What You Must Know?

What is Bioplastic?

“Bioplastics” is a new term with no precise definition. It generally refers to both plastics made from renewable resources (i.e. plants) and biodegradable plastics. Everything therefore depends on the objective… this can be the use of renewable resources, it maybe that the raw material used will be the focus of interest. If, however, the objective is biodegradability, then focus will be on the end-of-life options for the product and therefore on materials that meet the applicable standards in force for that product.

What is Biodegradable material?

According to the standards in force, a biodegradable material is one which naturally decomposes under the enzymatic action of micro-organisms, resulting in bio-assimilation. The result of this degradation is the formation of water, CO2 and/or CH4 and possibly some by-products (residues, new biomass) which are not toxic for the environment.

What is Compostable material?

This is a material which breaks down through a biological process when composted, producing CO2 and/or CH4, water, inorganic components and biomass at a similar pace to other known compostable materials, and does not produce any visible or recognizable toxic residue.

What is Fragmentable material?

This is a material which breaks into fragments that may be invisible to the naked eye ~ but persist in the environment ~ under the effect of successive physical and/or chemical and/or biological phenomena. Assimilation by residual micro-organisms has never been proven.

What is Oxo-degradable material?

This is fragmentable material, wrongly referred to as oxo biodegradable, which is made up of polyethylene (chemically, a very stable synthetic polymer) and combined with starch and/or oxidising agents that enable it to fragment in UV rays and high temperatures. These materials are not compostable.

What is Standard NF EN 13432?

Established in the context of Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, the standard NF EN 13432 lays down the requirements and methods which reveal if packaging and packaging materials can be composted. The characteristics to be tested and acceptance criteria are the control of the constituents, ultimate biodegradability, disintegration under biological treatment, characterization of eco-toxic effects and quality of the final compost. This method limits the test time frame to 6 months, after which the rate of biodegradation of the material must be greater than or equal to 90% of the rate of biodegradation of the reference substance, tested at the same time.