Where Engineering & Chemistry Intersect for Broader Impact

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“As a chemist, I have the capability and knowledge to design a material from the molecular level
up. It’s a challenge to synthesize a material with the ‘right’ properties. You can prepare a
material cheaply, but it may not degrade. Or you can make a material that degrades too
quickly or is not 3D-printable. In today’s world, the plastics disposal problem is not going away
anytime soon, and it is exciting that Professor Krueger and our labs can help make a
difference.”
- Dr. David Son
“Material properties are important for durability and functionality of engineered systems. But
they are also important for what happens when you are finished using the system. Having
materials that can fulfill their design role as well as existing materials and can also easily
degrade to facilitate future disposal is extremely valuable, but difficult to achieve. It’s a pleasure
working with Prof. Son to achieve this dream and help to reduce plastic waste.”
- Dr. Paul Krueger
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Undergraduate Research Analyst:
Katie Nguyen
Contributing Editors:
Sam Borton & Corrie A. Harris, M.A., M.B.A.
Undergraduate Project Managers:
Sydney Lobato and Taylor Grace
Undergraduate Lab Researchers:
Son Lab: Anderson Wey and Jamie Hall
Krueger Lab: Sami Streb
Global Development Lab Portfolio Manager:
Corrie A. Harris, M.A., MBA
Hunt Institute Affiliates:
Dr. David Son and Dr. Paul Krueger
Southern Methodist University | Lyle School of Engineering
Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity
Global Development Lab
Summer 2020 - 2021
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Table of Contents
Table of Figures ________________________________________________________________ 5
Executive Summary _____________________________________________________________ 6
Global Plastic Waste ____________________________________________________________ 8
Plastic Medical Waste ________________________________________________________________ 9
Environmental Waste due to COVID-19 __________________________________________________ 11
Biodegradable Plastics Industry __________________________________________________ 14
Plastics in the Medical Sphere _________________________________________________________ 14
Biodegradable Supply & Demand ______________________________________________________ 15
Biodegradable Market Trajectory ______________________________________________________ 16
Our Biodegradable Research _____________________________________________________ 19
Dr. David Son Lab ___________________________________________________________________ 19
The Dr. Paul Krueger Lab _____________________________________________________________ 21
Progress Summary - Fall 2020 _________________________________________________________ 22
Recommendations _____________________________________________________________ 26
Appendix A ___________________________________________________________________ 27
Covid-19 Specific Findings ____________________________________________________________ 27
Appendix B ___________________________________________________________________ 31
Plastic Bags and Single-use Plastic Items _________________________________________________ 31
Works Cited __________________________________________________________________ 33
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Table of Figures
Figure 1: How Plastic Enters the World’s Oceans (Our World in Data) ____________________________________ 8
Figure 2: Environmental activist Gary Stokes collected dozens of discarded masks from a Hong Kong beach (Oceans
Asia) ______________________________________________________________________________________ 12
Figure 3: Projected medical plastics market by region (marketsandmarkets.com)__________________________ 17
Figure 4: Global Protective Face Masks Market (gminsights.com) ______________________________________ 18
Figure 5: Experimental setup for monomer synthesis ________________________________________________ 22
Figure 6: Circular mold (left) and plastic (right) _____________________________________________________ 23
Figure 7: Dog bone-shaped plastic in a silicone mold ________________________________________________ 23
Figure 8: (Right) freshly prepared plastic; (Left) plastic after exposure to room environment for several weeks __ 24
Figure 9: Tensile test results for dog-bone test sample _______________________________________________ 25
Figure 10: Number of cases reported each day in the U.S. since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak (cdc.gov) 27
Figure 11: PPE found on beaches and in oceans. (OceansAsia.org, Naomi Brannan) _______________________ 30
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Executive Summary
In the Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity’s Global
Development Lab, our interdisciplinary teams made up of students, fellows, faculty, and
industry professionals are working to create meaningful solutions to promote a resilient
humanity, all of which address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This
report addresses biodegradable plastics where engineering and chemistry intersect.
Currently, many biodegradable products in the market are bio-based, such as
polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, and are focused on conventional plastic
applications. This approach to production of biodegradable plastics, however, is facing
mounting challenges due to high cost, weaker performance, and environmental issues.
