A triangular symbol made of three "chasing arrows" containing a number in the middle

and special letters on the outside is used to identify the different types of plastic. The
following are the letters of identification and their meaning:

1. PETE - Polyethylene Terephthalate - PETE is most often used for cooking oil
bottles, soft drink bottles, and peanut butter jars.
2. HDPE - High Density Polyethylene - HDPE is commonly used for milk jugs and
detergent bottles.
3. PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride - PVC is used for plastic pipes, water bottles, outdoor
furniture, shrink-wrap, liquid detergent containers, and salad dressing containers.
4. LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene - LDPE is often used for trash can liners, dry-
cleaning bags, produce bags, and food storage containers.
5. PP - Polypropylene - PP is used for drinking straws and bottle caps.
6. PS - Polystyrene - PS is used to make packaging pellets, commonly referred to as
"Styrofoam peanuts."
7. OTHER - Plastics listed in the OTHER category are any not listed in the first six
categories. Certain types of Tupperware and other food storage containers
commonly fit within the OTHER category.

The many different types of plastic has made recycling plastic difficult, particularly
because the process of sorting plastics cannot be automated. In fact, recycling plastic is
labor intensive since reading the special triangular symbol can only truly identify most
plastic items.

Biodegradable Plastic

Currently, there is research taking place in the area of biodegradable plastic. The goal is to
develop a type of plastic that can naturally break down from exposure to sunlight. By
mixing starch with the plastic, it can be made to degrade more easily. It does not, however,
cause the plastic to break down completely.

A genetically engineered bacterium capable of synthesizing biodegradable plastic has also

been developed. This material, however, is quite expensive to create at this point.
Currently, BASF does make a biodegradable polyester called Ecoflex that is used for food
packaging applications. Unfortunately, carbon gets locked up in these biodegradable
plastics and is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Another downside to these biodegradable plastics is that they require sunlight to degrade.
Therefore, this type of plastic really only helps with roadside litter. Plastics buried in
landfills will not receive the sun they need to degrade and, therefore, can still last for
decades.

While there are still many questions left unanswered when it comes to the environment and
plastic, it is clear plastic is here to stay for a very long time.
9 June 2010
MUSCAT -- On the occasion of World Environment Day, celebrated recently, Oman
Plastic Industries began the manufacture of Oxo-Biodegradable plastic bags for the first
time in Oman.

Oman Plastic Industries is officially certified by the Directorate-General of Specifications

and Measurements of Oman to manufacture the oxo-biodegradable plastic carry bags,
after completing the necessary test run with the co-ordination of the local distributors of
the d2w additive in Oman.

Oxo-biodegradable plastics, with a pre-programmed life, significantly reduce the harmful

effect on the environment. At the end of its useful service life, they degrade in the
environment by a combination of oxidation and biodegradation. During its service-life,
strength and other qualities are the same as ordinary plastics.

The plastic eventually breaks down to water, carbon dioxide, biomass and trace elements,
on land or sea, in the light or dark, in heat or cold.

It leaves no fragments or methane or harmful residues thus avoiding pollution and damage
to the environment and wildlife.

Oxo-Biodegradable plastics do not need a highly-microbial environment to degrade. It will

happen even if the plastic is left in the open or in the sea.

Ecomagination from GE - with innovation, there will be more clean water for everyone
The plastic is made oxo-biodegradable with the addition of d2w additive when the plastic
product is being manufactured. d2w products have been available for more than four years
and are now used in more than 50 countries by major retailers, hotel groups, food
manufacturers, etc.

The additive does not have any toxic effect and is totally soil safe as per the ATM D 6954 --
04 Standard which tests plastics that degrade in the environment by a combination of
oxidation and biodegradation.

The world produces and uses 20 times more plastic today than it did 50 years ago.
Ordinary plastics can take up to 400 years to break down. Given plastic is a fundamental
part of our day-to-day lives, it is time to move on to a more earth-friendly product like
degradable plastic.

"With the technology now available in Oman, it empowers retailers and organisations who
think 'Green' to show their care for the environment," says Tariq Ali Mirza, Managing
Director of Oman Plastic Industries.

By Staff Reporter
HDPE Plastics

Ubiquitous in every day life and accounting for the bulk of material used to create milk
bottles, laundry detergent bottles, and margarine tubs, it may surprise some readers to
learn that HDPE plastic actually begins life as thick black crude oil pumped out of the
ground.

HDPE plastics are produced from a component of crude oil, naphtha, which is cracked
(heated at very high temperatures) in order to extract the ethylene gas which is released
when the chemical structure of naphtha deteriorates. The ethylene gas is then polymerized,
a process which involves the free gas particles joining together to produce long chains of
ethylene molecules.

There are many different types of polyethylene. HDPE is a particular type of polyethylene
with a very dense linear structure which gives it an increased tensile and molecular
strength. HDPE is normally defined as being polyethylene with minimum density of 0.941
grams per cubed centimeter. Within the category of HDPE plastics, molecular weights
range from 100,000 to 500,000, which is where the great variance in HDPE grades arises.
Common grades of HDPE plastics include blow molding grade HDPE plastics, injection
molding grade HDPE plastics, film grade HDPE plastics, and pipe grade HDPE plastics.
Each of these grades have slightly different physical properties, the most notably important
one being MFI, or melt flow index. Melt flow index describes how quickly the HDPE plastic
flows when in liquid form, applications such as pipe making and blow molding require a
highly viscous slow flowing HDPE plastic, whereas injection molding requires a quickly
flowing HDPE resin.

HDPE plastics were first invented in the 1950’s, though it took some time to discover ways
to reliably produce large amounts of homogeneous HDPE, as the processes under which
HDPE is produced must be tightly controlled in order to produce the different grades of
HDPE.

Ethylene naturally polymerizes at high temperatures and pressures, but it is not

commercially viable to operate facilities under these conditions. So instead, catalysts are
used to lower the temperature at which polymerization will take place, and also direct the
type of polymer which results. HDPE’s largely linear structure with little molecular
branching is commonly produced by Zeigler-Natta catalysts, or chromium catalysts.

HDPE lends itself well to recycling, and a great deal of reprocessed HDPE, recycled HDPE,
and regrind HDPE is available on the market. The bulk of recycled HDPE plastics are post
consumer scrap reclaimed from kerbside recycling programs. Millions of tons of HDPE
plastic milk bottles and other household vessels are collected and recycled every year. For
the most part, recycled HDPE plastics are equally as useful as virgin HDPE plastics,
though they may not be used in food contact applications. There is some risk that
contaminants found in the scrap HDPE from which recycled HDPE is made may pass
through the various cleaning and filtration steps and degrade and contaminate the end
product. If one is dealing with a reputable supplier, and the specific application is not
overly intensive, recycled HDPE is an economically sound alternative to virgin HDPE
plastic.

Plastics can be biodegradable because they are already made by chemical reaction. Plastics
are derivatives of hydrocarbon. And only those things can be biodegrade those are related
to living organisms like paper, fruits waste ,skin or even cloth

INTRODUCTION:
During the past 25 years, plastic materials have gained widespread use in the food,
clothing, shelter, transportation, construction, medical and leisure industries. Plastics offer
a number of advantages over alternative materials – they are lightweight, extremely
durable, and relatively unbreakable. However, plastic materials also have several
disadvantages, one of the largest being that plastic does not break down in the
environment. Materials such as wood and paper are subject to breakdown from
microorganisms (biodegradation). Plastics are composed of petroleum-based materials
called resins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene) – materials that are resistant to
biodegradation and because of this resistance, plastics that are disposed of in landfills will
remain in their original form in perpetuity. Every year, large volumes of plastics are
disposed of in U. S. landfills – in 1995 alone, an estimated 20 million tons of plastic
products were disposed of in landfills.

TYPES OF BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC

1) Starch based plastics: 

These are 'compostable' plastics made from various food substances and they compostable
because they will completely  biodegrade within 4 months in a commercial composting
plant.  Please be aware that they do not decompose in a home composting facility because
elevated heat is required to compost them.  PLA is the best known type.  The largest
manufacturer of starch based plastic is reported as saying that they will create methane if
placed into the anaerobic zone of landfills. This kind of plastic is best suited for composting
in commercial composting facilities where food and garden waste are composted but
undesirable in landfills.

2) Oxo-biodegradable conventional plastics: 

These are conventional plastics with an additive added to them that cause them to
biodegrade.  They require a two part process to biodegrade, all parts of which must occur
in the open air or in soil that is aerated . The first half of the process requires either heat,
UV light or mechanical stress. The second part of the process occurs when bacteria
consume the partly decomposed plastic. This type of plastic is best suited where littering is
the primary concern. Important to note that this type of plastic cannot be composted and
there is no ecological advantage when placed in landfills.

3) Microbiodegradable conventional plastics: 

These are conventional plastics to which a special additive has been added causing them to
biodegrade naturally.  This additive works only in soil that has naturally occurring micro
organisms. It will biodegrade without the need for oxygen, UV light, heat or mechanical
stress.  In an oxygenated environment it decomposes into humus, carbon dioxide, and
water.  In an oxygen deprived atmosphere it decomposes into humus, methane and water.
This kind of plastic is not recommended for composting because it takes somewhat longer
to biodegrade than the typical commercial composting cycle, but it is excellent for disposal
in landfills.

In order to produce plastics that degrade in a landfill setting another scientific approach
was necessary. Company Y has developed an alternative method for creating
microbiodegradable plastics. This method involves a proprietary combination of organic
and inorganic chemical materials which have been mixed in a very precise formulation and
compounded into a reactor-grade master batch pellet. When this pellet is compounded with
any polyethylene or polypropylene resin, the resulting plastic is biodegradable. The
biodegradation of X-treated plastic occurs through aerobic (oxygen dependant) and
anaerobic (dependent on the absence of oxygen) pathways. Micro organisms consume the
plastic, assimilating the material for cellular processes and producing a mixture of
metabolic products (principally methane, carbon dioxide, and water).

PLASTICS SYNTHESIZED
The C process may be utilized in the manufacture of bags, agricultural film, landscape
netting, diaper liners, and numerous other products. The viability of C-treated plastic as an
environmentally safe, biodegradable product was evaluated by conducting standard tests
on X pellets and plastic film which were created using the X process. Biodegradation tests
were conducted to determine the susceptibility of the products to biodegradation. In
addition, chemical analyses and standard plant and animal toxicity tests were conducted on
the end product of the biodegradation process to determine the safety of the product. The
results of these tests are discussed below.

2.0 BIODEGRADATION TESTS

Laboratory testing is a common method used to determine the susceptibility of compounds

to biodegradation. Testing methods have been developed and standardized by several
organizations including the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM), Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and European Standards
Organization (CEN). The method employed by the various tests involves adding a small
amount of test compound (in this case, X pellets or plastic film) to a large amount of a
material called inoculum (a highly active substance used to grow microorganisms).

The test is run at the same time using a reference compound that is known to be
biodegradable, also added to inoculum. Biodegradation can be evaluated by measuring the
amount of methane and carbon dioxide produced. Using this result, the percentage of
sample that has biodegraded is calculated as the percentage of solid carbon of the sample
that has been converted to gaseous, mineral carbon. If the results from the test and
reference materials are similar, the test material has biodegradable properties.
“Biodegradable Plastic”, what does it mean and why is there so much confusion about
something that sounds easy to explain? The ASTM defines biodegradable plastics as “a
degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally
occurring micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae”. Sounds simple enough,
so why all the confusion? The confusion really arises from two aspects. Confusion
between the use of the term degradable vs biodegradable and the very loose use of the
word biodegradable.

In the market place today there are three categories of plastics that biodegrade or
degrade. Those technologies are PLA (Polylatic Acid), Oxo-degradable and a new
technology called Microbiodegradable. Now that we know this, how do we know which
ones biodegrade or degrade?

PLA PLASTIC:

PLA is a bioplastic made from starch; specifically it is being manufactured from

starches derived from genetically modified corn (GMO food). This technology and
supporting organizations such as BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) claim that
PLA biodegrades. However, this claim is confusing because they are using the term
“biodegradable” extremely loosely.  PLA is a “compostable plastic” in that it goes
through “degradation” to break down and is therefore not true “biodegradation”. PLA
does not break down or biodegrade in a landfill and will only begin to “degrade” after
being exposed to heat (specifically 60° C over a five day period).  This kind of
environment can only be found in a commercial composting facility, NOT in the
domestic composter in your garden. We find that many of the articles and organizations
who support PLA are greatly contributing to the confusion by not using correct
standards based definitions of that technology. Once PLA composts the remnant is CO2
and because professional composting facilities are not currently capturing the gas it is
usually released into the atmosphere.

