2012 0121 platt bioplastics101 uscc jan212

www.sustainablebiomaterials.org

Compostable Plastics 101:

Overview & Issues

Brenda Platt SBC Co-Chair

Institute for Local Self-Reliance January 21, 2012

USCC Conference, Austin, TX


Overview

Introduction to biobased products Definitions:

biobased vs biodegradable biodegradable vs. degradable biodegradable vs compostable

Standards Biobased content or compostability alone ≠ sustainable Challenges and common points of confusion Labeling Compost for organic markets cannot process bioplastic Compostable Plastics Task Force


First Bioplastics • Collodion (cotton-derived

cellulose nitrate) – dentures and buttons

• Celluloid (cotton-based) – photography/film

• Cellulose acetate – apparel • Cellophane – first film

plastic

Copyright Sm

ithsonian National M

useum of A

merican H

istory, http://am

ericanhistory.si.edu/collections/object.cfm?key=35&

objkey=18

"Made in 1868 of Cellulose Nitrate, Celluloid. The Year John Wesley Hyatt Discovered This First Plastics Resin." Gutta Percha

Shellac


• 1930s – 1st injection molding machines made plastics from cellulose acetate

• 1941 – Henry Ford’s biological car

• late 1940s – crude oil drops to >$1/barrel

• by 1975 – no ethanol in our fuel tanks and bioplastics virtually disappear


Pendulum Swings Back


The Good News on Biobased Products

• Variety of resins and products available • Performance improving • Experience and R&D growing • Growth expected • Programs such as the federal biobased

procurement will open up new markets • Standards in place • Price competitiveness improving • Demand increasing


Degradable Vs. Biodegradable

Degradable – May be invisible to

naked eye – Fragment into smaller

pieces – No data to document

biodegradability within one growing season

– Migrate into water table – Not completely

assimilated by microbial populations in a short time period

Biodegradable – Completely assimilated into food

and energy source by microbial populations in a short time period

– Meet biodegradability standards: ASTM D 6400 – biodegradation of

plastics in commercial composting systems

ASTM 6868 biodegradation of plastic-coated paper in commercial composting systems

D 7081 – biodegradation in the marine environment

D 5988 – biodegradation in soil D 5511 – biodegradation in anaerobic

digesters

Source for definitions: Dr. Ramani Narayan, Michigan State Univ.

1989 Cover of Environmental Action


Compostable Plastic

Plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and that leaves no visible, distinguishable, or toxic residue.

ASTM Standard D6400, 2004, “Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2004, DOI: 10.1520/D6400-04, www.astm.org


Biodegradable Products Institute 238 certified products 130 global companies Note: Some BPI-certified resins have zero biobased content


BPI-certified Products (sample)


Biobased ≠ biodegradable

Non-biodegradable biobased plastics are here

Mass of biobased carbon in the product ÷

Mass of total organic carbon in the product


USDA Biopreferred Program Q. What are biobased products? A. A biobased product is a product that is determined by the

USDA to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products, including renewable domestic agricultural materials forestry materials, and marine and animal materials. Biobased products do not include motor vehicle fuels, heating oil, electricity produced from biomass, or, since the program is designed to stimulate markets for new biobased products, any "mature market" products. Mature market products are those biobased products that had significant national market penetration in 1972. Examples of mature market products include cotton shirts or towels, paper plates, and wood furniture.


Market drivers & new developments

Biobased content - The amount of biobased carbon in the material or product expressed as a percent of weight (mass) of the total organic carbon in the material or product.

Biobased content is determined using ASTM Method D6866, Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Natural Range Materials Using Radiocarbon and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis.


Biobased content varies


Biomaterial – Wonder Material?

• “renewable” • “green • “eco-friendly” • “sustainable” • “environmentally neutral” • “safe and better” • “easy on the environment” • “return to nature without a trace”

Compostability alone ≠ sustainable


Not All Bioproducts Created Equal

Biobased content Material feedstock type Feedstock location Biodegradability

Commercial compost sites Home composting Marine environment Anaerobic digestion

Additives and blends Recyclability Performance Products

Biobased content alone ≠ sustainable


• China – Bulrush – Bagasse – PSM (Plastarch Material) – Corn – Chinese PLA – PHBV* – PBS** – Cornstarch

• India – Fallen palm leaves

• Thailand/Vietnam – Tapioca starch – Grass fiber – Bagasse

• Malaysia – Palm fiber

• USA – NatureWorks Ingeo (PLA) – Mirel PHA – “Natural total chlorine-free pulp” – Recycled wood fiber

*polyhydroxybutyrate-polyhydroxyvalerate

**polybutylene succinate (petrochemical + succinic acid)

Survey Data: feedstock types and sources


Path from Field to Producer

“The source product is from Brazil, then turned into cornstarch in China,

then the starch is used in our manufacturer’s facility.”