In addition, several biodegradable plastics have proven to break down quickly under
specific, simulated environmental conditions, but they may not be effectively degradable
under natural conditions. As a result of these challenges and many more, there exists a
gap in the market.
Our Project Affiliates, Dr. Son and Dr. Krueger, aim to bridge this gap by pursuing a
biodegradable plastic that better addresses the aforementioned challenges, investigating
a prototype plastic with predictable degradation and mechanical properties. In the spirit
of interdisciplinary innovation, they seek to develop a joint chemical and engineering
approach to biodegradable plastics for broader impact.
There are many uses for biodegradable plastics to address our current state of
plastics pollution. One potential future application could be biodegradable plastic
used in combination with 3-D printing technology specifically designed for use with
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the unique geometric properties of the biodegradable prototype plastic. Compatibility with
3D printing methods would help to facilitate biodegradable plastic’s replacing of other less
desirable materials, especially given its rapidly growing adoption and application for
manufacturing both prototype and production components. The lab is developing a 3D
printing technology (extrude and cure additive manufacturing, or ECAM) that can
simultaneously print and cure thermoset polymers such as those considered in this
project.
Another significant opportunity for the biodegradable plastic industry is an application
towards alleviating medical waste. Focusing on both producing better-quality medical
supplies and reducing the end-of-life waste associated with such products, this
application works toward both the third UN SDG “to ensure healthy lives and promote
wellbeing for all at all ages” and the fourteenth UN SDG, which aims “to conserve and
sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.” [1]
In order to address this challenge, our team of multidisciplinary students and subject
matter experts have been working diligently to develop a biodegradable plastic with
more desirable characteristics and predictable degradation properties that could both
address medical waste and potentially be used in 3D printing. The remainder of
this report will provide a market analysis of biodegradable plastics, a discussion of their
applications, and updates from the labs progress in their research.
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Global Plastic Waste
The increasing environmental concern surrounding the use of traditional plastic
materials has resulted in a demand for industry and academia to research and
provide innovation in order to develop sustainable solutions.
The growing amount of un-recycled plastic has created serious pollution and
environmental damage globally since the 1960s. [2] Plastic waste build-up in oceans has
captured the public’s attention. In 2018, China announced it would no longer buy twothirds
of the world’s waste. The impact of China no longer managing this waste is the
displacement of as much as 111 million metric tons of plastic waste by 2030. [3] This
resulted in an increase of waste management facilities disposing plastic waste in landfills,
marine sites, or incinerators, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: How Plastic Enters the World’s Oceans (Our World in Data)
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National Geographic estimates that of the 8.3 billion metric tons of all plastics that
have been produced 6.3 billion metric tons have become plastic waste, a staggering
76%. Out of that waste only 9% is believed to be recycled. The vast majority, ~ 79%, is
accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. [3] Eventually,
plastic waste ends up in the oceans, with an estimate range of 4-12 million metric tons
generated on land entering the marine environment in 2010 alone. [4]
Plastic Medical Waste
The environmental non-profit Health Care Without Harm estimates that the world’s
healthcare industry contributes to just over 4% of the world’s emissions, much of that from
round-the-clock care. [5] While hospitals will most likely not reach a zero-waste state, the
facilities can reduce plastic waste, equally promoting wellness and sustainability.
Plastics are hygienic, versatile, and affordable. They have long been essential,
keeping hospitals running, supporting the care of patients, and ensuring front-line workers
stay safe. Healthcare facilities in the United States generate approximately 14,000 tons
of waste per day, many of which are incinerated or left in landfills. [6] Plastics represent 20-
25% of the total waste portion of the medical waste, which is significantly higher than that
of municipality solid waste. [7] ~ 3,150 tons a day equates to ~1,149,750 tons of medical
plastic waste annually.
Untreated health care waste is typically processed in landfills or incineration.