OXO-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC:

Next we have oxo-biodegradable, as the name implies this technology allows the
product to degrade. This particular technology incorporates the use of an additive that
begins to break the plastic chains only when exposed to oxygen, heat and moisture. 
Although this technology is fairly upfront with the type of degradation taking place, the
marketing materials suggest that once the pieces of plastic have broken down into small
enough fragments there is a second stage that gives microbes the opportunity to finish
the process through biodegradation.  This aspect may be true but it is extremely
difficult to validate as the plastic fragments must have degraded to the microbe level. 
There are varying reports as to what remains in the soil and air once an oxo-degradable
product has degraded.  These range from heavy or low metals, salts, CO2 and. Because
many of these products will degrade in a landfill the  CO2 gas will normally be
captured and released into the atmosphere.

MICROBIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC:

Moving on to the final technology we have third generation microbiodegradation. This

is the technology behind Biogreen Products. This technology is also in the form of an
additive which is added to existing polymers. Biogreen Products use organic
compounds to open the polymer chain and attractants stimulate microbial colonization
on the plastic.  Because the polymer chain is open the micro organisms can use the
carbon chain as a source of food and energy. This is happening at the atomic level and
the remnants are CO2, CH4 and inert humus and because many of these products will
degrade in a landfill the gases of CO2 and CH4 will be captured, released or burned. It
is also important to note that this process activates with or without the presence of air,
light or heat and will take place no matter how deep the plastic is buried. This type of
plastic can also be recycled in the normal way.

CONCLUSIONS:

So there we have it in a nutshell. We now know the difference between the three,
degradable, oxo-biodegradable and microbiodegradable.  It still leaves the bigger
question as to which technology and method is better for the environment? This is
another important question and requires further explanation, however you should
always keep in mind the overall net impact to the environment.  When trying to answer
this environmental question it is important to keep in mind the following criteria: using
food to create plastics, pesticides that effect water, total water consumption, total fossil
fuels used in processing, greenhouse gases emitted in processing and breaking down,
the benefit of the product, does the biodegradation or degradation create any benefits
such as clean energy? Is it sensible to use vast amounts of food to create plastic that
could otherwise be used to feed the worlds’ hungry. Will the degradation take place
deep in the landfill and are the products acceptable for commercial recycling.

many thanks for taking the time to read this article and I hope that you found it
informative.

Kind Regards
Why Plastic Degrades Not Biodegrades.

August 1, 2008

Biodegrading, the breaking down of organic substances by natural means, happens all the
time in nature. We live, we die, we rot and so we feed the next generation – that’s life. Even
if you are a rock. All plant-based, animal-based, or natural mineral-based substances will
over time biodegrade.

In its natural state raw crude oil will biodegrade but man-made petrochemical compounds
made from oil, such as plastic, will not. Why not – because plastic is a combination of
elements extracted form rude oil then re mixed up by men in white coats. Because these
combinations are man made they are unknown to nature. Consequently there is no natural
system to break them down. The enzymes and the micro organisms responsible for
breaking down organic materials that occur naturally such as plants, dead animals, rocks
and minerals, don’t recognise them.

This means that plastic products are pretty much indestructible in a biodegradable sense at
least. Which is in many ways fantastic and plastic is indeed a wonder product. But there is
a downside. What happens to plastic in the environment?

DEGRADING
As time passes plastic will eventually break down into smaller and smaller pieces. This is a
mechanical process involving mechanical actions such as ripping splitting and falling apart.
Plastic merely breaks up. No matter how small the pieces they are still and always will be
plastic. they are not absorbed into or changed by natural processes.

Dr Richard Thompson of the University of Plymouth has identified plastic particles thinner
than the diameter of a human hair. But while they cant be seen those pieces are still there
and are still plastic. They are not be absorbed into the natural system they just float
around within it. He estimates that there are 100,000 particles of plastic per sq km of sea
bed and 300,000 items of plastic per sq km of sea surface. Barnacle, lugworm and
amphipods hoover up the tiny plastic particles as they feed. Who eats the amphipods – the
little fishes and who eats the little fishes? That’s you that is with your fish, chips and
microscopic plastic particles.

Have you ever wondered why the plastic bags from ShoeMart have the word
“BIODEGRADABLE” on it? I also noticed this with the plastic bags used by National
Bookstore, Max’s Restaurant and some shops in Hong Kong and Singapore. I was curious
about it, because from what I know, plastics are not biodegradable (others say it is but will
take thousands of years in the process).

 
 A bag from SM Hypermart. Biodegradable?
 

A bag from Max's Restaurant. Made by EPI.

 
 A plastic bag from Hong Kong. I got this from a fruit stand. Made by EPI as well.

I looked it up on the net and found out some things. The EPI company who manufacture
plastics for Max’s uses Totally Degradable Plastics Additives (TDPA™), which enables
plastics to degrade and in most cases biodegrade when discarded, into environmentally
benign products within a few months to a few years as compared to decades or longer for
the same products made without the benefit of the technology.

So yes it is biodegradable, but will still take time. It will still end our at dumpsites. I am still
unconvinced about this because Filipinos have a voracious consumption of plastic bags.
This may have been a good start in the part of retailers like SM, Max’s and National
Bookstore but it is still up to the people to use them responsibly. We have to do our part in
recycling, reusing and reducing plastics.

With garbage dumps overflowing and our oceans getting filled up with plastic products, we
need to do our part to save our future. For plastic bags alone, it is estimated that some
430,000 gallons of oil are needed to produce 100 million pieces of these omnipresent
packaging items on the planet. We need to reduce the demand for plastics to decrease the
amount of carbon dioxide that will be the byproduct of the manufacturing process. Even if
we make use of the "biodegradable" plastics, it is still not the best option.

I personally believe that we should NOT use plastics anymore but utilize "green bags".
Locally, we have our "bayong", but you need not be old school to help. When I buy some
things, I usually ask the cashier not to pack my items. I just put it in my backpack, in that
way I am able to help decrease the demand and I know that i will be decreasing my less
carbon footprint in the future.

Consumers can also lobby local and national authorities to pass ordinances and laws that
will ban plastic bags like what China and San Francisco did, or impose tax on plastic bags
like that in Ireland that resulted to a 90 percent drop in plastic bag use during the past five
years.

At the Senate, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed Senate Bill No. 1443 or the Plastic Bag
Recycling Act, while Sen. Manny Villar filed Senate Bill No. 1802 requiring malls and
stores to use environmentally-friendly shopping bags in place of plastic bags.

But we must not wait for these bills and laws to be passed, and we must act by reliving our
"bayong" days and saying NO to plastic now if we would want a better world to live in.

biodegradable plastics

June 2, 2009 at 10:59 pm (cool green technology, environmental awareness, plastics,

stopping pollution)
Tags: biodegradable plastic, pollution prevention, stopping pollution

a colleague of mine, ms. carol lee wrote me tis note:

Hello Eric,

Just late last year, I noticed that the yellow shopping bags of SM (Shoe Mart) have
‘biodegradable’ printed on them.  Until then, I have always thought their bags are made of
plastic.  How can one tell whether a bag is actually manufactured using biodegradable plastic
or not?

Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you on the above.

All the best,

Carole

der was a time wen plastic bags (lotz wer from sm supermarkets) on unsanitary landfills,
sewer canals, rivers & even in manila bay r regularly seen on photos in newspapers &
magazines….
plastic bag pollution
shoemart noiselessly introduced deir oxo-biodegradable plastic (obps) bags as well as d re-
usable green bags (can last up2 2yrs or 100 grocery trips, accordingly) 2address d problem.

d question is….do we really need a plastic bag dat will last a hundred years? biodegradable
plastic bags (sm obps bags decompose after 6 months) r cool coz of low enviro impact…
obps
sm green bag

biodegradable plastic bags can b identified fr deir labels. see pix bellow. f plastic bags r not
labeled so, den dey’r not!

giordano (a clothes shop) have bio-bags 4deir customers….

giordano bio-bag
in d past (wen brandenberger invented it in 1908), cellophane wer made fr plants b4
petrochemical based plastics became d cheapest alternative.

pple say dat biodegradable plastics r more expensive dan regular plastics…according 2a
friend (who’s familiar w/ d supplier of sm), sm didn’t spent too much more in deir
biodegradable bags due 2d volume scale (only 12% more expensive according an sm
insider)…..guess, cost s always a reason 4pple 2justify dat we can pollute d earth….

using re-usable bags (cloth bags, ‘bayong’, etc.) s d best way 2go……in europe, one has
2pay 4plastic bags if u don’t hav ur own re-usable bags…tis actually lessens d amt of
plastic bag waste….

we need 2stop pollution fr plastics……

a friend from d phil. pollution prevention roundtable (p3r) 4warded a plastic bottles ppt.
2view it, click on d link bellow:

bottled water

Bigla akong binatukan ng boredom. Kaya ay naisipan kong magbasa ng newspaper

(Philippine Daily Inquirer). Himala nang bumasa ako sa business section, dahil kapag
bumuklat ako ng newspaper, laging nalilipad ang ilong ko sa entertainment category.

So, talagang nagbasa ako ng dyaryo. Something about SM with it’s new biodegradable
plastic bags. Sa totoo lang, and infairview, natuwa ako sa idea na ito ng SM. Isipin niyo,
how many years or centuries pa bago tuluyang ma-disintegrate ang mga plastic. Which is
also why, pilit nireremind satin na as much as possible eh i-recycle natin ang mga plastic
bags sa kadahilanang mahirap i-dispose ang mga plastic. Kaya naman eh yung
Biodegradable plastic bags ng SM eh talagang advantage para sa environment, lalo na sa
environmental issue about trash.

“It looks like plastic but it is not plastic. It has zero lead content and zero metal content,”
Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said.

“It’s very safe and it’s biodegradable, and will fully disintegrate in six months or less. It turns
into powder and blends with the soil after a few months.”

Oh diba? Bonggang-bongga ang matutulong nito sa environment natin. Lalo na ngayon na

super duper laganap na ang global warming. Nakaka-alarma talaga. Kasi naman, malapit
na ang summer, pero madalas, malamig dito sa Davao. And yes, isa yan sa mga resulta ng
global warming. Kaya kayo, isip na kayo ng mga ways kung paano makakatulong sa
environment. Nakaka-takot kaya. Baka matulad tayo sa “Day After Tomorrow”. When
nature is the one who causes the difficulty, it will unfortunately be considered as a plague.

Na-curious ka ba sa Biodegradable bags ng SM? Read more here.

SM Supermalls use more expensive plastic bags
05/08/2008 | 02:44 AM

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Although most businessmen would rather opt for cheaper and
lower overhead costs to post a bigger profit, the SM Supermalls beg to differ.

"The bags that we are using right now is 12 percent more expensive than the ordinary
plastic bags," Melbert Villanueva, assistant store manager of SM Supermarket, said in an
interview last Tuesday.

The SM Supermarket and the SM Department Store have already shifted to the use of
biodegradable plastic bags.

"We use about 300,000 large-sized plastic sando bags for our grocery and about 200,00
large-sized plastic sando bags for the department store," Villanueva said.

"This is at no extra cost to our customers," Villanueva added.

Villanueva also said the biodegradable bags now being used by the supermarket and
department stores of SM City Davao only have a life span of six months in contrast to the
100 year lifespan of ordinary plastic bags.

"The moment it is exposed to sunlight, its deterioration starts," Villanueva said.

Villanueva added that aside from the plastic bags, SM Supermarket is also encouraging the
use of the green bag, a canvass bag that can be reused instead of the plastic bags.

"There are about 1.5 million green bags that have already been released," Villanueva said.

Plastic recycling symbols

Plastic can take up to 500 years to degrade if not recycled  

There are many different types plastic and it is a difficult and expensive material to
recycle.   We currently offer collections of some plastic items via your recycling collection
box, at the Household Waste Recycling Centres and at the bring banks. 

The following symbols are displayed on packaging and will assist you in identifying what
the material is and if it is suitable for recycling:
 
Symbol Polymer type Examples Recyclable?

