Enquiry Form

This is a new and fast moving industry. All the time, much research is taking place leading to new ideas and new products. This FAQ list represents our current state of know-how and will therefore be updated frequently as changes occur. We hope that these ideas are practical to users and processors.

We thank our customers for having asked some of the questions and giving us the opportunity to clarify many of the points.

 

Film Made From BioResin

35. Is any film made from our resin heat sealable?

  • Yes, heat sealing properties are very good for compostable film.

36. Does any film made from the resins fulfill the waste packaging directive?

  • Yes in principle but this is a complex issue, but generally speaking you cannot go wrong putting the products into landfill if they are made from compostable resin. Landfill operators and waste sorting companies are beginning to insist on clear marking so that sorting becomes meaningful. This issue is under constant review and rules are changed from time to time by the relevant authorities and waste processors as new information comes to light.

37. How long does the film made from your compostable resin last in a warehouse?

  • As long as polyolefin film.
  • So called oxo-biodegradable films start to break down from the day of manufacture regardless of ambient conditions.

38. How long does the compostable film last in damp conditions?

  • As long as a polyolefin film. Unless also water, heat and suitable microbes are present that could accelerate the break-down process.

39. After what time does compostable film disappear in landfill?

  • To fulfill the conditions of compostability under EN 13432 90% of it has to break down into CO2 and water plus biomass within 90 days with a full definition of the residues. 1% is allowed not to break down.

40. Is there a thickness limit for meeting the compostability rules of EN 13432 spec.?

  • The maximum film thickness is typically defined as 120μ

41. If I make bags from compostable resin:

  1. How long will the bags last empty, before you would not recommend them for use?
    • The bags will last as long as polyolefin based bags in warehouse conditions.
  2. How long will the bags last full, on a pallet under shrink wrap outside/inside?
    • The same time as other PE bags unless the product contained inside the bags offers similar conditions to landfill; in that case the breakdown time will be similar to that in landfill conditions.
  3. How long do the bags take to degrade once fully buried?
    • If they are made from our compostable resin only, then they will take 90 days to disappear if the right conditions exist.
  4. Who determines that the biodegradability or compostability is as it is stated on the bag (your industry standard for example)?
    • You have to rely on the integrity of the bag manufacturer using only biodegradable or compostable resins approved by EN 13432 without any non-permitted (especially polyolefin) additions.
  5. Do you have any industry guarantee on the performance of the bags?
    • You have to define the 'performance' parameters required. For carrier bags a requirement to hold 5 kg of shopping is generally accepted. Cost restraints may determine the film thickness. Reasonable puncture resistance is also important. It is up to the bag maker to offer any guarantee as a result of tests carried out; there is no general industry standard.
    • Also see the following abstract from the European-Bioplastics web site:
Product Quality

Bioplastics differ from conventional plastics in two important features:

  • the use of renewable resources for their production
  • their biodegradability / compostability

For the first feature standardised measures for evaluation do not exist; please also read the explanations on bioplastics. Therefore it is subject to individual interpretation how big the share of renewable resources in a plastic product has to be in order to be called a bioplastic. No standard is available to approve this; however, scientific methods exist to measure the "renewable carbon" in a given product.

For biodegradability and compostability scientific methods have been developed to accurately prove these qualities in terms of plastics: The European norm EN 13432 was introduced in Europe in 2000. As a harmonised standard it is valid in all EU member states.

The association European-Bioplastics calls to approve plastic products according to EN 13432 if the marketer advertises the product to be "compostable" or "biodegradable". Because these terms are not always used correctly, the association has published information on so-called "degradable" or "oxo-degradable" plastic products. Producers have signed a voluntary self commitment on product certification which had been acknowledged by the European DG Enterprise.

The association European-Bioplastics calls to approve plastic products according to EN 13432 if the marketer advertises the product to be "compostable" or "biodegradable". Because these terms are not always used correctly, the association has published information on so-called "degradable" or "oxo-degradable" plastic products. Producers have signed a voluntary self commitment on product certification which had been acknowledged by the European DG Enterprise.

A brand protected label is assigned in the certification process, which is a valuable and needed tool in communication. Mis-use will be prosecuted. The terms "compostable" and "biodegradable" however cannot be protected. The compostability logo, also called "seedling" enables the user/consumer to identify the product. It is also usually required for the correct sorting and disposing of compostable plastic waste.

The association European-Bioplastics strives for implementing a unified certification and labeling scheme of all bioplastics products in Europe.

Why all these measures?

These measures were taken in order to assure the highest possible product safety when it is organically recycled. Materials that are returned to the natural closed loop through composting have to meet the following demands:

  • may not impair the composting process ("behave like a lettuce leaf"),
  • allow high compost quality (meet strict criteria for toxic substances etc.) and
  • Guarantee a safe compost application.

The following requirements must therefore be fulfilled for compostable plastic products:

  • compliance with all criteria of the EN 13432 standard,
  • product certification based on EN 13432 and
  • Labelling with a protected compostability mark.

It is strongly recommended to users / vendors of compostable bioplastic products to ask their supplier about product certification and to demand the certificate with the certification number. Even if it is not intended to compost the product, certification guarantees a high product safety. Certification, moreover, distinguishes between bioplastics and conventional plastic and offers marketing and communication possibilities. The German Packaging Ordinance explicitly refers only to certified compostable plastic packaging. Please note: Plastic products incl. bioplastics have to fulfill many other criteria and legal requirements. Producers have to ensure them within the scope of their product responsibility and liability.

42. Can I print on biodegradable or compostable film?

  • Yes, printing is perfectly possible, no different from PE or PP film in terms of ink adhesion. Some compostable films have a greater stretch rate than PE or PP which needs to be observed when printing multi-colour jobs or bar codes.

43. Do I need to label my film products made from bio resin?

  • You do not need to but if you use resins certified to EN 13432 then labelling them is a marketing advantage.
    Here is copy from the European-Bioplastics web site:
Labelling

Due to their similar appearance bioplastics products can not be easily distinguished from conventional plastic products. The product certification based on the EN 13432 testing standard has therefore introduced a label that has been protected in Europe and many other countries.

Objectives and advantages of product labeling:

  • Allows identification of the product by users / consumers
  • Enables and facilitates the proper sorting in waste collection and recovery
  • Product quality assurance (EN 13432 criteria)

The protected compostability mark "seedling" is accepted and used in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom. In Austria the label is used in model projects in Linz and St. Pölten. European-Bioplastics promotes the use of product certification and the use of a single label in Europe.

End of abstract
See also useful web site: http://www.packaging-gateway.com/features/feature736/

44. Where will the compostable film material biodegrade?

  • In home composting (takes longer due to the lower temperature)
  • In commercial composting
  • In landfills
  • In soil, either buried or in contact with soil
  • PHA will biodegrade in sea water

45. Where will the compostable film material not biodegrade?

  • In warehouses
  • On store shelves
  • In offices and homes

46. How does the cost compare with PE film products?

  • For compostable film the price is about three times that of PE film
  • These costs are bound to come down as the market volume develops

47. What's my extrusion processing temperature compared to PE?

  • Extrusion temperature is generally lower than for PE or PP. Too high a temperature will damage the resin. See individual data sheets.
  • PHA, as an example for film is best processed between 110 and max. 140 degrees C.
  • The added bonus here is that less energy is used to produce the film.

48. What are the barrier properties of film made from your resins?

  • Barrier properties are generally better than those of PE or PP. Individual films will have to be tested.
  • PHA film barrier properties are similar to those of PET.