Disposing untreated health care waste in landfills can lead to contamination of drinking,
surface, and ground waters, along with the soil and the air, if those landfills are not
scientifically constructed. [8]
Incineration of waste has been widely practiced but
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inadequate incineration or the incineration of unsuitable materials results in the release
of pollutants into the air. [9] Specifically, contaminated syringes and needles represent a
particular threat, because disposing of them incorrectly could lead to dangerous recycling
and repackaging or unsafe reuse. All pose as a health threat.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “85% of all medical waste is
incinerated even though only 15% of it is considered biohazardous.” [7] In fact, 25% of
healthcare’s annual waste generated from U.S. facilities are clean, noninfectious plastics,
amounting to approximately one million tons per year of valuable polymers that could
potentially be recycled and reused.
With a significant rise in the demand for eco-friendly and sustainable products from
end-users in the healthcare industry, the adoption of biodegradable medical plastics is
growing at a rapid pace. As covered previously, hospitals and healthcare centers usually
dispose of the dangerous waste appropriately and send the rest to landfills. However,
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growing environmental awareness and sustainability among consumers is influencing
manufacturers and end-users to adopt sustainable solutions.
Environmental Waste due to COVID-19
With the need for single-use PPE being a central issue during the COVID-19
pandemic, the market for biodegradable plastics in the medical industry has greatly
expanded and is relevant to this research (see Appendix A).
In the spring of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic brought a dramatic increase in the
use of plastic, the main component in masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles, protective
medical suits, test kits, takeout containers, delivery packaging, and more items central to
the locked-down, hyper-hygienic way of life. Moreover, there are many other plastic items
widely used in medical applications for creating a sterile environment, such as pill casings,
disposable syringes, catheters, and blood bags. These items are made of synthetic
polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PP, which are not
biodegradable. [10] Therefore, it is not surprising to see that there was an increase in
medical waste generated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Figure 2: Environmental activist Gary Stokes collected dozens of discarded masks from a Hong Kong beach
(Oceans Asia)
An additional consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has been that recycling and
municipal waste services in the U.S. and beyond have been significantly limited, which
means that the excess of plastic might fall into the category of unrecycled. [11] The global
demand for certain uses of plastics has increased due to the pandemic. The polymers
used in lifesaving medical equipment, such as N-95 masks, polyethylene used in Tyvek
protective suits, and PET in single-use plastic water bottles and medical face shields have
all seen a rise in demand during the global pandemic.
Officials had to construct a new medical waste plant to combat the influx of medical
waste generated by hospitals in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in the People’s
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Republic of China, where the coronavirus first emerged. Hospitals there produced six
times as much medical waste at the peak of the outbreak as they did before the crisis
began. [12] The daily output of medical waste reached 240 metric tons, about the weight of
an adult blue whale.
With the novel coronavirus being a new strain, there was a deficient in standard
operating procedures, insufficient resources, and lack of employee training on how to
handle, manage, and dispose of the virus. This resulted in more materials being managed
through traditional waste processes--incineration and sanitary landfill. The Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that “medical waste from COVID-19 can be
treated the same way as regular medical waste, that is burning, sterilized with steam, or
chemically disinfected before going to a sanitary landfill.” [13] However, regulations on how
to treat that waste vary by location and can be governed by state health and
environmental departments, as well as by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) and the Department of Transportation causing confusion for waste
management providers.
While plastics such as gloves, masks, and other medical equipment are important for
protecting against the spread of the virus, the pandemic serves as a reminder of how
much waste is produced and how it is can be managed or mismanaged. It also shines
light on the need for biodegradable plastic alternatives, especially in the medical field.
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Biodegradable Plastics Industry
Plastics in the Medical Sphere
Medical disposables can be defined as single-use products that are used in surgical
and procedural applications. A fact sheet published by the American Chemistry Council,
a plastic trade group, says, “Single-use plastics are the cleanest, most efficient way” to
facilitate health and hygiene in hospitals. [14]
As established in the previous sections, plastic plays an important role within the
health-care sphere. The benefits of plastics are apparent in medicine and public health
due to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and minimal energy required to produce,
compared to metals and glass. Due to this, polymers are used in various health
applications, such as disposable syringes and intravenous bags, sterile packaging for
medical instruments as well as joint replacements, tissue engineering, etc.
Currently in the market, alternative products, often biodegradable, are costly to
produce and can be a source of criticism due to their differing waste disposal procedures
and slow decomposition times. One major challenge is to find a plastic alternative that
would degrade swiftly without releasing harmful toxins into the environment and that
would serve as a safe alternative.