These tend to be transparent  Green recycling box

bottles that can be easily  Household Waste
squashed: Recycling Centre
PET  Local recycling
 Fizzy drinks bottles points
 Mineral water bottles
Polyethylene
Terepthalate  Bottles for squash
 Cooking oil containers
 Oven-ready meal trays 

These tend to be opaque and  Green recycling box

coloured bottles:  Household Waste
HDPE Recycling Centre
 Milk bottles  Local recycling
 Juice bottles points
High Density
Polyethylene  Washing up liquid
 Bath and shower bottles

These tend to be transparent  Green box

bottles that are more difficult to  Household Waste
squash.  Recycling Centre
PVC  Local recycling
 Food trays points
 Cling film
Polyvinyl
Chloride  Bottles for squash
 Mineral water
 Bath and shower bottles

Many types of packaging are  Supermarkets

made from this material:
LDPE
 Carrier bags
Low Density  Bin liners
Polyethylene

Many types of packaging are  Due to the mixture

made from this material: of compounds these
PP plastic types are
 Margarine tubs hard to recycle and
Polypropylene  microwaveable meal are not recycled by
trays Wakefield Council.
 Many types of packaging are  Due to the mixture
made from this material: of compounds these
plastic types are
 Yoghurt pots hard to recycle and
PS  fast food containers are not recycled by
 foam meat or fish trays Wakefield Council.
Polystyrene  vending cups
 protective packaging
for white goods and toys

Any other plastics that do not  Due to the mixture

OTHER fall into any of the above of compounds these
categories. plastic types are
All other resins hard to recycle and
An example is melamine, which are not recycled by
and multi-
is often used in plastic plates Wakefield Council.
materials
and cups.

 Biodegradable plastics

Biodegradable plastic bags and packaging aren't an end solution to replacing non-
degradable plastic bags in supermarkets and retails stores for the following reasons:

 They do not decompose in properly managed landfills.

 They support the throwaway mindset and the use of landfills as an acceptable

disposal method

 They do not discourage over-use in the first place.

Definitions of bioplastics:

 Compostable plastic: A plastic that undergoes biological degradation during the

composting process (up to 2-3 months in a windrow) to yield carbon dioxide, water,
inorganic compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with other known
compostable materials and leaves no visually distinguishable or toxic residues.

  Biodegradable plastic: A degradable plastic in which the degradation must result

from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms over a period of time (up to
2-3 years in a landfill).

 Degradable plastic: An oil based plastic containing a chemical additive that

undergoes significant change in its chemical structure causing it to break down into
smaller particles. The degradation process is triggered only when material is
exposed to specific environmental conditions (such as UV, heat and moisture).
 Residues are not food matter for microorganisms and are not biodegradable or
compostable.

Examples of bioplastics:

 Scion (Rotorua, NZ) has developed a range of commercial biodegradable plastic

formulations compounded in NZ, using commercial bioplastics such as poly lactic
acid (PLA) and others, which intelligently or programmably biodegrade in soil or
other environments. Such products (eg plastic moulding compounds or
masterbatches for extrusion or injection moulding etc) are now available on a
commercial basis through a NZ manufacturer. Scion develops new materials and
formulations for biodegradable plastics and other functional bioplastics by using
renewable biobased resources and their process residues as sources of chemical or
polymer additives. Such additives are also useful in other polymer products such as
adhesives, coatings, foams, or composites and fibre based materials.  Scion has
extensive experience in testing and formulation of biodegradable plastics and
bioplastics.
For more information click here or contact Alan Fernyhough at the Scion.
alan.fernyhough@scionresearch.com
 New Zealand Potato Plate Company, based in Blenheim, makes "100%
biodegradable and compostable" disposable packaging, such as plates, from potato
starch. Its products are sold through supermarket chains Progressive and
Foodstuffs in the South Island. The company is promoting the products as being
suitable for all fast food, microwave, and freezer use and says that they have
excellent insulation qualities and fully degrade in days after use.  All products are
made from food-grade raw materials with no preservatives or toxins of any form.
The used product is put straight on the compost heap and worm bin or fed to pigs. 
For more information on biodegradable and compostable food packaging go to
www.potatopak.com and www.earthshell.com 
 Novamont, Italy manufactures Mater-Bi. Their promotional material says that it is
a new generation of bioplastics derived mainly from natural renewable resources,
including starch. Minimizing environmental impact it maintains the same
characteristics of plastics but is "completely biodegradable within a composting
cycle". www.novamont.com
 The Cooperative Research Centre for International Food Manufacture and
Packaging Science (Melbourne) says it has developed "the most advanced
biodegradable packaging in the world", made from cornstarch. It eventually
disintegrates when exposed to water and in the long term disappears completely.
This product would be suited to some aspects of putrescible collections, food
packaging and farming. (Ref: www.theage.com.au)
 Plantic Technologies, Australia, has developed Bioplastic packaging –
"biodegradable" food packaging that it says is cheap enough to compete with
conventional plastic. The cornstarch–based material has the look, feel and flexibility
of conventional plastic and can be used for a range of items, from cellophane to
plant pots and medical devices. It biodegrades at 33 degrees Fahrenheit, after
exposure to both moisture and microorganisms in the soil. (Ref. Wired, 26/06/02)
Other contacts and resources

 'Green Plastics: An Introduction to the new science of Biodegradable Plastics, 'E.S.

Stevens
 The Institute for Local Self Reliance created the 'Carbohydrate Economy
Clearinghouse' to provide accessible, up-to-date information spanning all facets of
the 'carbohydrate economy'. (Carbohydrates, the building blocks of plant matter,
can be converted into chemicals, energy, textiles, building materials, paper, and
many other industrial products. They call this new materials base a 'carbohydrate
economy'.)    Go to www.carbohydrateeconomy.org for more details. Go to the
search function and type in packaging and here you will find comprehensive
information on plant matter-based products, cutting edge companies (and
cooperatives) producing them and reports on developments in this rapidly
expanding field.
 The International Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a multi-stakeholder
association of key individuals and groups from government, industry and academia
which promotes the use and recovery of biodegradable polymeric materials. BPI
aims to accomplish this goal through education, adoption of scientifically based
standards and cooperative activities with other organizations in the USA, Canada,
Europe and Japan. Ever since the introduction of 'biodegradable plastics' fifteen
years ago, confusion and scepticism about claims and product performance has
prevailed. This situation stems largely from plastic products that did not biodegrade
as expected, yet were able to make claims because no scientifically based test
methods and standards existed. However, along with the advancement of
technology, standards have been developed.   The 'Compostable Logo' has been
designed for consumers, composters, regulators and others to reduce confusion
about bioplastics. It is a recognisable brand (that can be placed on the actual
product, packaging materials and sales literature) and builds credibility and
recognition for products that meet the American Society for Testing and Materials
Standards.Go to www.bpiworld.org for more details.

Plastic Dangers

Common Plastics in the Home

Plastic Dangers - A deeper look at some of the common plastics found in the home interior:
PET, PETE, HDPE, LDPE, EPS, PC, PU, ABS, Melamine.

Polyethylene-Terephthalate (PET, PETE)

Category 1, clear, tough, durable, shatterproof, able to contain carbon dioxide, carbonates
soft drinks, obstructs oxygen, water and carbon dioxide. American Chemistry Council,
PET has been approved as safe by the FDA and the International Life Sciences Institute
(ILSI) when for single use.
Building block: Ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate
Additives: UV stabilizers and flame retardants
Plastic Dangers Health: Liver problems, reproductive problems, linked to cancer.
Leaching: Reuse causes leaching into food and water, water left in containers for long
periods release higher concentration levels of antimony. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Packaging, drink bottles, salad dressing bottles, mouthwash bottles, food jars,
microwave dishes soft drink, juice, water, beer, mouthwash, peanut butter, salad dressing,
detergent and cleaner containers.
Recyclable: High recycling rate
Recycled products: Bags, food and non-food containers, fabric, trainers, luggage,
upholstery, furniture, carpet, sleeping bag stuffing, coat filling, industrial strapping, sheet,
and film, car parts (luggage racks, bumper, grill, door panels), fuse boxes

High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Category 2, tough, strong, moisture resistance, chemical resistance, suitable for packaging
products that have a short life span. Easy to form and process, gas permeable.
Building block: Carbon and hydrogen
Plastic Dangers Health/Leaching: Documented as safe according to guidelines. Offgasses
VOCs
Products: Opaque milk cartons, water bottles, juice cartons, household product bottles,
personal care bottles, bin bags, pipes, tiles, cling film, plastic sheets, buckets, recycling bins,
plastic crates.
Recyclable: Yes
Recycled products: Drainage pipe, liquid laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens,
benches, doghouses, recycling containers, floor tile, picnic tables, fencing, lumber, and
mailbox posts.

Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Category 4, tough, flexible material, opaque/translucent, strong, good chemical resistance,
breakable.
Building block: Carbon and hydrogen
Additives: Solvents
Plastic Dangers Health/Leaching: Documented as safe according to guidelines. Offgasses
VOCs
Products: Flexible bottles, bin bags, cling film, lining of milk cartons, packaging, toys,
plastic food bags.
Recyclable: Yes
Recycled products: Bin liners, furniture, panels, bins, lumber, sheets & film, composters,
PC parts, playground slides, worktops.

Polystyrene (PS) Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)

Category 6, known as Styrofoam, can be manufactured as a foam or rigid. Good insulator

at low temperatures, low density, low weight, highly flammable, foam ignites easily.
Polystyrene in cavity wall insulation and building materials must conform to fire
regulations.
Building block: Benzene, styrene, 1,3-butadiene
Plastic Dangers Health: Benzene is a known carcinogen. Combined butadiene and styrene
(in ABS) take on the characteristics of benzene. Reproductive & development problems,
neural and nervous system problems, hormone disrupter, Polystyrene is linked to cancer.
Environment: Production vapours erode ozone. Foam does not easily decompose, it is a
major contributor to marine debris and recorded to cause starvation to marine wildlife and
birds. A report detailed that EPS is second place in materials that have the highest
environmental impact. Many US states have banned Polystyrene. Present in second hand
cigarette smoke and car exhaust fumes.
Leaching: Leaches styrene into the air. Leaches into food containers where hot oil is
present in food.
Products: Foam insulation, building materials, furniture foam packaging, electronics,
packaging, disposable cups, take away containers, disposable cutlery, CD case, cups, plates,
bowls, trays, bottles, egg boxes Recyclable: Difficult to recycle, low scrap value, easier to
recycle than PVC
Recycled products: Light switches, insulation, vents, packing, takeaway containers, rulers,
egg boxes.

Polycarbonate (PC)
Category 7, polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, 6 billion pounds of BPA are produced
and used annually. Lightweight, hard, clear, durable, break resistance, single use or
refillable
Building block: Bisphenol A (BPA)
Additives: Highly toxic phosgene, derived from chlorine gas. Requires solvents for
production; methylene chloride, a carcinogen, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethylene,
tetrachloroethane and chlorobenzene.
Plastic Dangers Health: Neural and behavioural effects, genetic damage, hormone
disrupter, female reproductive problems, enlargement of reproductive organs, effects child
growth, insulin resistance, inflammation and heart disease. Foetus exposure is linked to
breast cancer as an adult. Detected in 93% of urine samples, highest rate present in
children and infants due to objects being put in their mouth e.g. dummies, baby bottles.
Detected in breast milk, blood of pregnant women.
Leaching: Heating releases more toxins than room temperature. Strong cleaners increase
leaching rate. Offgasses VOCs
Recyclable: Can be downcycled into lower grade products or mixed with virgin materials.
Products: CDs, refillable milk bottles, plastic utensils, drinking glasses, tin can lining,
microwave dishes, disposable water bottles, refillable water bottles, food storage
containers. Epoxy resins are used to line metal products such as canned foods, bottle tops,
and water supply pipes.
Alternatives: BPA free plastic, ‘Tritan copolyester’
Polyurethane (PU)
Not categorised in the original resin identification system. Highly flammable and highly
toxic
Building block: Organic compounds containing carboxyl groups, polyols and diisocyanates.

Additives: Stabilisers, foamed products contain chemical catalysts, surfactants, emulsifiers,

pigments, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and organotin compounds.
Plastic Dangers Health: Incineration releases hazardous chemicals; isocyanates, carbon
dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, PAHs and dioxins. Hazardous by-products; phosgene,
isocyanates, toluene, diamines, and methylene chloride gas, CFCs (both ozone-depleting),
halogenated flame retardants and pigments. Leaching: Documented as safe according to
guidelines. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Insulation, soft foam, mattresses, surface coatings, carpet, underlay, car
interiors, sealants, lining, adhesives, ceiling installations, flooring, mouldings, moulded
furniture.
Recyclable: Yes
Alternatives: Now include 20% soy based foam (non toxic, non fossil fuel, renewable
material, soy foam is not biodegradable), the remaining 80% is made of PU. Spray
Polyurethane Foam (SPF) used for building insulation is not known to contain
formaldehyde, ozone depleting chemicals or leach into the air or earth (studies ongoing). A
new modified polyurethane plastic has been developed that sinks to the sea bottom and
degrades in sea water in 20 days (similar to dissolvable stitches). This combats the damage
to marine life from marine waste.

