that AG is contained in larch in the form of an aquacomplex - "arabinogalactan-water". Such a complex has a freezing point below -60 °C and can be considered as a natural low-temperature eutectic that provides frost resistance to these larch species and the possibility of larch growing in permafrost. The AG-water complex for larch is the liquid phase that fills its capillary-porous structure and allows larch to survive in conditions of Siberian frosts and permafrost, and provides fatigue strength to its branches and roots. At the same time, larch roots can be considered as a carbon sequestration path, and the alternating wind load for a growing tree ensures the development of its root structure and increases the amount of carbon sequestered in the ground. There are offered industrial versions of arabinogalactans extraction from larch and versions of usage of sawdust with increased content of arabinogalactans as components of composite materials of packaging purpose. An advanced innovative technology has been developed for processing into fuel briquettes both sawdust and their mixtures with waste of synthetic polymers, including those with used plastic packaging.