“Feedstocks grown in Midwestern US. Manufacture the resin

in Hawthorne, CA today, but plan to manufacture in Seymour, IN shortly.”


Challenges with Biobased Products

Concern over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Desire for sustainably grown biomass Need to develop adequate composting programs Concern with nanomaterials and fossil-fuel-plastic blends Inconsistencies in and lack of adequate labeling Concern over contamination of recycling systems Confusion in terminology ASTM may not reflect composters’ needs


Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative: Market-based tools

Sustainable feedstocks / Sustainable agriculture

Green Chemistry / Clean Production

Closed Loop Systems / Cradle to Cradle / Zero Waste

“Just because it’s biobased, doesn’t make it green”


Purchasing Specifications for Biobased Compostable Foodservice Ware

• Bid specs for purchasers

• Presents baseline mandatory criteria

• Bidders can earn points for products meeting beyond baseline desirable criteria.


Common Points of Confusion

• False claims of compostability or biodegradability: Many available products carry misleading, deceptive or unsubstantiated claims of biodegradability or compostability. Buyer beware!

• Compostability of plastic-coated paper: Research now shows that polyethylene-coated paper products are bad for composting operations and the quality of compost.


“Biocompostable” cutlery

www.sustainablebiomaterials.org www.sustainablebiomaterials.org

Confusion

Source: www.ensobottles.com


Oxo-degradables


“Biodegradable” PVC


Better than paper claim


Ultra Green but single-use


Biobased content labeling inconsistent too

Biobased content based on ASTM D6866 ~20%


FTC Green Marketing Guide Example 3: A manufacturer makes an unqualified claim that its package is compostable. Although municipal or institutional composting facilities exist where the product is sold, the package will not break down into usable compost in a home compost pile or device. To avoid deception, the manufacturer should disclose that the package is not suitable for home composting.

Source: http://ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.h


San Francisco: Aiming for Zero Waste


Seattle: Compostable Foodservice Ware


CA AB 1972 and AB 2071 • AB 1972 (DeSaulnier)–Solid Waste: Plastic Bags: Food and

Beverage Containers (effective 1/1/09) This bill modifies two chapters in current law: one on biodegradable

and compostable plastic bags and one on plastic food and beverage containers. In both programs, the sale of an item labeled "compostable" or "marine degradable" is prohibited, unless the item meets specific ASTM Standard Specifications, or in some cases, a standard adopted by CalRecycle. (Chapter 436)

• AB 2071 (Karnette)–Plastic Bags: Plastic Food and Beverage Containers: Enforcement (effective 1/1/09)

This bill establishes penalties for failure to comply with labeling requirements for compostable, biodegradable, and degradable plastic bags and plastic food and beverage containers sold in California. (Chapter 570)


CA Senate Bill 567 The Truthful Environmental Advertising in Plastics Law

• SB 567 expands the scope of current California law beyond plastics bags and food packaging to all plastics products.

• Approved by Gov. Brown, Oct. 8th, 2011

• Effective January 1st, 2013


Bioplastics and Organic Certified Compost

• USDA’s National Organics Program ensures credibility of USDA Organics label

• One rule requires compost feedstock to be free of non NOP-authorized synthetics

• The Organic Materials Review Inst. determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production/processing.

• OMRI has ruled that compostable and biodegradable products are not acceptable.

• The Canadian Organics program and the European Organics program both accept biodegradable plastic in their feedstock.

• BPI is developing and executing a plan to seek NOP approval for use of plastics that meet ASTM D6400 and D6868.

• Meanwhile, composters will be bound by restrictions placed on them by certification organizations.



2011 USCC Compostable Plastics Track

1. Identification/Labeling Challenges

2. Enforcement/Legislation 3. ASTM Standards Need

Refining 4. Consumer Education 5. National Organics Program

(NOP) Impacts

http://compostingcouncil.org/compostable-plastics-symposium/


Contact Info

Brenda Platt SBC, Co-Chair

Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Co-Director [email protected]

202-898-1610 ext 230


mailto:[email protected]�

Business

2012 0121 platt bioplastics101 uscc jan212