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
Not categorised in the original resin identification system. ABS is a plastic resin, hard,
impervious and resilient. Good heat, impact and chemical resistance. Degrades when
exposed to acetone.
Building block: Acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene
Plastic Dangers Health: Highly toxic in vapour and liquid form, all three substances are
associated carcinogens.
Leaching: Leaches into the body through the skin and inhalation. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Guttering, plumbing pipes, drainage pipes, car bumpers, electronic equipment
cases
Recyclable: Yes
Recyclable products: Downcycled into lesser grade products e.g. ground into flakes and
processed into casing, garden furniture
Melamine (thermosetting plastic)

Not categorised in the original resin identification system. Fire resistant, fire barrier,
versatile, stable, easy to mould when warm, cured by cool temperatures.
Building block: Melamine, formaldehyde, urea
Plastic Dangers Health: Recorded as the cause of pet death through food contamination
(wheat gluten) with symptoms of renal failure.
Leaching: Dishware not suited to high temperatures as begins to break down.
Products: Floor and wall tiles, fire retardant fabrics and upholstery, white boards,
commercial filters, foam, Formica heat resistant worktop, mixed with composite materials,
splashback
Recyclable: Difficult to recycle, decomposes with heat exposure

Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in natural aerobic (composting) and
anaerobic (landfill) environments. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling
microorganisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to
produce an inert humus-like material that is less harmful to the environment. They may be
composed of either bioplastics, which are plastics whose components are derived from
renewable raw materials, or petroleum-based plastics which utilize an additive. The use of bio-
active compounds compounded with swelling agents ensures that, when combined with heat and
moisture, they expand the plastic's molecular structure and allow the bio-active compounds to
metabolize and neutralize the plastic.

Biodegradable plastics typically are produced in two forms: injection molded (solid, 3D shapes),
typically in the form of disposable food service items, and films, typically organic fruit
packaging and collection bags for leaves and grass trimmings, and agricultural mulch.

Scientific definitions of biodegradable plastic

In the United States, ASTM International is the authoritative body for defining biodegradable
standards. The specific subcommittee responsibility for overseeing these standards falls on the
Committee D20.96 on Environmentally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products [1]. The
current ASTM standards are defined as standard specifications and standard test methods.
Standard specifications create a pass or fail scenario whereas standard test methods identify the
specific testing parameters for facilitating specific biodegradable tests on plastics.

Currently, there are three such ASTM standard specifications which mostly address
biodegradable plastics in composting type environments, the ASTM D6400-04 Standard
Specification for Compostable Plastics,[2] ASTM D6868 - 03 Standard Specification for
Biodegradable Plastics Used as Coatings on Paper and Other Compostable Substrates,[3] and the
ASTM D7081 - 05 Standard Specification for Non-Floating Biodegradable Plastics in the Marine
Environment.[4]
Currently the most accurate standard test method for anaerobic environments is the ASTM
D5511 - 02 Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic
Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions.[5] Another standard test method
for testing in anaerobic environments is the ASTM D5526 - 94(2002) Standard Test Method for
Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Accelerated Landfill
Conditions,[6] this test has proven extremely difficult to perform.

The current California legislation AB 1972 ensures accurate environmental advertising of

plastics by allowing only the use of terms that can be verified by an American Society for
Testing Materials (ASTM) standard specification. This legislation does not include ASTM
standard test methods. The two ASTM standard specifications which are used in the legislation
are ASTM D6400 and D7081. Products passing these ASTM specifications can use the term
compostable on the product label.[7]

[edit] Environmental benefits of biodegradable plastics depend upon proper

disposal

Biodegradable plastics are not a panacea, however. Some critics claim that a potential
environmental disadvantage of certified biodegradable plastics is that the carbon that is locked
up in them is released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas. However, biodegradable plastics
from natural materials, such as vegetable crop derivatives or animal products, sequester CO2
during the phase when they're growing, only to release CO2 when they're decomposing, so there
is no net gain in carbon dioxide emissions[citation needed].

However, certified biodegradable plastics require a specific environment of moisture and oxygen
to biodegrade, conditions found in professionally managed composting facilities. There is much
debate about the total carbon, fossil fuel and water usage in processing biodegradable plastics
from natural materials and whether they are a negative impact to human food supply. Traditional
plastics made from non-renewable fossil fuels lock up much of the carbon in the plastic as
opposed to being utilized in the processing of the plastic. The carbon is permanently trapped
inside the plastic lattice, and is rarely recycled.

There is concern that another greenhouse gas, methane, might be released when any
biodegradable material, including truly biodegradable plastics, degrades in an anaerobic (landfill)
environment. Methane production from these specially managed landfill environments are
typically captured and burned to negate the release of methane in the environment. Some
landfills today capture the methane biogas for use in clean inexpensive energy. Of course,
incinerating non-biodegradable plastics will release carbon dioxide as well. Disposing of
biodegradable plastics made from natural materials in anaerobic (landfill) environments will
result in the plastic lasting for hundred of years.

The US EPA has mandated strict standards for landfill design and construction to prevent
biodegradation in a landfill in the first place. The intentional production of methane from
landfills is, therefore, the rare exception and not the rule for most municipal solid waste.
It is also possible that bacteria will eventually develop the ability to degrade plastics. This has
already happened with nylon: two types of nylon eating bacteria, Flavobacteria and
Pseudomonas, were found in 1975 to possess enzymes (nylonase) capable of breaking down
nylon. While not a solution to the disposal problem, it is likely that bacteria will evolve the
ability to use other synthetic plastics as well. In 2008, a 16-year-old boy reportedly isolated two
plastic-consuming bacteria.[8]

The latter possibility was in fact the subject of a cautionary novel by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis
(screenwriter), the creators of the Cybermen, re-using the plot of the first episode of their
Doomwatch series. The novel, Mutant 59: The Plastic Eater, written in 1971, is the story of what
could happen if a bacterium were to evolve—or be artificially cultured—to eat plastics, and be
let loose in a major city.

[edit] Mechanisms

Materials such as a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer are completely compostable in an

industrial compost facility. Polylactic acid (PLA) is another 100% compostable biopolymer
which can fully degrade above 60C in an industrial composting facility. Fully biodegradable
plastics are more expensive, partly because they are not widely enough produced to achieve large
economies of scale.

Certain additives when added to conventional plastics attract the microbes to the molecular
structure by allowing the hydrocarbons to be sensed once again by microbial colonies. When oil
is in the ground, the microbes attach themselves onto the hydrocarbons consuming the oil and
creating natural gas, 50% of which is methane gas. When the oil is cracked 4% is used for the
plastic industry, if the plastic industry did not use this 4% the 4% would be considered waste and
be thrown away or removed and dumped into a waste disposal facility, another 4% is used in the
generation of your consumer product. During this phase of cracking the organic compound
which attracts the microbes to the molecular structure of the plastic is burnt out. The organic
compound which is burnt out and other proprietary compounds which increase quorum sensing
of the microbes and pH balance for the microbes are placed into the molecular structure of the
plastic, to create a plastic product that can biodegrade 100 times faster than normal plastic.

[edit] Advantages and disadvantages

Under proper conditions biodegradable plastics can degrade to the point where microorganisms
can metabolise them.

Degradation of oil-based biodegradable plastics may release previously stored carbon as carbon
dioxide. Starch-based bioplastics produced from sustainable farming methods can be almost
carbon neutral but could have a damaging effect on soil, water usage and quality, and result in
higher food prices.
[edit] Environmental concerns; benefits

Over 200 million tons of plastic are manufactured annually around the world, according to the
Society of Plastics Engineers.[9][unreliable source?] Of those 200 million tons, 26 million are
manufactured in the United States. The EPA reported in 2003 that only 5.8% of those 26 million
tons of plastic waste are recycled, although this is increasing rapidly.

Much of the reason for disappointing plastics recycling goals is that conventional plastics are
often commingled with organic wastes (food scraps, wet paper, and liquids), making it difficult
and impractical to recycle the underlying polymer without expensive cleaning and sanitizing
procedures.

On the other hand, composting of these mixed organics (food scraps, yard trimmings, and wet,
non-recyclable paper) is a potential strategy for recovering large quantities of waste and
dramatically increase community recycling goals. Food scraps and wet, non-recyclable paper
comprises 50 million tons of municipal solid waste.[10]. Biodegradable plastics can replace the
non-degradable plastics in these waste streams, making municipal composting a significant tool
to divert large amounts of otherwise nonrecoverable waste from landfills.

If even a small amount of conventional plastics were to be commingling with organic materials,
the entire batch of organic waste is "contaminated" with small bits of plastic that spoil prime-
quality compost humus. Composters, therefore, will not accept mixed organic waste streams
unless they are completely devoid of nondegradable plastics. So, because of a relatively small
quantity of nondegradable plastics, a significant waste disposal strategy is stalled.

However, proponents of biodegradable plastics[who?] argue that these materials offer a solution to
this problem. Certified biodegradable plastics combine the utility of plastics (lightweight,
resistance, relative low cost) with the ability to completely and fully biodegrade in a compost
facility. Rather than worrying about recycling a relatively small quantity of commingled plastics,
these proponents argue that certified biodegradable plastics can be readily commingled with
other organic wastes, thereby enabling composting of a much larger position of nonrecoverable
solid waste. Commercial composting for all mixed organics then becomes commercially viable
and economically sustainable. More municipalities can divert significant quantities of waste from
overburdened landfills since the entire waste stream is now biodegradable and therefore easier to
process.

The use of biodegradable plastics, therefore, is seen as an enabler for the complete recovery of
large quantities of municipal sold waste (via aerobic composting) that were are heretofore
unrecoverable by other means except land filling or incineration.

[edit] Confusion over proper definition of terms

Until recently there were few legal standards regarding marketing claims surrounding the use of
the term 'biodegradable'. In 2007, the state of California passed regulation banning companies
from claiming their products are biodegradable without proper scientific certification from a
third-party laboratory.
The Federal Court of Australia declared on March 30, 2009 that a director of a company that
manufactured 'biodegradable' disposable diapers (who also approved the company's advertising)
had been knowingly making false and misleading claims about biodegradability[11].

In June 2009, the Federal Trade Commission charged two companies with making unsupported
marketing claims regarding biodegradability.[12]

[edit] Energy costs for production

Various researchers have undertaken extensive life cycle assessments of biodegradable polymers
to determine whether these materials are more energy efficient than polymers made by
conventional fossil fuel-based means. Research done by Gerngross, et al. estimates that the fossil
fuel energy required to produce a kilogram of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is 50.4 MJ/kg,[13][14]
which coincides with another estimate by Akiyama, et al.[15], who estimate a value between 50-
59 MJ/kg. This information does not take into account the feedstock energy, which can be
obtained from non-fossil fuel based methods. Polylactide (PLA) was estimated to have a fossil
fuel energy cost of 54-56.7 from two sources[16][17], but recent developments in the commercial
production of PLA by NatureWorks has eliminated some dependence fossil fuel based energy by
supplanting it with wind power and biomass-driven strategies. They report making a kilogram of
PLA with only 27.2 MJ of fossil fuel-based energy and anticipate that this number will drop to
16.6 MJ/kg in their next generation plants. In contrast, polypropylene and high density
polyethylene require 85.9 and 73.7 MJ/kg respectively[18], but these values include the embedded
energy of the feedstock because it is based on fossil fuel.

Gerngross reports a 2.65 total fossil fuel energy equivalent (FFE) required to produce a single
kilogram of PHA, while polypropylene only requires 2.2 kg FFE[19]. Gerngross assesses that the
decision to proceed forward with any biodegradable polymer alternative will need to take into
account the priorities of society with regard to energy, environment, and economic cost.

Furthermore, it is important to realize the youth of alternative technologies. Technology to

produce PHA, for instance, is still in development today, and energy consumption can be further
reduced by eliminating the fermentation step,[20] or by utilizing food waste as feedstock.[21] The
use of alternative crops other than corn, such as sugar cane from Brazil, are expected to lower
energy requirements- manufacturing of PHAs by fermentation in Brazil enjoys a favorable
energy consumption scheme where bagasse is used as source of renewable energy.[22]

Many biodegradable polymers that come from renewable resources (i.e., starch-based, PHA,
PLA) also compete with food production, as the primary feedstock is currently corn. For the US
to meet its current output of plastics production with BPs, it would require 1.62 square meters
per kilogram produced[23]. While this space requirement could be feasible, it is always important
to consider how much impact this large scale production could have on food prices and the
opportunity cost of using land in this fashion versus alternatives.