Recently, significant progress has been made in the development of biodegradable
materials with similar functionality to that of oil-based polymers, commonly used in
packaging applications. The expansion into these biodegradable materials has potential
benefits for greenhouse gas balances and other environmental impacts over whole life
cycles. It is intended that use of biodegradable materials will contribute to sustainability
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and reduction in the environmental impact associated with disposal of petroleum-based
polymers. Our research seeks to achieve this and beyond. Imagine a biodegradable
plastic that would begin decomposition when introduced to a certain environment, like
water or air.
The global biodegradable plastic market was valued at $4.65 billion in 2019 and is
expected to reach a market value of $12.06 billion by 2025. [15] Based on type, the starch
blend segment accounted for two-fifths of the global biodegradable market share in 2018
and is expected to dominate the market through 2026. On the other hand, the segment
for polylactic acid plastic (PLA), made from renewable resources, is projected to grow
22.0% YOY annually from 2019 to 2026. [16] The market is driven by the rising income in
emerging economies, high growth in the agriculture and horticulture, packaging and bags,
and the textile industries. As regulations and prohibitions against plastic items (see
Appendix B) are increasing worldwide, the market for biodegradable plastics continues to
grow.
Biodegradable Supply & Demand
The production of biodegradable plastics is currently very low: estimated at around 4
million tons per year, which accounts to just over 1 percent of global plastics production. [17]
According to the report, Biodegradable Plastic Market, from Markets and Markets, the
Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market for biodegradable plastics
with China and India among the fastest growing economies in the world. [18]
Companies such as NatureWorks (US), BASF (Germany), Total Corbion PLA
(Netherlands), Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Japan), and Biome Bioplastics (UK) are
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the major players in the global biodegradable plastics market. These companies are
hoping to strengthen their market position through increased research and design and
technological advancements. They represent the global organizations leading the
biodegradable plastics market overall.
According to the WHO, of the total amount of waste generated by health-care
activities, about “…85% is general, non-hazardous waste while the remaining 15% is
considered hazardous material that may be infectious.” [7] Demand for disposable plastic
products, driven by the concern of viral transmission, is skyrocketing due to the global
pandemic starting in 2019. The capacity to safely deal with these materials after use,
however, remains low for many reasons that are beyond the scope of this report.
Biodegradable Market Trajectory
Today, the field of biodegradable materials and devices attract scientists and
healthcare professionals in surgery, pharmacology, and regenerative medicine. However,
the number of devices of systems that have been successfully developed for clinical and
commercial uses is in its infancy. The biodegradable medical plastics market is expected
to grow by $197.42 million during 2019-2023, according to Technavio. [19]
The North American region led the biodegradable medical plastics market in 2018
with the US as the primary contributor to its growth. As is evident in Figure 5, Markets
and Markets forecasts the market size is projected to grow from $22.8 billion in 2019 to
$31.7 billion by 2024, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. [20] Global
Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market 2019-2023 forecasts a more favorable CAGR for
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the global biodegradable medical plastics market with an expected CAGR of more than
11% from 2019-2023. [21]
The use of these medical products in procedural applications and general checkups
is increasing. The medical disposables segment is projected to register the highest CAGR
between 2019 and 2024. In addition, the use of these disposables as instructed by various
agencies, such as USFDA and Europe FDA are propelling the demand for medical
plastics globally.
Figure 3: Projected medical plastics market by region (marketsandmarkets.com)
Increased incidences of chronic diseases, a changing lifestyle of the middle-income
group, rising demand for better healthcare, and increase in the aging population are the
major drivers for the market. Even post-pandemic, it is anticipated that the medical
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industry will continue to require protective face masks, gowns, and gloves on a regular
basis, therefore driving PPE market outlook. [22]
For example, the protective face masks market exceeded $1 billion in 2019 and is
estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 10.1% between 2020 and 2026. [23] N95 respirators
accounted for a market value of $ 321.3 million in 2019. N95 respirators are preferred by
medical personnel for their protection from 95% of substances larger than 0.03 microns.
The proven efficacy of these respirators in preventing the spread of the virus has boosted
their demand.
