Standards and labelling of

degradable plastics
Plastics New Zealand
29th March 2006
 Degradable Plastics
• All plastics
• ASTM D883
– a plastic designed to undergo a significant change
in its chemical structure under specific
environmental conditions resulting in a loss of
some properties that may vary as measured by
standard test methods appropriate to the plastic
and the application in a period of time that
determines its classification.
• What does it mean to the consumer?
 Technologies
• Petrochemical feedstock
– Polyolefin with pro-degradant additives
– Biodegradable polyesters
– PVOH derivatives
• Renewable resource feedstock (bioplastic)
– Cellulose
– Starch
– Vegetable oil
– Others
• Combinations
– Various bioplastics
– Starch / polyester
 Degradation Mechanisms
• Water solubility
• UV triggered photo-oxidation
• Thermally induced oxidation
• Hydrolysis
• Biodegradation – bacteria and fungi
Biodegradable Polymers (with approved biodegradability)

Based on Based on
Renewable Raw Materials Petrochemicals
(RRM) : (Synthetics) :

 Starch (Foams)  Specific Polyesters

 Starch blends  Specific Polyesteramides
 Polylactic acid  Polyvinylalcohol
(PLA)
 Polyhydroxyalkanoates
(PHA)
 Cellulose esters
 Caseines
 a.o. ⇒ Make the best out of both worlds.
(use synergies for improved competitiveness)
 Oxo – degradable polyolefin
• Incorporate metal compounds like cobalt
stearate
• Under certain conditions, oxidation causes
reduction in molecular weight leading to
disintegration into small pieces
 Why are they used?
• Consumer demand for products with reduced environmental
impact at all stages of manufacture, use and disposal.
• Retailers and manufacturers perceive a marketing advantage
• Government regulations / industry codes of practice
• Help address litter concerns
• Assist organic waste recycling
• Bioplastics
– Utilise renewable resources, reduce reliance on oil
– Reduce accumulation of greenhouse gases.
– Can be organically recycled through composting along with organic
waste
 Biobased Polymers
Directly extracted from Biomass Classically synthesised Polymers produced
from bio-derived monomers directly by organisms

Polysaccharides Proteins Lipids Polylactate PHA

Starch Animals Plant Cross-linked Other Polyesters Bacterial

tri-glyceride cellulose
Potato
Casein Zein
Maize
Whey Soya Xanthan
Wheat
Rice Collagen/ Gluten Curdlan
Gelatine
Derivatives Pullan

Cellulose Gums Chitosan/Chitin

Cotton Guar
Wood Locust bean
Other Alignates
Derivatives
Carrageenan
Pectins
Derivatives
 Performance claims
• Degradable
• 100% degradable
• Biodegradable
• 100% biodegradable
• Compostable
• 100% degradable environmentally friendly bag
• This bag is guaranteed to biodegrade in landfill
• Environmentally friendly
• This is a biodegradable plastic bag
 Issues
• What do the claims mean?
• What does the consumer think the claims
mean?
• What are the implications of product
failure to meet reasonable expectations?
 Standards
• Define what the consumer can expect
• Performance requirements
– EN13432
• Biodegradability
• Compostability
• Toxicity
• Test methods
– ISO 14855: aerobic biodegradability
– ISO 14852: biodegradability in aqueous medium
 International Compostability
Certification Network
• DIN CERTCO – Europe
• Biodegradable products Institute (BPI) – US
• Biodegradable Plastics Society (BPS) – Japan
• Biodegradable Materials Group (BMG) – China –
agreement with BPS on mutual recognition of
test reports
• Environmentally Biodegradable Plastics
Association (EBPA) – Taiwan – memorandum of
understanding about future cooperation
 Current Standards / Performance
requirements
• EN 13432 – Europe
• ASTM D6400 – USA
• DR05402 (draft) – Australia
• GreenPla - Japan
Australian Standard Draft DR05402
• Biodegradable plastics packaging –
Biodegradable plastics packaging recoverable
through composting and other microbial
degradation
– Biodegradability – must biodegrade 90% when tested
to ISO 14855
– Compostability – no more than 10% of the original dry
weight retained on a 2mm sieve after 12 weeks tested
to ISO 16929
– Toxicity
• compost quality must not be negatively affected
• Maximum levels for certain elements
• No ecotoxic affect on plants and earthworm
 BIODEGRADABILITY/COMPOSTABILITY
• BIODEGRADABLE AND COMPOSTABLE ACCORDING TO
EN13432, DIN 54900, UNI17585
Biodegradation

100
90
80
(CO2/ThCO2)

70
60
50 Pure cellulose
40 Mater-Bi
30
20 (100um)
Mater-Bi
10 (1mm)
0
%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time ( Days)
• COMPATIBLE WITH ANY TYPE OF COMPOSTING PLANT
(FROM HOME COMPOSTING TO ROTARY FERMENTING REACTOR)
 Approval of Biodegradability & Compostability

⇒ Key feature!
Consumer trust and acceptance in composting/waste management industries

⇒ Compostable products: Comply with EN 13432 (ASTM 6400)

No harmfull or accumulating substances/intermediates

⇒ Product identification: Certification + Labeling needed!