Biodegradable bags are bags made from materials that are able to decompose under specified
conditions of light, moisture, and oxygen.[1] Every year approximately 500 billion to 1 trillion
plastic bags are used worldwide.[2] Often composting conditions or exposure to sun, moisture,
and oxygen are needed: degradation is slow in landfills. Many stores and companies are
beginning to use different types of biodegradable bags to comply with perceived environmental
benefits.[3][4]

Plastic bags can be made Oxo-biodegradable by being manufactured from normal polymer with
an additive which causes accelerated breakdown of the molecular chains, and subsequent
bioassimilation; or "Hydro-biodegradable" by being manufactured from vegetable-based
materials.

The Trade Association for the Oxo-biodegradable plastics industry is the Oxo-biodegradable
Plastics Association (www.biodeg.org), which will certify products tested according to ASTM
D6954 or (as from 1st Jan 2010) UAE 5009:2009

The Trade Associations for the Hydro-biodegradable plastics industry are the Biodegradable
Products Institute] (BPI) "European Bioplastics" and SPIBioplastics Council" Plastics are
certified as biodegradable under composting conditions in the United States if they comply with
ASTM D6400, and in Europe EN13432.

The pros and cons of these two types of plastics will be found on the websites of the Trade
Associations as above.

The Standards appropriate to hydro-biodegradable plastics are not appropriate for oxo-
biodegradable plastics and vice-versa

[edit] Companies

Different companies use different kinds of biodegradable bags. Many stores use biodegradable
bags. Multinational baking giant Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV of Mexico City claims to have been
the first to make "Oxo Biodegradable metalized polypropylene snack bag".[5] In addition to that,
a company named "Doo Bandits" has created biodegradable bags used for picking up dog waste.
[6]
The Supermarket Chain Aldi Süd in Germany offers biodegradable Ecovio bags. Ecoflex bags
are flexible, tear-resistant, waterproof, and suitable for printing. It gives the bags renewable raw
material, making them biodegradable.[7]

All of these examples show where companies have claimed biodegradable products without
qualification of how long, conditions required, end state results, or weither the residue contains
harmful by products as outlined in the pass/fail ASTM D6400 standard. In most cases, without
clarification that these products require composting conditions to achieve endstate, the products
will be placed in traditional landfills and there will be no environmental benefits and no
improvement in degradation of the product.
[edit] Materials

Most bags are made from plastic combined with corn-based materials.[citation needed] Biodegradable
plastic bags require more plastic per bag, because the material is not as strong.[citation needed] Many
bags are also made from paper, organic materials, or polycaprolactone.[2][3][8]

"The public looks at biodegradable as something magical," even though the term is mostly
meaningless, according to Ramani Narayan, a chemical engineer at Michigan State University in
East Lansing, and science consultant to the Biodegradable Plastics Institute. "This is the most
used and abused and misused word in our dictionary right now. Simply calling something
biodegradable and not defining in what environment it is going to be biodegradable and in what
time period it is going to degrade is very misleading and deceptive." In the Great Pacific Garbage
Patch, biodegradable plastics break up into small pieces that can more easily enter the food chain
by being consumed." [9]

[edit] Recycling

In- plant scrap can often be recycled but post-consumer sorting and recycling is difficult. Many
biodegradable polymers have the potential to contaminate the recycling of other more common
polymers. Degradable bags need to be kept separate from the normal recycling stream. SPI Resin
identification code 7 is applicable.

[edit] Marketing Qualification

Since many of these plastics require access to sunlight, oxygen, or lengthy periods of time to
achieve degradation or biodegradation the Federal Trade Commission's, GUIDES FOR THE
USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS, commonly called the "green guide"[10]
require proper marking of these products to show their performance limits.

The FTC provides an example:

Example 1: A trash bag is marketed as “degradable,” with no qualification or other disclosure.

The marketer relies on soil burial tests to show that the product will decompose in the presence
of water and oxygen. The trash bags are customarily disposed of in incineration facilities or at
sanitary landfills that are managed in a way that inhibits degradation by minimizing moisture and
oxygen. Degradation will be irrelevant for those trash bags that are incinerated and, for those
disposed of in landfills, the marketer does not possess adequate substantiation that the bags will
degrade in a reasonably short period of time in a landfill. The claim is therefore deceptive

Since there are no pass fail tests for "biodegradable" plastic bags manufactures must print on the
product the environmental requirements for biodegradation to take place, time frame and end
results in order to be within US Trade Requirements.

Our whole world seems to be wrapped in plastic. Almost every product we buy, most of the food
we eat and many of the liquids we drink come encased in plastic. In Australia around 1 million
tonnes of plastic materials are produced each year and a further 587,000 tonnes are imported.
Packaging is the largest market for plastics, accounting for over a third of the consumption of
raw plastic materials – Australians use 6 billion plastic bags every year!

Plastic packaging provides excellent protection for the product, it is cheap to manufacture and
seems to last forever. Lasting forever, however, is proving to be a major environmental problem.
Another problem is that traditional plastics are manufactured from non-renewable resources –
oil, coal and natural gas.

Plastics that break down

In an effort to overcome these shortcomings, biochemical researchers and engineers have long
been seeking to develop biodegradable plastics that are made from renewable resources, such as
plants.

The term biodegradable means that a substance is able to be broken down into simpler
substances by the activities of living organisms, and therefore is unlikely to persist in the
environment. There are many different standards used to measure biodegradability, with each
country having its own. The requirements range from 90 per cent to 60 per cent decomposition
of the product within 60 to 180 days of being placed in a standard composting environment.

The reason traditional plastics are not biodegradable is because their long polymer molecules are
too large and too tightly bonded together to be broken apart and assimilated by decomposer
organisms. However, plastics based on natural plant polymers derived from wheat or corn starch
have molecules that are readily attacked and broken down by microbes.

Plastics can be produced from starch

Starch is a natural polymer. It is a white, granular carbohydrate produced by plants during

photosynthesis and it serves as the plant's energy store. Cereal plants and tubers normally contain
starch in large proportions. Starch can be processed directly into a bioplastic but, because it is
soluble in water, articles made from starch will swell and deform when exposed to moisture,
limiting its use. This problem can be overcome by modifying the starch into a different polymer.
First, starch is harvested from corn, wheat or potatoes, then microorganisms transform it into
lactic acid, a monomer. Finally, the lactic acid is chemically treated to cause the molecules of
lactic acid to link up into long chains or polymers, which bond together to form a plastic called
polylactide (PLA).

PLA can be used for products such as plant pots and disposable nappies. It has been
commercially available since 1990, and certain blends have proved successful in medical
implants, sutures and drug delivery systems because of their capacity to dissolve away over time.
However, because PLA is significantly more expensive than conventional plastics it has failed to
win widespread consumer acceptance.

Plastics can also be produced by bacteria

Another way of making biodegradable polymers involves getting bacteria to produce granules of
a plastic called polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) inside their cells. Bacteria are simply grown in
culture, and the plastic is then harvested. Going one step further, scientists have taken genes from
this kind of bacteria and stitched them into corn plants, which then manufacture the plastic in
their own cells.

What’s the cost?

Unfortunately, as with PLA, PHA is significantly more expensive to produce and, as yet, it is not
having any success in replacing the widespread use of traditional petrochemical plastics.

Indeed, biodegradable plastic products currently on the market are from 2 to 10 times more
expensive than traditional plastics. But environmentalists argue that the cheaper price of
traditional plastics does not reflect their true cost when their full impact is considered. For
example, when we buy a plastic bag we don’t pay for its collection and waste disposal after we
use it. If we added up these sorts of associated costs, traditional plastics would cost more and
biodegradable plastics might be more competitive (Box 1: Life cycle analysis).

Biodegradable and affordable

If cost is a major barrier to the uptake of biodegradable plastics, then the solution lies in
investigating low-cost options to produce them. In Australia, the Cooperative Research Centre
(CRC) for International Food Manufacture and Packaging Science is looking at ways of using
basic starch, which is cheap to produce, in a variety of blends with other more expensive
biodegradable polymers to produce a variety of flexible and rigid plastics. These are being made
into ‘film’ and ‘injection moulded’ products such as plastic wrapping, shopping bags, bread
bags, mulch films and plant pots.

Mulch film from biodegradable plastics

The CRC has developed a mulch film for farmers. Mulch films are laid over the ground around
crops, to control weed growth and retain moisture. Normally, farmers use polyethylene black
plastic that is pulled up after harvest and trucked away to a landfill (taking with it topsoil humus
that sticks to it). However, field trials using the biodegradable mulch film on tomato and
capsicum crops have shown it performs just as well as polyethylene film but can simply be
ploughed into the ground after harvest. It’s easier, cheaper and it enriches the soil with carbon.

Pots you can plant

Another biodegradable plastic product is a plant pot produced by injection moulding. Gardeners
and farmers can place potted plants directly into the ground, and forget them. The pots will break
down to carbon dioxide and water, eliminating double handling and recycling of conventional
plastic containers.

Different polymer blends for different products

Depending on the application, scientists can alter polymer mixtures to enhance the properties of
the final product. For example, an almost pure starch product will dissolve upon contact with
water and then biodegrade rapidly. By blending quantities of other biodegradable plastics into
the starch, scientists can make a waterproof product that degrades within 4 weeks after it has
been buried in the soil or composted.

Landfill sites aren't compost heaps

To maximise the benefit of the new bioplastics we’ll have to modify the way we throw away our
garbage – to simply substitute new plastics for old won’t be saving space in our landfills.

Although there is a popular misconception that biodegradable materials break down in landfill
sites, they don't. Rubbish deposited in landfill is compressed and sealed under tonnes of soil.
This minimises oxygen and moisture, which are essential requirements for microbial
decomposition. For biodegradable plastics to effectively decompose they need to be treated like
compost.

Composting the packaging with its contents

Compost may be the key to maximising the real environmental benefit of biodegradable plastics.
One of the big impediments to composting our organic waste is that it is so mixed up with non-
degradable plastic packaging that it is uneconomic to separate them. Consequently, the entire
mixed waste-stream ends up in landfill. Organic waste makes up almost half the components of
landfill in Australia.

By ensuring that biodegradable plastics are used to package all our organic produce, it may well
be possible in the near future to set up large-scale composting lines in which packaging and the
material it contains can be composted as one. The resulting compost could be channelled into
plant production, which in turn might be redirected into growing the starch to produce more
biodegradable plastics.

An Olympic effort – recycling 76 per cent of waste

For anyone who thinks such schemes aren’t feasible, you only have to look at the recycling
success of the Sydney Olympics to see that where there’s a will, there’s a way. More than 660
tonnes of waste was generated each day at its many venues. Of this, an impressive 76 per cent
was collected and recycled. Part of this success was due to the use of biodegradable plastics used
in the packaging of fast food, making the composting of food scraps an economic proposition as
it eliminated the need for expensive separation of packaging waste prior to processing.

With intelligent use, these new plastics have the potential to reduce plastic litter, decrease the
quantities of plastic waste going into landfills and increase the recycling of other organic
components that would normally end up in landfills.
What is biodegradable plastic made of?
they may be composed of either bioplastics, which are plastics whose components are derived from
renewable raw materials, or petroleum-based plastics. The use of bio-active compounds compounded
with swelling agents ensures that, when combined with heat and moisture, they expand the plastic's
molecular structure and allow the bio-active compounds to metabolise and neutralize the plastic.
Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling microorganisms in the environment to
metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus-like material that is less
harmful to the environment.

Bioplastics (also called organic plastics) are a form of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources,
such as vegetable oil, corn starch, pea starch or microbiota.

Degradation of petroleum-based biodegradable plastics may release of previously stored carbon as

carbon dioxide. Materials such as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer are completely
biodegradable. Fully biodegradable plastics are more expensive, partly because they are not widely
enough produced to achieve large economies of scale.

Where can we put all those plastics?

Plastics and recycling have a complicated relationship. All plastics are technically recyclable.
But in the real world, plastics recycling...

Recycling resources

Common plastics used in packaging:

• Symbol #1 PETE or PET: Polyethylene terephthalate. Main use: Beverage bottles.

• Symbol #2 HDPE: High-density polyethylene. Main uses: Bottles, bags.

• Symbol #3 V or PVC: Polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl. Main uses: Bags, wraps.

• Symbol #4 LDPE: Low-density polyethylene. Main use: Bags.

• Symbol #5 PP: Polypropylene. Main uses: Food tubs, caps.

• Symbol #6 PS: Polystyrene (often called Styrofoam). Main uses: Food trays, packing.

• Symbol #7 Other: Usually polycarbonate, or bio-based plastics. Main use: Bottles.

Plastics and recycling have a complicated relationship. All plastics are technically recyclable.
But in the real world, plastics recycling has many limitations.

