From PETER SENIOR
John Emsley’s Forum article ‘On being a bit green’ (30 June) dismisses
in a somewhat cursory manner biodegradable polymers. The article attracted
a letter and supporting article from Friends of the Earth in favour of banning
biodegradable plastics (21 July).
I would draw the attention of Emsley and your readers to ICI’s Biopol,
a fully biodegradable thermoplastic manufactured by fermentation using a
carbohydrate feedstock. On what environmental grounds anyone could seek
to ban Biopol, I do not know. It’s manufacture requires a modicum of electricity,
salts and steelwork–so does a bicycle. (FoE is keen on bikes – I believe.)
I admit that in the main, so- called biodegradable polymers are a quick-fix
utilising accelerators to enhance degradation by ultraviolet light, or incorporating
a standard petrochemical-based polymer in a polysaccharide matrix. However,
to suggest they should be banned is plain Luddism.
Peter Senior Nottingham
