Hyphyn impregnates vinyl with plastic-eating enzymes to enhance biodegradation
New materials brand Hyphyn has launched what it claims is the world's first biodegradable performance vinyl fabric, which breaks down over 90 per cent in two years in landfill conditions without leaving behind microplastics or toxic chemicals.
Made by US vinyl manufacturer Nassimi, the Hyphyn material decomposes almost twice as much as traditional vinyl under ideal conditions, according to an international standard test. Traditional vinyl broke down 49 per cent in the same period.
This improvement is thanks to a patented plastic-eating enzyme system embedded within both the vinyl – also known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – and its polyester backing.
The enzymes are activated only in response to landfill-specific microorganisms, which are then able to break down the material more quickly and thoroughly than they would with standard vinyl.
The brand asserts this is true biodegradation, with the product breaking down into inert gases and organic matter, not just smaller plastic particles. Specifically, the PVC polymer chains are converted into methane and carbon dioxide gases – the same as any other material that biodegrades in anaerobic conditions such as landfills.
While these are greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming if released into the atmosphere, they are commonly captured and converted to energy at modern landfill sites.
Alternatively, if not sent to landfill, the brand says the material can be safely incinerated without emitting harmful dioxins – the toxic chemicals that usually form when chlorine-containing substances like PVC are burned.
If Hyphyn's claims are true, the material can be seen as an advance on traditional vinyl, which is one of the world's most environmentally damaging plastic products.
This is because traditional PVC is not only highly resistant to biodegradation but also difficult to recycle and full of volatile organic compounds that seep into the air – either slowly over time or all of a sudden under exposure to high temperatures.
However, biodegradability claims around plastic are controversial, with objects marketed as biodegradable sometimes staying undamaged in the environment for years. This is also the case with the standardised ASTM D5511 test used here, which has been criticised for relying on an ideal anaerobic environment that is not reflective of real life.
Traditional vinyl, for instance, can be found virtually intact in nature decades later – even if, in this test, it was found to biodegrade 49 per cent.
The testing company itself stipulates that the ASTM D5511 results should not be used to make generalised claims about the biodegradability of a material without tying them to concrete percentages achieved under these specific conditions.
As such, while Hyphyn will likely biodegrade faster and cause less damage than traditional vinyl in real-world landfill environments, it may not reach the 90 per cent in two years achieved in testing.
Nassimi executive vice-president Iwan Nassimi told Dezeen that he understands and appreciates any scepticism around sustainability claims. That's why the biodegradability tests, as well as a raft of other test results, are made publicly available on the company's website.
"It was very important for us to verify any claim with independent lab testing," Nassimi said. "The biodegradability testing takes a long time as it's in real time, and we conducted each test twice at different certified labs in order to verify results."
When it comes to soil and material toxicity, the tests confirm that the material is free of lead, PFAS and formaldehyde.
Other potentially hazardous metals are either not detected or below the allowable regulatory limit in the US, where the testing was carried out.
An incineration test conducted in Taiwan suggests that the material can be burned safely, because the dioxin levels measured in the ash are very low.
The company did not test for chlorine or hydrogen chloride gases, which are a continuing cause for concern because many countries, including the UK, favour burning over landfill disposal, designer and sustainability expert Sophie Thomas told Dezeen.
However, Nassimi maintains that in the case of vinyl upholstery, dioxins are the primary concern since they are carcinogenic and persist in the environment.
Thomas, who has argued for a ban on PVC, also questioned the continuing use of petrochemicals as the feedstock for the material, as opposed to a bio-based alternative, doubting whether PVC could ever truly be made sustainably.
"This is a material that's incredibly problematic, not only from the end-of-life perspective but actually the way that we make it, it's an incredibly energy-intensive material," said Thomas.
"This energy usage is never captured when you look at the life-cycle assessment of the material, because it's actually in the production of the raw materials themselves."
As well as vinyl, PVC is commonly used in construction for elements including pipes, window and door frames, cladding and floor coverings. It is also used to make items such as "vegan leather" handbags, credit cards and vinyl records.
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