Plastics recycling seems to confuse and frustrate consumers more than any other type of
recycling. Plastic products and packaging permeate our society, and most plastics come from
fossil fuels. So plastic recycling does matter. Here's what you should know:

• Plastics lag behind. Nationally, less than 6 percent of all waste plastic gets recycled, compared
with recycling rates of 50 percent for paper, 37 percent for metals and 22 percent for glass, says
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Plastic bottles have the highest recycling level among consumer plastics, at 24 percent, according
to the American Chemistry Council. Polyvinyl chloride, a plastic under scrutiny because of
health concerns, has a recycling rate below 1 percent, says Consumers Union.

Reasons for low national plastics recycling rates include the complexity of sorting and
processing, unfavorable economics and consumer confusion about which plastics can be
recycled.

Unlike aluminum cans or cardboard boxes, plastic containers seldom get recycled back into new
containers. Instead, waste plastic must be "downcycled" into secondary recycled products such
as textiles and composite lumber for decking.

• Logos can mislead. In 1988, the plastics industry introduced logos and numbers for plastics
used in packaging (see box). The stated intent was to make it easier to identify plastics for
recycling. Not surprisingly, some consumers see the familiar "chasing-arrows" recycling logo on
a plastic item and assume they can recycle it. But many plastics emblazoned with the logo —
such as big chunks of polystyrene (Styrofoam) packing material or lids for plastic containers —
are not accepted by residential recycling programs, due to high processing costs and lack of
markets.
Recycling resources

Common plastics used in packaging:

• Symbol #1 PETE or PET: Polyethylene terephthalate. Main use: Beverage bottles.

• Symbol #2 HDPE: High-density polyethylene. Main uses: Bottles, bags.

• Symbol #3 V or PVC: Polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl. Main uses: Bags, wraps.

• Symbol #4 LDPE: Low-density polyethylene. Main use: Bags.

• Symbol #5 PP: Polypropylene. Main uses: Food tubs, caps.

• Symbol #6 PS: Polystyrene (often called Styrofoam). Main uses: Food trays, packing.

• Symbol #7 Other: Usually polycarbonate, or bio-based plastics. Main use: Bottles.

To add to the confusion, certain plastics with the same number cannot be recycled together
because they require a different heating and molding process.

Several Seattle-area recycling programs now tell residents to ignore the numbers. Recycling
programs often keep things simple by asking for "all plastic bottles" or "plastic bottles and round
dairy tubs," for example.

Always check with your program to confirm the materials it accepts.

• Lids and caps go in the garbage. No area recycling programs accept plastic caps or lids.
Leaving the cap on a plastic bottle also makes collection and processing more difficult, because
the bottle cannot easily be flattened and takes up more space. But you don't need to remove
labels or the small plastic rings on the necks when you recycle plastic bottles.

• The Others don't mix well. Plastic containers labeled "Other," or #7, are usually
polycarbonate. But an increasing number is made from new bioplastics, such as corn-based
polylactic acid, or PLA. Although bioplastics will not easily degrade in a modern landfill,
municipal composting programs could some day accept them. Keep all #7 containers, including
PLA, out of your recycling bin.

• Bags have a future. A strong recycling market exists for plastic bags. Some residential
recycling programs accept "bags of bags," but the recycling industry can deal with them better if
you take them back to grocery-store collection bins. Never put a loose bag in your recycling bin;
it can clog equipment at the sorting plant. Don't recycle plastic bags marked "biodegradable"
unless specifically approved by the recycler.
• Reducing and reusing trump recycling. Save money and conserve resources with a reusable
water bottle (metal and #2 or #4 plastic are best). Single-use beverage bottles, usually #1, are not
designed for long-term reuse.

Reduce the number of plastic bags you accept, and reuse them, or use durable tote bags.

Polystyrene packing peanuts cannot easily be recycled, but some shipping stores accept them for
reuse.

Plastic plant pots also are not normally recycled, but a few area nurseries take them back to use
again.

Biodegradable Plastic

The quest for impermanence

In the mid-1990s, a certain mail-order computer retailer announced that it was abandoning
Styrofoam (polystyrene) packing peanuts in its shipments and switching to environmentally
friendly cornstarch peanuts instead. The new filler material, they explained, was not merely
biodegradable, it would dissolve almost instantly in water. Some of my coworkers and I
wondered if that meant you could eat them too. So, naturally, when our next order arrived from
that company, the first thing we did was to pop the cornstarch peanuts in our mouths. All right,
in retrospect, I suppose that was a bit stupid. It did not cause any ill effects as far as I can tell, but
still…who knows where that cornstarch has been? So I do not recommend that you try this
yourself. Nevertheless, we’d proven that this new packing material did, as advertised, dissolve
quite readily, and we were all happy that we’d no longer drown in a sea of Styrofoam.

Remarkably, even though cornstarch packing peanuts are much more common today, most of the
packages I get in the mail are still filled with Styrofoam. I suppose the charitable view is that I’m
watching recycling in action: no doubt these very pellets have been used countless times before,
and (if I keep with the program) will be used countless times again. But even if true, that’s
somehow unsatisfying. I really don’t want the burden of storing (or recycling) the filler from
every box I get. I’d like it all to go away—preferably, in some responsible manner.

Having a Breakdown

Resistance to decomposition is often a virtue; you don’t want, say, your garbage can to
disintegrate in the rain. But for items that are intended to be used only briefly, this robustness can
be a problem. Hundreds of years from now, empty plastic bottles—not to mention discarded
electronic devices, toys, and everything else—will still be pretty much intact deep in landfills all
over the world. And although recycling helps considerably, it’s simply not practical or
reasonable to expect that no recyclable goods will ever end up in the trash. So the next-best thing
—and, in many instances, the very best thing—is plastic that will decompose.

But allow me to digress for a moment. Words like “decompose,” “disintegrate,” “degrade,” and
“biodegrade” do not all mean the same thing. Suppose you put a piece of plastic in a compost
heap and found no visible trace of it six months later—does that mean it has biodegraded? And if
so, can we safely say we’re talking about an environmentally safe product? The answer to both
questions is “not necessarily.” Some so-called “biodegradable” plastics, for instance, are made of
a blend of starch derivatives and conventional petroleum-based polymers. The action of bacteria
in warm, moist soil breaks down the starches in these materials, but leaves countless tiny
particles of plastic that have a mass only slightly less than that of the original product. And all
those parts that don’t break down continue taking up space without contributing any nutrients to
the soil—in fact, they may actually contribute toxins. So what we’re looking for in a truly
“green” plastic is one that can either decompose completely via microbial digestion (into such
products as water and carbon dioxide), or at the very least, leave only inert substances behind.

Natural Wonders

The thing is, this is generally not in the nature (so to speak) of synthetic polymers. The
interesting solutions, therefore, are largely to be found in biopolymers, a class of materials that
look, feel, and act like the plastics we all know and love, but which, owing to their natural
sources, can also serve as food for bacteria. Products made directly from cornstarch, other
starches, or cellulose certainly fit that description. And such materials, which are used not only
for packing peanuts but for things like fast-food containers, do show a great deal of promise. But
if you’re looking for something bacteria might like to eat, how about the food they make
themselves?

Many different kinds of bacteria (and other organisms, for that matter) create a substance known
as polyhydroxybutyrate, or PHB, that they store as an energy source in much the same way
humans store fat. PHB, it turns out, is a rather versatile plastic. It can be produced in quantity
quite quickly simply by feeding sugar to the right kinds of bacteria in what amounts to a
fermentation process; it can also be produced by genetically modified plants (including a type of
potato). Because it is, in fact, a bacterial food product, it’s completely biodegradable. Another
often-mentioned biopolymer is polylactic acid, or PLA, made from lactic acid—which, in turn, is
produced by the fermentation of cornstarch.
Surprisingly enough, a few petroleum-based synthetic polymers, such as polycaprolactone, can
also decompose by way of microbial action. But the appeal of using plant derivatives as the
source of plastics is that they’re renewable: you can “grow” your plastics in a field or “brew”
them in a vat—and make more whenever you want. At the moment, biopolymers such as PHB
and PLA are relatively expensive to produce, and less flexible than many synthetic plastics. And,
of course, conventional plastics are heavily entrenched in many industries. But perhaps in the
future, we’ll toss all our bottles and used packing materials into the same bin as our trash—
without guilt. Wouldn’t that be amazing? —Joe Kissell

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that nothing really “biodegrades” in a landfill? — Laura, via e-mail

Organic substances “biodegrade” when they are broken down by other living organisms (such as
enzymes and microbes) into their constituent parts, and in turn recycled by nature as the building
blocks for new life. The process can occur aerobically (with the aid of oxygen) or anaerobically
(without oxygen). Substances break down much faster under aerobic conditions, as oxygen helps
break the molecules apart.

Landfills Too Tightly Packed for Most Trash to Biodegrade

Most landfills are fundamentally anaerobic because they are compacted so tightly, and thus do
not let much air in. As such, any biodegradation that does take place does so very slowly.

“Typically in landfills, there’s not much dirt, very little oxygen, and few if any microorganisms,”
says green consumer advocate and author Debra Lynn Dadd. She cites a landfill study conducted
by University of Arizona researchers that uncovered still-recognizable 25-year-old hot dogs,
corncobs and grapes in landfills, as well as 50-year-old newspapers that were still readable.

Processing May Inhibit Biodegradation

Biodegradable items also may not break down in landfills if the industrial processing they went
through prior to their useful days converted them into forms unrecognizable by the microbes and
enzymes that facilitate biodegradation. A typical example is petroleum, which biodegrades easily
and quickly in its original form: crude oil. But when petroleum is processed into plastic, it is no
longer biodegradable, and as such can clog up landfills indefinitely.

Some manufacturers make claims that their products are photodegradable, which means that they
will biodegrade when exposed to sunlight. A popular example is the plastic “polybag” in which
many magazines now arrive protected in the mail. But the likelihood that such items will be
exposed to sunlight while buried dozens of feet deep in a landfill is little to none. And if they do
biodegrade at all, it is only likely to be into smaller pieces of plastic.

Landfill Design and Technology May Enhance Biodegradation

Some landfills are now being designed to promote biodegradation through the injection of water,
oxygen, and even microbes. But these kinds of facilities are costly to create and, as a result, have
not caught on. Another recent development involves landfills that have separate sections for
compostable materials, such as food scraps and yard waste. Some analysts believe that as much
as 65 percent of the waste currently sent to landfills in North America consists of such “biomass”
that biodegrades rapidly and could generate a new income stream for landfills: marketable soil.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is Best Solution for Landfills
But getting people to sort their trash accordingly is another matter entirely. Indeed, paying heed
to the importance of the environmental movement’s “Three Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!) is
likely the best approach to solving the problems caused by our ever-growing piles of trash. With
landfills around the world reaching capacity, technological fixes are not likely to make our waste
disposal problems go away.

Biodegradable plastics take time to completely dissolve

If plastic is made to be biodegradable, then won't the plastic forks and spoons we use dissolve in our
mouth?

Ask your own question!

Plastics are indispensable to modern life. However, every year, more than 30 billion pounds of plastic
wastes are generated by American consumers, clogging our landfills and polluting our landscape. Just to
give you an idea of how much waste this is, if you dumped all of this plastic waste on the Cornell
University football field, it would reach about 3 miles up into the sky! Therefore a significant amount of
scientific work is directed at developing polymers that degrade in the environment into non-toxic
materials.

These so-called biodegradable polymers degrade in natural environments by reacting with water
and/or various bacteria. One everyday example where a biodegradable polymer has taken the
place of conventional plastic is in the packing 'peanuts' that surround merchandise during
shipping. In the past, these were made of a non-degradable polystyrene, but are now commonly
made of a natural starch-based material. My guess is that you might have found that these new
'peanuts' are soluble in water, perhaps prompting you to ask your question.

Fortunately, there are a range of biodegradable plastics, each of which has its own rate of
degradation. The key is to make the plastic degrade slower than the estimated lifetime of the
object, yet fast enough that it doesn't persist in the environment. There are two promising plastics
in this respect: polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutryate (PHB).

PLA is currently being commercialized jointly by Dow and Cargill, and they plan to make a
range of new plastic objects, such as the clam shells that are used in the fast-food industry.

PHB has previously been used in Europe. Shown below is a shampoo bottle made of PHB that
was allowed to decompose in soil. As you can see, the plastic degrades over months, not
minutes! Therefore, this would be an ideal plastic to make plastic utensils.
Hopefully biodegradable forks will be common in the near future. When they appear, don't
worry -- you will be able to take your time eating with these forks!

“Biodegradable” plastic bags, is it really  green?