Figure 4: Global Protective Face Masks Market (gminsights.com)
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Our Biodegradable Research
As stated in the executive summary, Dr. David Son and Dr. Paul Krueger collaborate
to work on a project with a joint chemical and engineering approach to biodegradable
plastics for broader impact.
Both labs perform research on key topics that include modeling the material
properties, experimentally characterizing the properties for degradability, and
investigating ways to optimize the chemical formulation to preserve degradability while
achieving desirable mechanical properties. By combining the knowledge of bioresorbable
polymers and novel biopolymers, the product will stand out with unique mechanical
properties, improved total degradation time, and minimal toxicity released back into the
environment.
Dr. David Son Lab
From a chemical point of view, researchers could take several approaches. They can
develop additives for conventional mass-produced polymers that initiate degradation on
exposure to certain stimuli such as light, heat, or moisture. Another approach would be
to utilize bio-based plastics and chemically modify them to impart certain desirable
properties to the material. In the third and most desirable approach, researchers can
design plastics from the molecular level to give predictable properties to the final plastic
material.
Previously, the Center for Drug Discovery, Design and Delivery (CD4) on the SMU
campus developed possibilities of in vivo types of applications, such as a temporary
structural feature or as a scaffold for tissue growth. The Son Lab within the CD4 has been
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experimenting with combining thiols and alkenes to create biopolymers that undergo
degradation in physiological conditions and can be precisely controlled over
the degradation response time. With the ability to control the polymer during the time
course, the mechanical properties can be compared in selected systems.
Recently, the lab also demonstrated the creation of a new plastic that degrades on
contact to moisture. The plastic is prepared from custom-made compounds and cures at
moderate temperatures without the need for catalysts or other additives. Initially, this lab
research found that the degradation profile of the plastic could be controlled by simple
molecular modifications of the starting compounds.
A large issue that today’s society faces is managing waste as a result of globalization.
Particularly, a key challenge of biodegradable plastics is their need for particular waste
management plans, which are not always widely available. This does not mean such
methods are infeasible, but there could be an additional cost especially if they are in the
waste stream at low concentrations, implying significant work in terms of infrastructure
redesign.
Not all bio-based polymers are deemed biodegradable and failing to manage their
disposal would result in uncontrolled biodegradation, adding to existing plastic pollution.
In contrast to the byproducts of many bio-based plastics in the market, the Son Lab has
studied cell toxicity to indicate the degradation byproducts of their new material to be
relatively harmless. With these results, the Son Lab can tailor the degradation properties
of the plastic through molecular modification of the starting materials. The modifications
can also enhance the mechanical properties of the material.
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The Dr. Paul Krueger Lab
Alternatively, the Krueger lab team works with 3D printing partners to address various
mechanical properties important for utilizing the materials in numerous applications.
Important properties include tensile properties (stiffness and maximum elongation at
break) and thermal properties (coefficient of thermal conductivity and expansion).
Adhesive properties will also be analyzed to understand how well materials may be
processed to achieve the desired shape.
A versatile material would not only be degradable to help minimize waste, but would
also have properties that allow it to be broadly adopted in order to displace other less
desirable materials. Compatibility with 3D printing methods would facilitate this given its
rapidly growing adoption and application for manufacturing both prototype and production
components. The lab is continuing to develop a 3D printing technology (extrude and cure
additive manufacturing, or ECAM) that can simultaneously print and cure thermoset
polymers such as those considered in this project. Thermosets are more challenging to
work with because, unlike thermoplastics that can be remelted, thermosets retain their
shape once cured.
Several players occupy the market share: Arkema Group and BASF SE have
intensified their competition, and Corbion NV, Evonik Industries AG, and Koninklijke DSM
NV are other major companies. [24] The increasing preference for sustainable products and
the aging population will provide significant growth for biodegradable medical plastics
manufacturers.
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Progress Summary - Fall 2020
Researchers Anderson Wey and Jamie Hall optimized the synthesis of the two
monomers required for the synthesis of the prototype degradable plastic. Anderson’s
monomer is a furan-based trisubstituted silyl ether, and Jamie’s monomer is a maleimidebased
disubstituted silyl ether. The silyl ether component is key to the degradable
properties as it will cleave on prolonged exposure to moisture. By the end of the summer
of 2020, both Anderson and Jamie had achieved syntheses of their monomers in
laboratory-scale quantities (10–20 grams each). See Figure 5 for an example of a
laboratory synthesis setup.
