Biodegradable replacement for PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) as a packaging material for skis

Abstract

On inquiry of Åre Skidfabrik a project was started to find alternatives to their current packaging material, PVC, for skis. Åre Skidfabrik strive to become more environmentally friendly and as a step in that direction all of their production materials are to be sourced from within Europe, the packaging plastic is the last material imported from outside Europe. The company wanted a biodegradable material with comparable properties to their current material and it would also be advantageous if the material is biobased. Alternative materials were found through literature study, interviews, and material testing. With the help of tensile tests, it was determined that PBATC1.6, TPS and PLA were possible replacements for the company but PBATC1.6 was later removed from the list because of the carbon footprint that was calculated.