⇒ Note: IBAW Position on oxo-degradable PE films June 2005

Step 1 Step 2

Finished Product Product Labeling

(crosscut)
Report 1
Polymers Product
Material 1
Certification
tested
according Report 2
Material 2 to Expert decision based
EN 13432 content on test reports and
Report 3 product description

Material 3
Packaging & Content
proved as being
(produced from three different
compostable
biodegradable polymers)

Tests accomplished by accredited test institute Certification by accredited certification body

(e.g. DIN Certco in Germany)
 Labelling
• Materials tested to relevant performance
requirements and test methods
• Testing by approved laboratories
• Certification:
– DINCERTCO
– AIB Vincotte
• Labelling details
– Eg. Biodegradable and compostable
according to the requirements of EN13432
 NatureFlexTM Product Range

All NatureFlex™ packaging films have been fully tested &

certified to the European composting norm EN13432:2000.
They can therefore carry the following logos:

Compostable
Kompostierbar
7W0039

Dincertco, Germany OK Compost, Belgium

Also UK, NL & Pol.

Plus in the USA…

BPI, USA
 Code of Practice
• Plastics and Packaging Industry focus
• Objective
– For the consumer or customer to understand what he is buying
• Signatory commitment
– Labelling guidelines
– Ingredient control and disclosure
– Selection of materials on merit
• Why have a code of practice?
– Corporate responsibility
– Self regulation
– Supported by government
– Alternative is government regulation
 Using Degradable Plastics

In Australia

An Industry Code of Practice

Peter Bury
Director: Industry Development - Plastics
March 2006
 Greetings / Background
• Greetings to New Zealand colleagues
• Grateful to Warwick Hall to share our work
• Partnership with Federal Gov’t
Department of Environment and Heritage to
develop product stewardship programs
• Part of global group who developed 2003
“Common Framework for the Use of
Degradable Plastics”
• Members leading from the front
 Drivers for a Code
• Potential damage to Members / Industry
• Misleading claims / labeling of environmental
performance by some companies
– Mainly in bag market, potential in others
• Regulator, Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC), engaged & has prosecuted
• Insufficient plain language information and
education to guide decision making
• Leadership & self regulation better than poor
performers & Governments setting industry image
and regulation including penalties
 The Code
• Voluntary instrument with cooperative support
from Govt (DEH) and regulator (ACCC)
• Industry commitments from:
– Raw material suppliers
– Product manufacturers to:
1. Clear and Accurate labeling of products
2. PACIA Degradable Plastics Reference Group to
manage ongoing issues
• Appendices:
– Definitions and terminology
– Material Data Sheets
• Draft form at present - June 2006 completion
Clear and Accurate Labeling
• Principles of Product Stewardship
• Comply with law regarding:
– ISO/AS 14021: 2000 – Environmental Claims
– ACCC: False and Misleading information
– Having evaluation method and data in place
before making a claim
– Plain language
 Reference Group
• Ongoing governance and development of the
Code:
– 5 year major review
– Regular updating (living document)
• Coordinate ongoing Australian Standards
work (complementary)
• Assist with product stewardship work
(recyclers, composters etc.)
• Differentiates PACIA Members as leaders
 Definitions and Data
1. Plain language definitions and terminology used
in industry for external groups
2. Material data sheet appendix using existing
commercial information on claimed performance
• Independently verified
– Type of material
– Properties of material
– How it breaks down (method)
– Which standards it has been tested to (verified)
– Test methods used (verified)
– Environments where is it suited to degrade in
 Harmonisation
• New Zealand
• Australia
• Europe
• USA
• Asia
 Industry Group Participation
• Plastics New Zealand
• PACIA
• Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA)
• International Biodegradable Polymers
Association and Working Groups (IBAW)
• Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
• Biodegradable Plastics Society
 Current Applications
• Shopping bags
• Doggy bags
• Organic waste collection bags
• Mulch film
• Disposable hygiene products
• Disposable cutlery
• Planter pots
• Food packaging
– Tray
– Bottle
– Blister pack
– Bread bag
• Cosmetics packaging
• Void fill
– Loose fill bead
– Bubble wrap
• Packaging for recycled paper products
• Coated paper products
 Challenges
• Plastics and packaging industries
– What is achievable?
– Selection of appropriate material
– Processing
– Labelling
• Consumers
– What performance can be expected
• Plastics recycling industry
– Effect on processing
– Effect on recyclate properties
– Sorting technologies
• Composting Industry
– Effect on process
– Effect on properties of compost
 Recovery systems for bioplastics
• Europe: organic waste collection and composting
stream
• Australia and New Zealand 2005: landfill
• Australia and New Zealand future: organic waste
collection and composting stream
• Drivers:
– zero waste objectives
– Organic waste collection and composting infrastructure
– Focus on renewable resources