GREEN MOUNTAIN COMPOST

CUTLERY COMPOSTABILITY TEST

September, 2013 – March, 2014

Procedure

Nine brands of PLA cutlery were procured from manufacturers and then tested for degree of

compostability at the Green Mountain Compost facility in Willliston, Vermont. Eight of the nine brands met ASTM D6400 standards and were BPI certified.

Green Mountain Compost utilizes an aerated static pile (ASP) compost system. Each batch of compost undergoes two phases of aeration, screening followed by a curing period. Our sample bags went through the same process, with the exception of screening, for a total of 173 days of composting.

Each sample was weighed then placed in a heavy-duty nylon mesh bag along with several scoops of our bulk compost recipe. Sample bags were then buried at a depth of 3-4 ft. in one compost pile. (See photos below.) The samples underwent 17 days of static aeration in Phase 1, were removed and re-moistened (as is standard procedure in our composting process,) and were then reinserted into a new pile of partially composted materials for aeration in Phase 2. The samples spent 27 additional days of aeration in Phase 2. Please see attached sheets for information on composting temperatures in Phases 1 and 2.

At 44 days of total aeration, following removal from Phase 2, mesh bags were emptied and each sample's contents were picked through. Visible pieces of cutlery were removed, photographed, and weighed.*

Mesh bags were refilled with soil from the pile from which they came, and remaining pieces of cutlery were mixed back into their respective bags.

Bags were buried at a depth of 3-4 ft. in a curing area compost pile consisting of the same compost material that surrounded the bags during aeration. The samples underwent 129 days of curing (mesophilic composting) and were removed at 173 days (total).

Mesh bags were again emptied and each sample's contents were picked through. Visible pieces of cutlery were removed, photographed, and weighed*.

Degree of degradation was determined by visual examination of photos and consideration of percent decrease in total sample mass.

We utilized a subjective 0 through 4 scale of degradation as follows: 0 - No degradation 1 – Slight degradation

2 - Moderate degradation 3 – Advanced degradation 4 – Full degradation

* Some samples were not weighed after curing because they were almost fully degraded down to tinypieces that would have been near impossible to pick out and/or distinguish from other material contained in the bags.

Results

Following Phases 1 & 2:

Sample Percent

Breakdown Degradation

Rating*

1 World Centric 1.5% 1

2 Veg Ware 27.6% 2

3 EcoProducts 11.7% 1

4 Nature Ware 54.9% 2

5 Earth Sense 19.0% 1

6 Nature Works / Ingeo 5.7% 1

7 Spudware 29.9% 2

8 Taterware 6400 28.2% 2

9 Greenwave 1.2% 0

Following Curing Phase:

Sample Percent

Breakdown Degradation

Rating* 1 World Centric 63.8% 3 2 Veg Ware ~100% 4

3 EcoProducts ~100% 4

4 Nature Ware ~100% 4

5 Earth Sense ~100% 4

6 Nature Works / Ingeo N/A** 3

7 Spudware 65.6% 3

8 Taterware 6400 ~100% 4

9 Greenwave 2.6%*** 0

Considerations:

• It is important to note that though samples were always buried in the same pile within a few

feet of each other, it is possible that conditions within specific areas of each pile could vary

slightly due to pockets of varying moisture, temperature, and/or oxygen in that area. This

would be more likely in phases 1 and 2 than in the curing phase.

• 100% retrieval of sample material would be virtually impossible: very small pieces of sample

material could have fallen out of sample bags through the mesh; and some pieces of

decomposed samples were so small that it was impossible to pick them out of the soil.

• * Degradation rating determined using photos and percent breakdown • ** Data collection for Nature Works / Ingeo weights was faulty• *** No visible signs of degradation. Reduction in mass likely due to broken pieces that were not

found.

0 = No degradation 1 = Slight degradation 2 = Moderate degradation 3 = Advanced degradation 4 = Full degradation

Conclusions

We found some variation in the compostability of the 9 brands of cutlery tested. One of the samples

that we tested was apparently an older formulation sold by Green Wave and turned out to be a non-

compostable product which did not carry compostable certification and was sent to us erroneoulsy. The

other 8 brands were found to "fully" or "mostly" degrade after the full 173 days of test composting that

is representative of the composting process at our facility. Given that our compost is screened down to

3/8" prior to an extensive curing period, it is likely that any intact pieces would either be screened out

for further composting or have plenty of time for full integration.

