Developers of Custom CPP Film Products

Oxo-Biodegradable CPP Fact Sheet

Biodegradable plastics are gaining a more prominent position in a wide variety of consumer products and packaging applications. However, there is considerable confusion in the marketplace over what technologies are available and best suited to meet specific requirements. It is important to note that Biodegradability and Compostability should not be interchanged or implied to mean one and the same. A plastic material that can be classified by current standards to be compostable is also by extension biodegradable. However, not all biodegradable plastics are by current definition compostable. This is an important distinction when considering packaging applications. There are currently two classes of biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable Plastics produced from agricultural sources (bio resins such as PLA) and some petrochemical sources. These plastics undergo a one-step biodegradation process when exposed to environmental ambient conditions. Plastics in this classification are recognized by the American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard 6400. This standard essentially relates to commercially managed composting operations and defines test procedures and acceptable criteria for that purpose. Plastics that meet the test criteria are considered to be compostable. Oxo-Biodegradable Plastics produced from conventional petrochemical based sources modified with additives that result in a two-step biodegradation process when exposed to environmental ambient conditions. Plastics in this classification are recognized by the American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard 6594-04. These materials will biodegrade in the environment but do not necessarily meet the current requirements for compostability. Each class of plastics has a role in the drive to reduce the environmental impact of plastics in the post consumer waste stream. End users will need to specify which classification of plastics is necessary or desirable for their applications. Copol International Ltd. is licensed to incorporate EPI-Environmental Product Inc.s OxoBiodegradable additive technology (TDPATM) in our CPP film products. Our monolayer film products CP301, ACP375 and MPP201 have been tested and validated by EPI for oxidative biodegradation properties following established ASTM testing protocol. We will add the suffix DG to our regular product code denoting that it has been produced with the EPI TDPATM additive. All of our packaging labels will also exhibit the EPI logo indicating visually that the film material has been produced with the TDPATM additive.

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FAQs About Oxo-Biodegradation 1. What is Oxo-Biodegradation? Oxo-biodegradation is a two-step process by which the material first starts to break down into smaller molecular units under exposure to oxygen and heat. These smaller molecular units are then further broken into carbon dioxide, water and biomass through reaction with naturally occurring microorganisms. The Oxo-biodegradation is initially triggered through the interaction of an EPI TDPATM additive with the basic polymer chain. 2. Do Oxo-Biodegradable plastics contain corn starch? No. Some earlier biodegradable plastics technologies did contain cornstarch in relatively high concentration. Though the cornstarch component would itself biodegrade resulting in what appeared to be a breakdown of the plastic polymer. In fact, the polymer itself remained virtually intact in the environment. Only its basic form changed with the breakdown of the cornstarch component. 3. By definition, are Oxo-Biodegradable plastics recognized as being Biodegradable? No. Because Oxo-Biodegradation is a two-step process rather than a single step process, plastics incorporating this additive technology are currently not recognized as being Biodegradable. A number of organizations including the Oxo-Biodegradation Plastics Institute (www.oxobio.org) are working with the American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM) to develop test standards and protocols that would include a pass/fail standard for oxo-biodegradable plastics and recognize those that pass the test criteria as Biodegradable. 4. Is there a critical factor restricting Oxo-Biodegradable plastics from being considered Biodegradable? Yes. Under the current ASTM 6400 standard, Biodegradable plastics must achieve 60% biodegradation within 180 days under specified composting conditions. Plastics incorporating EPIs TDPATM additive technology do biodegrade but at a slower rate than currently specified in ASTM 6400. 5. Are any ASTM Test Standards applicable to Oxo-biodegradation? The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) acknowledges the oxo-biodegradable technology in ASTM 6954-04. This is a standard guide specifically developed for plastics that degrade initially by an oxidative process and subsequently biodegrade. D6954 prescribes the tests to be done in order to rate materials in terms of their ability to degrade, biodegrade and to assess their ecotoxicity impact to the environment of disposal. 6. Are products produced with EPIs TDPATM additive technology considered compostable? Currently, plastics incorporating EPIs TDPATM additive technology do not fully meet the requirements for classification as compostable. Plastics produced with TDPATM additives

P.O. Box 70 | 69 Hartigan Drive | North Sydney, N.S. Canada | B2A 3M4 Toll Free: 800 668 2700 | Tel: 902 794 9685 | Fax: 902 794 7592

degrade and ultimately biodegrade slower than the rate specified in current standards for compostability. 7. Is there a shelf life associated with Copols DG designated CPP film materials? From testing conducted by EPI, the typical shelf life of a DG designated CPP film product under normal pre consumer exposure conditions is 18 months. This means that Copol will not inventory any of these DG designated CPP products. Each order will be custom extruded. 8. Are basic film properties of a -DG designated CPP film different from a non -DG film? No. Basic film properties such as clarity, tensile strength, stiffness, heat sealing are not affected by the inclusion of the TDPATM additive. The only obvious difference is the end coloration of the finished rolls. They will appear darker than a comparable non DG designated CPP film. 9. Does a Copol DG designated CPP film product process any differently than a non DG designated CPP film? Based on the experience from converters and end users processing our DG designated CPP film products, there is no measurable difference in process performance of these films. 10. Is there special labeling associated with Copol -DG designated CPP films? Yes. All pallet and roll labels will carry a Use Before date and the EPI logo indicating that the film has been produced with the TDPATM 11. Are -DG designated CPP films suitable for food packaging applications? The TDPATM additive meets FDA compliance requirements for food contact packaging applications. However, Copol International Ltd. has decided to offer -DG designated CPP film for only non food packaging applications at this time. 12. Should scrap -DG designated material be segregated differently? That will depend upon local scrap recycling regulations and policies of recycling companies. The TDPATM additive is used in very low concentrations in the original CPP film. When introduced into the normal scrap stream, the ultimate concentration level will be diluted significantly. It is unlikely that downstream recycling of any -DG designated scrap would create concerns for reuse of recycled materials. However, it would be wise to verify with local authorities. 13. Is there a specific recycling label that applies to this classification of plastics? None at the present time. In time, there undoubtedly will be specific requirements for labeling all biodegradable plastics with a unique recycling label.

P.O. Box 70 | 69 Hartigan Drive | North Sydney, N.S. Canada | B2A 3M4 Toll Free: 800 668 2700 | Tel: 902 794 9685 | Fax: 902 794 7592