Green plastic application possibilities in food packaging containers

The physical properties, processability, economy, and safety required for green plastics used as food packaging containers are the same as those of ordinary plastics. Polymeric lactic acid has these performance conditions, so there is no need to add new equipment. It can be used to the level of practicality by using existing molding processing equipment. With respect to economics, just as with the history of synthetic resins, technological innovations and the expansion of production scale can completely reduce production costs. It is expected that the price gap with ordinary plastics can be reduced in the future. At present, the price of green plastics also includes post-use treatment costs (3 marks per kilogram, if applicable, with reference to Germany, approximately 170-180 yen), that is, the price per kilogram of green plastic is 300-400 yen, which is acceptable. Regarding safety, it is necessary to include the safety of the material itself, the safety of the contents of the package when it is used, and the safety of decomposition intermediates and products during the post-processing process. In the study of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan, a security evaluation plan has been proposed, and the contents are reflected in the evaluation items of the identification and marking system.
For polymerized lactic acid, the necessary requirements and conditions for the above food packaging containers must be satisfied. When green plastic is used as a food packaging container, all countries in Europe and the United States are now applying the regulations for the general resin.
In Europe, the hygienic standards related to food contact with plastics are the EU's decrees issued in 1990. After many years of gradual changes, the standards for transfer tests and the standards for the monomers that can be commonly used, etc., have all been established. Green plastic is treated like ordinary plastic and must comply with these requirements.
In the United States, food hygiene management is based on the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Specifically, it is administered and administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For food packaging containers processed with newly synthesized resins, the current FDA Regulations for Indirect Food Additives are applicable. In addition to the need to review dissolution test results and toxicity information, environmental evaluations have also been given special emphasis recently. Due to different materials, lactic acid, a raw material such as polymerized lactic acid, is a recognized safe substance in food additives. Therefore, there are precedents for market development of food packaging materials and containers made of polymerized lactic acid.
In Japan, the legal system for the packaging and utensils of food containers is the Food Sanitation Law. The specific standards are based on the No. 20 Notice of 1982 issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the necessary changes have been made. On the other hand, the detailed industry autonomy standards for concession import bills and sanitary tests (consisting of material tests and dissolution tests) are different from those in Europe and the United States. Production companies bear considerable responsibilities. As a new material, green plastic is recorded as an article in the chartered import cargo list. Dissolution tests and toxicity tests are also required. It must be reviewed and approved by the Juwei Association.