Frequently Asked Questions:
What are Annually Renewable Resources?
  • These are resources that are annually sustainable and are harvested within a 1 year growing season and include items
    such as corn, potatoes and other crops..

What is degradable Plastic?
  • a degradable plastic which undergoes a significant change in its chemical structure under specific environmental
    conditions resulting in a loss of some properties. There is no requirement that the plastic has to be degrade from the action
    of "naturally occurring microorganism" or any of the other criteria required for compostable plastics.

What is Biodegradable Plastic?
  • a degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as
    bacteria, fungi and algae (ASTM D 6400-99)

What is Compstable Plastic?
  • a plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic
    compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other compostable materials and leaves no visible, distinguishable or
    toxic residue (ASTM D 6400-99)

What causes the process of biodegradation to begin?
  • A biodegradable product will only biodegrade if it is in an environment which includes moisture, heat, and
    microorganisms. Without those three components, there will be no biodegradation.

Are there any standards that certifies the Biodegradable and Compstable Plastic?
  • Following international organizations have established standards and testing methods for compostability:

  • The ASTM, CEN and DIN standards specify the criteria for biodegradation, disintegration and eco-toxicity for a plastic to
    be called compostable.  While ISO 14855 makes no stipulations regarding disintegrations or toxins remaining.

    Biodegradability: It  is determined by measuring the amount of CO2 produced over a certain time period by the
    biodegrading plastic.
  • ASTM, ISO and DIN standards require 60% biodegradation within 180 days.  
  • Europenan Norm EN13432 is the strictest standard, requirings 90% biodegradation within 90 days.

    Disintegration: It  is measured by sieving the material to determine the biodegraded size and less than 10% should
    remain on a 2mm screen for most standards.

    Eco toxicity:  It is measured by having concentrations of heavy metals below the limits set by the standards and by testing
    plant growth by mixing the compost with soil in different concentrations and comparing it with controlled compost.

What is ASTM Certificaton?
  • In the USA, the BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certifies bioplastics under the ASTM 6400-99, standard for
    "compostable plastics".  The certified products can display following logo.






How does the life cycle of disposable biodegradable product work?
  • In essence, you make the products from nature's renewal sources, use them, and throw them in the
    compost to complete the life cycle of the bio-compostable proudcts.

Why do biodegradable products tend to cost more than traditional plastic products?
  • These are relatively new products, and in their infancy stage.  The companies that produce the raw
    materials and bio-resin based products generally have not achieved the production capacities or volume
    levels needed to produce "lowest cost" efficiency levels. In addition, the technology required is still in early
    stages as new methods are being developed. Therefore, the laws of supply and demand keep the bio-
    resin costs higher than some traditional petroleum based plastics.

How does the life cycle of disposable biodegradable product work?
  • In essence, you make the products from nature's renewal sources, use them, and throw them in the
    compost to complete the life cycle of the bio-compostable proudcts.
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Life cycle of biodegradable products
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