Green Mountain Compost is not set up for running extensive testing on every formulation of

compostable plastic cutlery available. Though dismayed by the continued green washing of non-

compostable items labeled as "compostable," "degradable," "biodegradable," and "oxodegradable" by

certain firms in the plastics industry, we have gained confidence that the newer formulations that have

been vetted by the likes of Cedar Grove Compost, Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), and others

using ASTM methods are indeed truly compostable if properly composted.

Based on the results of this study, Green Mountain Compost will lift our cutlery ban and allow certified

compostable cutlery as an acceptable feedstock.

Post-Phase 2 Photos

Post-Curing Photos

1. World Centric

2. Vegware

Very few visible pieces remaining.

3. Eco-Products

Very few visible pieces remaining.

4. Natur-Ware

Virtually no visible pieces remaining.

5. Earth Sense (WNA)

Virtually no visible pieces remaining.

remaining.

6. NatureWorks Ingeo (Jaya)

7. Spud Ware

8. Tater Ware 6400

9. Green Wave

Virtually no visible pieces remaining.

remaining.

Not compostable material.

No. Brand Manufacturer Model # Composition Certifications # of samples Total # of pieces

Date started in

phase 1

Date pulled from

phase 1

Date started in

phase 2

Date pulled from

phase 2 Total net mass (g)

Date started in

curing

Date pulled from

curing (2 months) Total net mass (g)

1 Tea Spoon SP-PS-6 3

Fork FO-PS-6 3

Knife KN-PS-6 3

RK-PS-B Spork3

12 80.1 78.84 1.53% 28.95 63.84%

2 6.5" CPLA Knife 3

6.5" CPLA Fork3

6.5 CPLA Spoon3

9 44.4 32.11 27.63% 0 95-100%*

3 6" Knife EP-S0113

6" Fork EP-S0123

6" Spoon EP-S0133

6" Soup Spoon EP-S0143

12 56.2 49.61 11.67% N/A 95-100%*

4 Fork NT1890-BULK-000123

Knife NT1890-BULK-000133

Spoon NT1890-BULK-000143

9 33.3 15.02 54.88% N/A 95-100%*

5 Fork ESVFKBK5003

Knife ESVKNBK5003

Spoon ESVSPBK5003

9 53.8 43.55 19.03% N/A 95-100%*

6 6" Knife CPLA-0013

6" Fork CPLA-0023

6" Spoon CPLA-0033

Taster Spoon CPLA-0063

12 49.4 46.58 5.70% 36.24 26.64%

7 7" XL Spoon 226-502112

7" XL Fork 226-50212 2

7"XL Knife 226-50213 2

4" Tasting Spoon 226-50204 2

8 57.3 40.16 29.92% 19.72 65.59%

8 Fork TWF-6400-BPI3

Knife TWK-6400-BPI 3

Spoon TWS-6400-BPI 3

Soup Spoon TWSS-6400-BPI 3

12 58.3 41.86 28.23% N/A 95-100%*

9 2 x Fork2

2 x Knife 2

2 x Spoon 2

2

8 41.0 40.51 1.18% 39.92 2.61%

* 95-100% breakdown is estimated.

10/24/2013

3/17/2014

3/17/2014

3/17/2014

11/8/2013

11/8/2013

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11/8/2013

10/24/2013

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3/17/2014

11/8/2013

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3/17/2014

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9/26/2013

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9/12/2013

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9/12/2013

9/12/2013

GREEN MOUNTAIN COMPOST COMPOSTABLE CUTLERY TEST

2013/2014

NatureWorks Ingeo

(Jaya)

Earth Sense (WNA)

BPI, ASTM D6400,

EN13432, Cedar

Grove

mPLA

CPLA

Northern

Technologies Int'l

Corp.

Asean Corp.

(Cereplast is actual

manufacturer)

Natur-Ware (Nature

Tek)

Vegware

Eco-Products

Total Starting Net

Mass (g)

% breakdown by

weight

World CentricNon-Gmo TPLA, 70%

corn, 30% talc

BPI, ASTM D6400,

Cedar Grove

percentage

breakdown by

weight

PHASE 1 PHASE 2 CURING (129 days)

BPI, ASTM D6400,

Cedar GrovePLA (corn based)

Resin made by

Green Day

CPLA - Crystallized

PLA

BPI, ASTM D6400,

Cedar Grove

CPLAWNAASTM D6400, BPI,

Cedar Grove

BPI, ASTM D6400,

Cedar Grove

PLA ASTM D6400Excellent

Packaging & SupplySpud Ware

Green Wave Trans World

International

Wrong sample sent --

not a compostable

material

None

GMO Free CPLA,

new crystalization

process

BPI, ASTM D6400Tater Ware 6400

Biodegradable

Food Service, LLC