25 03 2010

  D2w Biodegradable Plastic is a true solution to

irresponsible plastic waste disposal
Recently I was reading an article that really shocked me -  Then, after reasearching for the lies and
truths, I would like to share this information and hopefully can get some comments on it.

NOT TRUE
Some people claimed that Plastic bags that are advertised as degradable and sold in many supermarkets
may not be as environmentally friendly.  Such bags usually use “oxo-degradable” plastics which include
small amounts of additives to make them degrade faster.

The study said these plastics have an uncertain impact on the natural environment and are neither
suitable for conventional recycling methods, because of the chemical additives, nor for
composting.”As these plastics cannot be composted, the term “biodegradable’ can cause
confusion,” Environment Minister Dan Norris said in a statement.

“We hope this research will discourage manufacturers and retailers from claiming that these
materials are better for the environment than conventional plastics,” he added.

The above statement and study was executed out by Loughborough University and funded by the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

*Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE62B1GO20100312 (Reporting by Valle Aviles

Pinedo; Editing by Steve Addison)

TRUE
The below report is the response to the above Loughborough Report on Oxo-Degradable Plastics From
Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc

On 11th March the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the UK
Government published a Report from Loughborough University entitled “Assessing the
Environmental Impacts of Oxo-degradable Plastics Across their Life-cycle.”

A detailed response has been prepared by Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc., a British
public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange, developing and supplying Oxo-
biodegradable plastic technology under its d2w trademark in 92 countries worldwide. (And us, J-
Trend Systems, is the authorized distributor of d2w in Asia)

 The Loughborough Report has confirmed that oxo-biodegradable plastics:    

    * Do degrade abiotically in a normal environment
    * Do degrade abiotically under elevated temperatures in landfill
    * Do biodegrade
    * Do not emit methane even deep in landfill
    * Are safe for food contact
    * Contain no heavy metals
   
    The report has also confirmed that:
   
    * Pro-degradant additives are not harmful and have no negative
      environmental impact in the production and use phase
    * There is no evidence of bio-accumulation nor any harmful effect
      on the environment
    * There is no evidence of accumulation of pollutants
    * There is no evidence that degradable plastics encourage littering
However, Symphony believes that the Report contains some very strange recommendations
about oxo-biodegradable plastics in relation to recycling, composting, and other issues, which
are not supported by the evidence.

The report was prepared by four members of staff at Loughborough, none of whom are
professors, and none of whom is a specialist in oxo-biodegradable technology. They state that
their recommendations are their own opinions, and that their views do not necessarily reflect
DEFRA policy or opinions.

The Oxo-biodegradable plastics industry was not given a draft of the Report before publication
nor asked for its views on the “Key Findings and Recommendations”. Symphony regard this as
inappropriate.

For a full copy of the response document please see the attachment or go to http://www.d2w.net
or http://www.biodeg.org

Leading international experts on oxo-biodegradable technology, Professor Gerald Scott, and

Prof. Telmo Ojeda, have also commented – see http://www.biodeg.org

For videos of Symphony’s d2w plastic degrading see http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=i3TGqcpWJTM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbxEu04t7xE

 *Source: http://au.sys-con.com/node/1327890

As an authorized distributor for d2w additives in Asia, I would really love to

conclude that: 

“d2wTM controlled-life plastic are products with proven oxo-biodegradable technology. Before

d2wTM oxo-biodegradable plastic starts to degrade, it is as good as ordinary plastic for strength,
sealability, printability, and clarity; when it starts to degrade, it does not release methan or

toxicity – withouting causing harm and disposal problem to the environment.”  

We all have basic understanding that ordinary plastic bags and packaging can take up to 400 years to
degrade!  When plastic bags are improperly discarded, they remain scattered in our bushes, our trees,
on our roads, in our rivers and seas, killing live animals and causing great damage to the environment.

At least, we are confident to say that d2w biodegradable technology  is a great invention to
prevent/cure irresponsible plastic waste disposal problem, because they are able to breakdown in
any environement when oxygen is present. 
Oxo-biodegradable plastic products made with d 2w technology are available in over 60 countries
worldwide and are distributed in shops, supermarkets and retail stores who are committed to
preserving the environment.

Biodegradable plastic bags carry more

ecological harm than good
Decomposing bags sound environmentally friendly but they require a lot of energy to make,
won't degrade in landfills and may leave toxic leftovers

Biodegradable plastic bags – as handed out by Tesco, the Co-op and once even sold by the Soil
Association – must be good, surely? They have a magic ingredient that means they self-destruct
after a few months, breaking up into tiny pieces made of simple molecules that bugs and fungi
can happily munch up. Dozens of major corporations use them, including Pizza Hut, KFC, News
international, Walmart and Marriott hotels.

But last week, the European Plastics Recyclers Association warned that they "have the potential
to do more harm to the environment than good."

Technically what we are talking about here is "oxo-degradable" plastics. These are plastics made
to degrade in the presence of oxygen and sunlight, thanks to the addition of tiny amounts of
metals like cobalt, iron or manganese.

British manufacturers – headed by Symphony Technologies of Borehamwood – are at the sharp

end of a revolution that could banish bag-strewn beauty spots and back alleys alike.

But the criticisms are twofold. First, some research suggests that the bags don't degrade as well
as claimed. And second, priming plastic bags for destruction is itself an ecological crime.

So, do they really biodegrade away to nothing? Symphony, which supplies the Co-op and Tesco,
says its bags are "able to degrade completely within about three years, compared to standard
bags which take 100 years or longer". Tesco reckons they all decompose within 18 months
"without leaving anything that could harm the environment".

But whether it actually happens seems to depend a lot on where the "biodegradable" plastic ends
up. If it gets buried in a landfill it probably won't degrade at all because there is no light or
oxygen. But what about elsewhere?
Studies of one brand in the US, commissioned by the Biodegradable Products Institute, found
that breakdown is very dependent on temperature and humidity. It goes slow in cold weather.
And high humidity virtually stops the process, making long, wet winters sound like bad news.

You might think a compost heap full of biodegrading bugs would be ideal. But a recent Swedish
study found that polyethylene containing manganese additive stops breaking down when put in
compost, probably due to the influence of ammonia or other gases generated by microorganisms
in the compost.

And, while most manufacturers say that to put only tiny amounts of metals into the plastic, the
US study found that one brand contained "very high levels of lead and cobalt", raising questions
about the toxicity of the leftovers. Neither of these studies relates specifically to Symphony's
products. But they raise questions.

The European Plastics Recyclers Association last week argued that biodegradable bags are not
the right environmental option anyway. Plastic bags take a lot of energy and oil to make so why
waste them by creating bags that self-destruct? "It is an economic and environmental nonsense to
destroy this value," the recyclers' trade association concluded.

Of course, we consumers can reuse or recycle biodegradable bags as easily as any other kind.
Symphony and other manufacturers stress making bags biodegradable is just an insurance policy
for those that don't get recycled or reused. But surely we are less likely to bother if we are told
the bags are eco-bags that biodegrade.

This European backlash against oxo-biodegradable plastics follows similar rumblings in the US.
In March, the New York Times announced it would not be wrapping its paper in bags made of
the stuff because claims that the plastic was "100% biodegradable" did not stand up. This
followed a ruling last December by an advertising industry watchdog, part of the US Council of
Better Business Bureaus, that makers should stop calling the bags "eco-friendly".

(In marked contrast, the UK Periodical Publishers Association two years ago recommended that
all its members use oxo-biodegradable film to wrap their magazines)

Industry websites, including Symphony's, do proudly proclaim one green endorsement – that the
organic trade body the Soil Association buys their bags. But Clio Turton at the Soil Association
told me: "We've had problems with people making these claims. We have asked for them to be
removed. It's very frustrating."

Plastic bags are not the biggest environmental issue on the planet, as George Monbiot explained
in a blog here recently.

But most of us probably make "bag choices" several times a day. Brits get through 8bn plastic
bags a year. For that reason, they are one of the choices that tend to show if we care about the
environment or not. And we should be clear. Re-using bags is best. Recycling is second best.
Throwing them away in the hope that a magic formula will guarantee their rapid disappearance is
laziness, not environmental care. And anybody who tries to persuade us otherwise is guilty of
Greenwash.

• This article was amended on Friday 19 June 2009. We should have made clear that the Soil
Association no longer sells the biodegradable plastic bags referred to in this article. This has
been corrected.

SM shifts to biodegradable bags

by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (3 May) -- Many are into saving mother Earth and SM City Davao is one of the many advocates of protecting
the environment.

Two of its major anchors the SM Department Store and SM Supermarket had shifted into using biodegradable bags and the
green bag respectively.

Using biodegradable bags, SM Department Store advocates the care for Mother Nature. Tagged as Oxo-Biodegradable
Plastics or OBPs these are conventional plastics as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene added with a proprietary
mixture that accelerates the breakdown of the chemical structure of the plastics.

In a press statement, it said that these plastics are the main ones used in a variety of disposable packaging applications.
The resultant breakdown products are then amenable to conversion by micro-organisms, for which these products are an
energy source or food, or turned into carbon dioxide and water, thereby returning otherwise intractable plastics to the
ecosystem.

Unlike other polyilefin products such as grocery and garbage bags, food wraps and liners for diapers which after use are
discarded. The OBPs degrades into a form that is safely absorbed into the ecosystem in a timeframe that is similar to that
of "natural" products such as stra, Kraft paper and leaves.

OBPs are widely used now, End users are adopting OBPs as an effective way to offer to the customers' environmentally
responsible packaging in addressing concerns of government and the consuming public regarding the environmentally
acceptable disposal of single use plastic products.

OBP's is not harmful to the people or the environment. Its active ingredient in oxo-biodegradable products, a transition
metal salt (often of cobalt), is used at very low levels. Cobalt is a micro-nutrient essential for life. Studies have shown that
composts made from oxo-biodegradable bags are not toxic to sensitive plant and animal organisms.

Meanwhile the green bag can last for approximately two years or more than 100 grocery trips. It is made of material that
is recyclable, non-toxic, and allergy free.

The Biogradable Bags and the Greens Bag will be launched today, May 3 on SM's Trash and Cash Recycling Market Fair.

You can Save the World by using these bags.

Do Biodegradable Plastics Really Work?

The answer, plus five more degrading questions.

— By Dave Gilson

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May/June 2009

Just how long does it take for conventional plastics to completely break down? 500 years?
1,000? It's a mystery. "No one has really measured how long it takes," says Ramani Narayan, a
professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at Michigan State University. What is known
is that conventional petroleum-based plastics never really go away, even when they break down
into pieces too small to be seen with the naked eye. Some new plastics are designed to degrade
(not to be confused with biodegrade—more on that in a sec) in a matter of weeks when exposed
to the elements, but that doesn't mean they're truly gone.

But broken down plastics are better than litter, right? Wrong. In fact, plastics often create
more environmental harm when broken down than when intact. This is most evident in the
oceans, home to billions of pieces of disintegrating plastic and preproduction pellets called
nurdles, which can work their way back up the food chain to humans.

What about biodegradable plastics? They're pretty neat: Microorganisms can convert
biodegradable plastics into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass—with no nasty chemical
leftovers. However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding these ecofriendlier plastics—some of
it intentional. "This word 'biodegradable' has become very attractive to people trying to make
quick bucks on it," explains Narayan, who helped develop biodegradable corn-based plastic.
Some companies, he says, are making conventional plastic that degrades quickly and then
throwing around claims about biodegradability that are unproven or just too good to be true.

Can biodegradable plastics break down in landfills? This claim, which now shows up on
everything from water bottles to trash bags to Discover's "biodegradable PVC" credit cards, is
"disingenuous at best," says Narayan. Usually, nothing biodegrades in a landfill. But if
biodegradable plastics do break down in this oxygen-free environment, they'll emit methane, a
greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than CO2.

How do I avoid fake biodegradable plastics? Currently, truly biodegradable plastics are mostly
used for eating utensils, food containers, and compostable bags. To make sure you're getting the
real deal, look for products with the Biodegradable Products Institute logo, which means they've
been certified to comply with strict scientific standards.

So what's the best way to get rid of biodegradable plastic? "The public thinks that
biodegradability means 'If I throw it away, it will completely go away,'" says Narayan. "They
don't even know what 'going away' means." Real biodegradable plastic should be sent to a
commercial composting facility, where it will spend its final days being eaten by microbes. But
here's the catch: In 2007, only 42 communities nationwide offered compost collection.
(Seventeen were in California.) And though some biodegradable plastics can be recycled, no
curbside recycling program will take them. So before you buy biodegradable plastics, make sure
you can help them "go away" the right way.