Figure 5: Experimental setup for monomer synthesis
Initial network preparations were carried out using a circular aluminum mold provided
by Dr. Krueger’s laboratory in mechanical engineering and designed by the
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undergraduate researcher, Sami Streb, working in Dr. Krueger’s lab.
Networks
were prepared by mixing Anderson’s and Jamie’s monomers in the mold and heating at
80°C for two hours. Network preparation was successful; however, the cured plastics
adhered too strongly to the mold and had to be peeled out, resulting in deformation of the
plastic (Figure 6).
Figure 6: Circular mold (left) and plastic (right)
Sami prepared a mold out of silicone, which proved to release the plastic much
easier. We recently prepared a “dog bone” shaped sample for mechanical testing in the
Krueger lab (Figure 7).
Figure 7: Dog bone-shaped plastic in a silicone mold
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Further attention to degradation measurements will be needed as of the writing of this
report. Researchers observed that the plastics did degrade on prolonged exposure to
ambient conditions (Figure 8).
Figure 8: (Right) freshly prepared plastic; (Left) plastic after exposure to room environment for several weeks
Using the dog-bone sample shown in Figure 7, Sami performed a tensile test of the
sample using an Instron tensile testing machine available in the mechanical engineering
department. The stress strain curve obtained from this test is shown in Figure 9. The
sample was tested to failure and showed an ultimate stress of 7.35 MPa and an ultimate
strain of 1.21%.
These values are low compared to typical polymers, which may reflect a more brittle
behavior for this material. The material also shows an extended region of plastic
deformation (strain with very little change in stress) followed by another region of elastic
behavior. Additional testing will be needed to confirm the consistency of these results.
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Figure 9: Tensile test results for dog-bone test sample
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Recommendations
This analysis finds that there is a significant market available for biodegradable
plastics industry, especially those with specifically-manipulated degradation
characteristics, towards alleviating plastic waste. Demand exists in the medical industry,
especially when dealing with single-use waste management.
One potential future application could be its use in combination with 3-D printing
specifically designed for use with the unique properties of the prototype plastic. Because
of its biodegradable nature, the prototype plastic will also greatly reduce end-of-life
waste. These characteristics are significant advances to the biodegradable
plastics currently leading the market. With the ability to manipulate the plastic’s
properties, they can impart certain desirable characteristics of the material and give the
final product more predictable degradation properties.
Future studies that include use of the degradable polymer material in combination
with 3-D printing and ECAM capabilities have market potential for innovation in a broad
range of applications to support a cleaner environment. Focusing on both producing
better-quality medical supplies and reducing the end-of-life waste associated with such
products could be extremely valuable impact on the social, economic, and environmental
aspects of medical plastic waste.
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Appendix A
Covid-19 Specific Findings
Months into the pandemic, the US faces a shortage of PPE as the number of cases
increases (see Figure 10) and more people are admitted into health care facilities. [25] The
dearth of supplies is affecting a broad array of health facilities, and the supply cannot
keep up with the demand. Many hospitals, nursing homes, and private medical practices
are facing a shortage of respirator masks, isolation gowns, and disposable gloves that
protect front-line medical workers from infection.
Figure 10: Number of cases reported each day in the U.S. since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak (cdc.gov)
Doctors at the Memorial City Medical Center in Houston who directly treat COVID-19
patients have been urged to reuse single-use N95 respirator masks for up to 15
days before throwing them out. National Nurses United (NNU), the country’s largest
organization of registered nurses found in a survey of its members in late June that 87%
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of nurses had been forced to reuse disposable N95 masks while treating infected
patients. [26] In Florida, some hospitals are handing out only loose-fitting surgical masks to
workers treating newly admitted patients who may be asymptomatic carriers.
