Environmental Terms
ASTM D6400
Test for compostable products to assess ability to degrade in a
composting facility at the same rate as yard trimmings or food
waste. According to the standard, the compostable material should fully
biodegrade in 180 days in a commercial organic composting facility.
Biodegradable
Ability to completely break down, safely and relatively quickly,
by natural or biological means, such as microorganisms like
fungi, algae, bacteria, into raw materials of nature and then
disappear into the environment.
EncoreTM - ECM Biodegradable Additive
The biodegradable additive can be added to plastic bags to help the material start biodegrading at 9
months in environments where other natural materials biodegrade. With the additive, the plastic biodegrades into its
natural elements of carbon dioxide, water, and inert humus like elements often found in the soil.
Degradability
Ability of materials to break down, by bacterial (biodegradable)
or ultraviolet (photodegradable) action.
Compost - Yard Waste
Yard trimmings like grass and leaves are sent to yard waste compost centers throughout the country (there are approximately 3000 facilities). These centers are different from commercial organic composting centers (organic waste centers). These yard waste compost centers cannot accept the packaging designed to be composted in commercial organic composting centers. Since most consumers are not aware that compostable packaging (trays, bags, spoons..) are not degradable by the most recognized curbside "yard waste compost" services, these types of packaging often end up in landfills - defeating the purpose of their existence and high cost of production.
Note: In the United States today there are 3000 yard waste composting facilities, but only 134 commercial organic compost centers. Since permits for organic waste composting facilities are very difficult to obtain by municipalities, their existence in
most neighborhoods are prohibited and undesired, limiting their accessibility. As a result, most PLA materials end up
in the landfills.
Commercial Compost
A mixture of degradable garbage, trash and soil, in which
bacteria breaks down the mixture into a soil
conditioner (not a fertilizer). It has high organic content but
low nitrogen. Materials specifically designed to be commercially compostable must be sent to a commerical organic composting facility (organic waste center) to be exposed to constant heat, pressure, and or microbial environments enriched with microorganisms like bacteria to biodegrade. According to the composting standard, ASTM D6400, the material should fully degrade within 180 days (approximately 6 months).
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
PLA is often made by adding corn, sugar beets, wheat and other starch-rich products to a form of
synthetic materials like polyester. With materials like Ecoflex (modified polyester) being a key ingredient to these PLA
compostable products, they are not as natural as claimed. Polylactic acid exhibits similar properties to petroleum-based
plastic and are often confused for plastics. They are often created from diverted crops that were once used to feed the people. Farmers
have admitted to redirecting fields to supply packaging demands, causing a decrease in food supply and an increase in
food prices.
Greenhouse Gasses
O2, Methane, N2O, Fluorinated Gas emitted through human activities.
Post-Consumer (PCR) vs. Post-Industrial (PIR)
PCR: Recycled after product is used for its original purpose.
PIR: Recycled from manufacturing scrap, trim, stretch wrap, etc.
Recycled vs. Recyclable
Recycled: Products made from items recovered from waste.
Recyclable: Product that can be collected from waste for reuse.
Sustainable Packaging maximizes use of renewable or recycled source materials.
RECYCLE PLASTIC BAGS – learn how to recycle plastic bags and where to recycle them: http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org
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