Role of degradable plastic packaging materials in tropical areas

Saudi Arabia is producing a number of plastic materials, and the plastic processing and packaging industry in the Kingdom has grown considerably during the last decade. Plastics are being employed in a variety of packaging, in different applications. Their use is expected to grow with the passage of time. With the entry of Saudi Arabia in the plastics era, the imminent litter and pollution problems resulting from their disposal need to be addressed. A number of strategies are being developed to minimise the pollution resulting from the disposal of plastics. These include reusing, recycling, and sensitising plastics for rapid degradation. This paper presents an overview of the technique being developed in sensitising plastics with particular emphasis on thermoplastics being produced and widely used in the Kingdom.