At GetUsPPE, a volunteer organization that helps health care facilities and workers
find protective gear, demand has been rising sharply in states experiencing a surge of
infections. In June, the amount of PPE requested from medical providers in Iowa jumped
440 percent from the previous month, along with more than 200 percent increases in
Texas and Louisiana. [27]
According to Johns Hopkins University as of August 2020, the number of confirmed
coronavirus cases worldwide is inching towards 15 million with more than 500,000
deaths. [28] The situation is worsening, as the number of cases among frontline healthcare
workers is also steadily rising. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) estimates
that around 90,000 health workers have been infected by the coronavirus, and over 260
nurses have died because of the pandemic. [29] This crisis, therefore, has heightened the
need for PPE such as gowns, face masks, and goggles. The World Health Organization
responded by urging governments and manufacturers in February 2020 to ramp up their
PPE production by 40%. As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies, the demand for PPE is
likely to remain sky-high for the remainder of the pandemic.
The fear of equipment shortages comes as other issues that plagued the country’s
early response to the pandemic return: surging cases, overwhelmed hospitals, lagging
testing, and contradictory public health messages. The inability to secure PPE is
especially frustrating, health-care workers say, because it is their main defense against
catching the virus.
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In 2020, nurses posted online testimonials about a lack of PPE, with some given
surgical masks instead of N95 masks because of shortages. [30] Hospital executives in
Houston — where case numbers continue to break records — have said they have
enough PPE for now but expressed worries of running out if cases continue to spike.
Demand for protective equipment has soared, but unlike in March, when efforts focused
on getting PPE for major hospitals — especially in New York, Detroit and Chicago —
supplies now are desperately needed in primary care offices, nursing homes, prisons and
psychiatric and disability facilities. As many states continue to reopen their economies,
demand has also surged from the construction industry and other sectors. As a result,
prices have skyrocketed.
Some hospitals say much of the PPE they have acquired has been exorbitantly
priced. At a legislative hearing, a hospital association executive detailed how one
Maryland hospital that spent $600,000 on PPE last year expects to spend $10 million this
year. The struggles have been especially acute for small, rural providers, who can’t
compete with bigger health systems’ bigger budgets and larger-scale orders, experts
say. [30]
Outside the medical sphere in homes, offices, schools, and industry to help reduce
the spread of the virus, social distancing rules were introduced with an increase in hand
sanitizer and disposable polyethylene (PE) gloves use. Considering those who are
recovering at home or are asymptomatic, people are generating plenty of infected trash.
For those working in the sanitation industry, it poses a worry as the virus can persist up
to a day on cardboard, but up to 72 hours on plastic. [31] Additionally, massive amounts of
PPE like masks and gloves clog sidewalk drains and are washing into waterways. [32]
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Figure 11: PPE found on beaches and in oceans. (OceansAsia.org, Naomi Brannan)
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Appendix B
Plastic Bags and Single-use Plastic Items
With the growing laws and regulations regarding plastic bags and other single-use
plastic items, various government and federal agencies have been promoting
biodegradable plastics to reduce plastic waste, which boosts the demand of this market.
As of July 2018, 127 out of 192 countries (about 66%) have adopted some form of
legislation to regulate plastic bags. [33] Various fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)
companies, such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble, have been required to
adopt biodegradable packaging to comply with the standards, which, as a result, has
propelled the growth of this market. While a number of countries have sought to regulate
marine pollution by banning plastic bags, the bans do not cover the life-cycle of existing
plastic bags -- manufacturing, production, use, distribution, and trade.
In North America, the trend in the U.S. and Canada is towards regulating plastic bags
through sub-national legislation and collaborations between public and private sectors,
with states and cities (as well as major retailers) at the forefront of reducing plastic bag
usage and waste. In the U.S., only California, New York, and Hawaii have
statewide bans on non-biodegradable plastic bags. Six cities have plastic bag bans:
Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Ten states have
outlawed plastic bag bans: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Idaho, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Indiana, and Iowa.
The result of bans on plastic bags, specifically in California, have led to an estimated
reduction of 40 million pounds of plastic trash per year. [34] With the reduction of plastic use,
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consumers are more likely to seek out alternatives that will minimize negative
environmental impact when disposed of, whether in the form of reusable or biodegradable
materials. Imagine the effects on global plastic waste if quality alternatives at an
affordable price were available in all areas of plastic production and use.
Ocean Conservancy scientists worry that if the temporary rollbacks to plastic bans
become permanent, it would undermine efforts to reduce single-use plastics and increase
ocean plastic pollution going forward. [35]
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