Biodegradable Film > Definitions and Terms > Material Types and Sources

Material Types and Sources

Regresa ® is a registered trademark of Brentwood Plastics, Inc. and refers to our films which include a catalyst to hasten the degradation of polyethylene to a few years instead of the approximate 300 year half life.

MATERIAL TYPES AND SOURCES

TERM1	MEANING
Thermo-plastic starches	Thermoplastic starches have a starch (amylose) content greater than 70% and are based on gelatinized vegetable starch and, with the use of specific plasticising solvents, can produce thermoplastic materials with good performance properties and inherent biodegradability.
Polyesters	Polymers with ester groups in their backbone chains. All polyesters degrade eventually, with hydrolysis being the dominant mechanism. Degradation rates range from weeks for aliphatic polyesters (e.g. polyhydroxyalkanaoates) to decades for aromatic polyesters (e.g. PET)
Starch - Polyester blends	Starch-based polymers which are blended with high-performance polymers, such as polyesters to achieve the necessary performance properties for different applications.
Renewable sources	Sources of raw material from which plastics may be produced which are able to be replaced by new growth.

1“Using Degradable Plastics in Australia - A Product Stewardship Guide and Commitment”