Oxo Biodegradable
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Oxo Biodegradable (OBD) plastic is polyolefin plastic to which has been added very small
(catalytic) amounts of metal salts. These catalyze the natural degradation process to speed it up
so that the OBD plastic will degrade when subject to environmental conditions to produce water,
carbon dioxide and biomass. The process is shortened from hundreds of years to years and or
months for degradation and thereafter biodegradation depends on the micro-organisms in the
environment.

[edit] Degradation

Degradation is a process that takes place in all materials. The speed depends on the environment.
Conventional polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plastics will typically take hundreds of
years to degrade. But oxo-biodegradable products utilize a prodegradant to speed up the
molecular breakdown of the polyolefins and incorporate oxygen atoms into the resulting low
molecular mass. This chemical change enables naturally-occurring microorganisms to consume
the low molecular mass products as a food source, hence biodegradation.

[edit] Oxybiodegradation or Oxo-biodegradation

The process of degradation in OBD plastic is an oxidative chain scission that is catalyzed by
small amounts of metal salts leading to oxygenated (hydroxylated and carboxylated) shorter
chain molecules that are available for biomineralization by microorganisms, typically bacteria
and fungi. OBD plastic if accidentally discarded in the environment, will degrade to oxygenated
low molecular weight (typically MW 5-10.000 amu) within 2–18 months depending on the
material (resin, thickness, anti-oxidants, etc.) and the temperature and other factors in the
environment. There is little proof however to back up the common assumption that OBD plastics
will degrade in a landfill environment due to insufficient oxygen present below a depth of
approximately 15cm. A PE plastic bag for example 30 µm thick with 2% prodegradant additive
degrades within 3 months if left exposed in an open air environment in Thailand and a 150 µm
thick PP container or sheet will degrade within 3–6 months. The low molecular weight
oxygenated molecules are then biomineralized ("eaten") by microorganisms in the same way that
other organic matter is used by them to generate energy and build biomass.

OBD plastic is degradable and biodegradable, and can be recycled with normal plastic [1] but it
is not as yet marketed as compostable. This is because the oxidation process takes longer than
the 180 day period required by ASTM D6400 and similar standards for compostable plastics
such as EN13432 and ISO 17088. This short time is necessary for compostable plastics because
industrial composting has a short timescale, and is not the same as biodegradation in the
environment. However, a material which completely converts itself into CO2 gas within 180 days
(which is not the case for OBD) is not useful even in compost, and serves only to add to climate-
change. A leaf is generally considered to be biodegradable but it will not pass the composting
standard due to the 180 day limit in ASTM D6400.

Oxo-biodegradable products do not degrade so rapidly because they are stabilized to control the
service-life of the product. They will nevertheless degrade more quickly than nature's wastes
such as twigs and straw (c10 years) and much more quickly than ordinary plastic (many
decades).

There is a Standard Guide (ASTM D6954) available which specifies procedures to test the
degradability of oxo-biodegradable plastics however as this is only Standard guide as apposed to
a Standard Specification it does not provide pass / fail criteria and therefore is of limited use in
deciding whether a plastic should be marketed as "biodegradable". ASTM D6400 is a Standard
Specification, but is appropriate only for compostable plastics. There is no need to refer to a
Standard Specification unless a specific disposal route (e.g.: composting), is envisaged.

Why do we need oxo-biodegradable plastic?

Because thousands of tons of plastic waste are entering the world's environment every day, and
will remain there for hundreds of years, unless collected for incineration.

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How does it work?

A very small amount of pro-degradant additive is put into the manufacturing process. This
breaks the molecular chains in the polymer, and at the end of its useful life the product falls
apart. The plastic does not just fragment, but will be consumed by bacteria and fungi after the
additive has reduced the molecular weight to a level which permits micro-organisms access to
the carbon and hydrogen.

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Does it really biodegrade, or does it just fragment?

When the material has reached the fragmentation stage it is no longer a plastic, and is
"biodegradable" in the same way as nature's wastes such as straw and twigs. The process
continues until the material has biodegraded to nothing more than CO2, water, and humus, and it
does not leave fragments of petro-polymers in the soil.

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What does it cost?

Very little, because the additive represents less than 3% of the product, and because the products
can be made with the same machines and workforce as ordinary plastic.

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Won't it put existing factories out of business, with loss of jobs?

No, because customers can still use the factories which supply them with ordinary plastic
products.

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What types of biodegradable plastics exist?

The two main types are oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable. In both cases degradation
begins with a chemical process (oxidation or hydrolysis), followed by a biological process. Both
types emit CO2 as they degrade, but hydro-biodegradables (usually starch-based) can also emit
methane. Both types are compostable, but only oxo-biodegradable can be economically recycled.

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What are the differences between oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable plastic?

See http://www.biodeg.org/position-papers/comparison/?domain=biodeg.org

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Surely education is the way to solve the litter problem?

Hopefully education will reduce the litter problem over several generations, but there is a lot of
litter today and there will always be some litter. Action needs to be taken today to switch to oxo-
biodegradable before millions more tons of plastic waste accumulate in the environment.

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Isn't it better to recycle than to let it biodegrade?

Yes, and one of the benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic is that it can be recycled as part of a
normal plastic waste stream (see http://www.biodeg.org/position-papers/recycling/?
domain=biodeg.org) However, if the plastic is not collected it cannot be recycled, so it needs to
biodegrade instead of accumulating in the environment.

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What about energy recovery?

In some countries incineration is popular, and modern equipment is in place. Oxo-biodegradable

plastic can be incinerated with energy recovery in the same way as conventional plastic, and has
a higher calorific value than the hydro-biodegradable alternative.

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Can it be composted?

Oxo-biodegradable plastic does not degrade quickly in low temperature "windrow" composting,
but it is suitable for "in-vessel" composting at the higher temperatures required by the new EU
animal by-products regulations. Indeed it is likely that windrow composting will soon have to be
phased out.

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What happens to it in a landfill?

Oxo-biodegradable plastics fragment and partially biodegrade to CO2 and water in the parts of
the landfill where oxygen is present, but the residues are completely inert deeper in the landfill in
the absence of oxygen. They do not emit any significant amounts of methane.

By contrast, hydro-biodegradable (starch-based) plastics will degrade and emit CO2 in a landfill
if there is enough microbial activity. However, in the depths of a landfill, in the absence of air,
hydro-biodegradable plastics generate copious quantities of methane, which is a powerful
greenhouse gas.

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Does it contain "heavy metals"?

No. It contains transition metal ions of Cobalt or Iron or Manganese, which are trace elements
required in the human diet. They should not be confused with toxic heavy metals such as Lead,
Mercury, Cadmium and Chromium, which are never used in oxo-biodegradable plastics.

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Isn't it made from oil?

Yes. Oxo-biodegradable plastics are currently made from a by-product of oil or natural gas.
These are of course finite resources, but the by-product arises because the world needs fuels, and
would arise whether or not the by-product were used to make plastic goods.

Until other fuels and lubricants have been developed for engines, it makes good environmental
sense to use the by-product, instead of wasting it by "flare-off" at the refinery and using scarce
agricultural resources to make plastics. In fact plastics could reduce the amount of oil and gas
imported because after their useful life they can be incinerated to release the stored energy,
which can be used to generate electricity or to heat buildings.

Recently, interest has been shown in manufacturing sugar-derived polyethylenes. These, like oil-
derived PE, are not biodegradable, but they can be made oxo-biodegradable in the same way as
the latter, by the addition of a pro-degradant additive.

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But aren't the hydro-biodegradable plastics renewable?

No. because the process of making them from crops is itself a significant user of fossil-fuel
energy and a producer therefore of greenhouse gases. Fossil fuels are burned in the machines
used to clear and cultivate the land, and in the manufacture and transport of fertilisers and
pesticides and in transporting the crop itself. Energy is also used by the autoclaves used to
ferment and polymerise material synthesised from biochemically produced intermediates (e.g.
polylactic acid from carbohydrates etc). When the material biodegrades it emits CO 2 and
methane, so the total fossil fuels used and greenhouse gases emitted are more than for
conventional or oxo-biodegradable plastic.

Hydro-biodegradables are sometimes described as made from "non-food" crops, but are in fact
usually made from food crops, and drive up the price of human and animal food.

In June 2009 Germany's Institute for Energy and Environmental Research concluded that oil-
based plastics, especially if recycled, have a better Life-cycle Analysis than compostable
plastics.

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Does it leave any harmful residues?

No. Oxo-biodegradable plastic passes all the usual ecotoxicity tests, including seed germination,
plant growth and organism survival (daphnia, earthworms) tests carried out in accordance with
international standards.

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Deliberately and totally lost?

The argument that oxo-biodegradable plastics are undesirable because their components are
designed to be deliberately and totally lost is a fallacy, because if people want to incinerate with
heat recovery, or mechanically recycle them, or compost them in-vessel, or re-use them, then
that's OK, and they cost very little if anything more than conventional products. The key point is
what happens to the plastic which is not collected, and gets into the environment as litter?

In any event, oxo-biodegradable plastics are not "deliberately and totally lost" even if they
degrade in the environment, because biodegradation on land is a source of plant nutrients, just as
is straw, grass, leaves etc.

By contrast, hydro-biodegradable plastics are "deliberately and totally lost" because the
applicable international standards require them to convert to CO2 gas within 180 days.

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More careless disposal?

Degradable plastic bags have been supplied by supermarkets for more than four years, but there
is no evidence that people dispose more carelessly of them (whether oxo or hydro biodegradable)
and they have not been encouraged to do so.

But suppose for the sake of argument that 10% more were discarded. If 1,000 conventional and
1,100 oxo-biodegradable bags were left uncollected in the environment, 1,000 conventional bags
would remain in the rivers, streets and fields for decades, but none of the oxo-biodegradable bags
would be left at the end of the short life programmed into them at manufacture.

There will always be people who will deliberately or accidentally discard their plastic waste.
What will happen to all the plastic waste that will not be recycled or will not be incinerated, and
instead will litter the countryside - would it not be better if the discarded plastic were all oxo-
biodegradable?

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Is it safe for food-contact?

Yes. Oxo-biodegradable plastic has been certified by RAPRA Technology Analytical

Laboratories as safe for long-term contact with any food type at temperatures up to 40°C.
RAPRA is accredited by the United Kingdom accreditation authorities as meeting the
requirements of International Standards Organisation norm no. 17025. It is also certified as
compliant with FDA requirements in the US.

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Can it be marketed as Biodegradable or Compostable?

On 8th April 2010 the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa ruled that bread bags
made with oxo-biodegradable plastic can be advertised as Biodegradable.

The current EU Standard for composting (EN13432) is not appropriate for testing oxo-
biodegradable plastic. However the EU Packaging Waste Directive does NOT require that when
a packaging product is marketed as "degradable" or "compostable" conformity with the Directive
must be assessed by reference to EN13432. The Directive provides that conformity with its
essential requirements may be presumed if EN 13432 is complied with, but it does not exclude
proof of conformity by other evidence, such as a report from a reputable body. Indeed Annex Z
of EN13432 itself says that it provides only one means of conforming with the essential
requirements.

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Isn't it better to use paper bags?

No. The process of making paper bags causes 70% more atmospheric pollution than plastic bags.
Paper bags use 300% more energy to produce, and the process uses huge amounts of water and
creates very unpleasant organic waste. When they degrade they emit methane and carbon
dioxide.

A stack of 1000 new plastic carrier bags would be around 2 inches high, but a stack of 1000 new
paper grocery bags could be around 2 feet high. It would take at least seven times the number of
trucks to deliver the same number of bags, creating seven times more transport pollution and
road congestion.

Also, because paper bags are not as strong as plastic, people may use two or three bags inside
each other. Paper bags cannot normally be re-used, and will disintegrate if wet.

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Isn't it better to use durable re-usable bags?

No. Long-term re-usable shopping bags are not the answer. They are much thicker and more
expensive, and a large number of them would be required for the weekly shopping of an average
family. They are not hygienic unless cleaned after each use. Whilst sometimes called "Bags for
Life" they have a limited life, depending on the treatment they receive, and become a very
durable problem when discarded.

Shoppers do not always go to the shop from home, where the re-usable bags would normally be
kept, and consumers are unlikely to have a re-usable bag with them when buying on impulse
items such as clothing, groceries, CDs, magazines, stationery etc.
However, for those who believe in long-term re-usable bags, they can be made from extended-
life oxo-biodegradable plastic and will last for 3-5 years.

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How long does it take to completely degrade?

An important advantage of oxo-biodegradable plastic is that it can be programmed to degrade in

whatever timescale is required. The average useful life of a carrier bag is about 18 months, but
shorter or longer times are possible. During that time bags are often re-used for shopping or for
use as bin-liners etc. Heat and light will accelerate the process, but they are not essential.

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