Scott Smithline - US Composting Council

Bioplastics
A Primer (with a particular focus on composting…)
Scott Smithline
Director, Legal and Regulatory Affairs
“The idea that I'm not adding more
waste to the world, or endangering
wildlife from stray plastic bags, is very
reassuring. I'll be ordering more of
these!”
- A Green Genius Customer
Overview
I.
What Are Bioplastics?
II.
Key Terms
III. Industry Standards / Laws Regulating Bioplastics
IV. Examples
V.
Why it Matters
a.
Consumer Issues
b.
Composting/Recycling Issues
What are Bioplastics?
Two Main Categories:
BIOBASED
• Carbon in these
plastics is made
from renewable
resources such as:
-Sugar
-Starch
-Vegetable Oils
BIODEGRADABLE/
COMPOSTABLE
•Biobased?
•Additive Based?
Bioplastics: Potential Benefits
Production
•Reduced Energy/Petroleum
•Potential for Renewable Feedstocks
End of Life Management
•Opportunity for Closed Loop Recycling
•Opportunity for Composting
Bioplastics: Potential Issues
Greenwashing
•Reduce Barriers
to Litter
•Promote
Single Use
End of Life Issues
•Compost
Compatibility
• Recycling
Compatibility
End of Life Issues
ENVIRONMENTAL HARM
Common “Green Marketing”
Terms
•Degradable : This means that it will fragment. Essentially all
plastic bags are degradable. Think of it as the first step in
biodegradation.
•Biodegradable:
Organic material that an be metabolized by
naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria or
fungi over a “reasonable” period of time.
•Compostable: Biodegradable in a professionally managed
municipal/commercial compost facility.
Common “Green Marketing” Terms
•Recyclable: Products for which a substantial majority of
consumers and communities have access to recycling
facilities.
•Additives: a range of substances intended to facilitate
fragmentation and/or biodegradation.
•Oxo-Degradable: accelerate oxidative degradation
(UV, heat, mechanical stress)
•Bio-Initiated Degradable:
organic (fossil) additives
that are designed to increase bacterial colonization
•Biobased: Produced in part or “entirely” from plant or
other current biomass feedstock.
Bioplastics: Resins and Additives
• Biobased
• Polylactic Acid (PLA): Ingeo
(Natureworks)
• Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA):
Mirel (Tellus)
• Polymerized Starch: Mater-Bi
(Novamont)
• Additive based
• Oxo: Epi, Reverte (Oxobioplast)
• Bio: EcoPure (Bio-Tec)
• Petroleum Based
• Blends—MOST PRODUCTS
ARE BLENDS
Scientific Standards
American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) standards
Standard Specifications
ASTM D6400: “compostable”
ASTM D7081: “marine degradable”
ASTM D6868: “plastic coatings/liners
compostability”
Scientific Standards
Other Standards
ASTM D5511 Standard Test Method:
Biodegradation of Plastics under High-Solids
Anaerobic Digestion Conditions
ASTM D6954 Standard Guide:
Plastics that Degrade in the Environment by
a Combination of Oxidation and
Biodegradation
Scientific Standards
Misleading
Use of
American
Society
forASTM
Testing and
Standards:(ASTM) standards
Materials
Green Genius Bags:
PROVEN TO BIODEGRADE USING ASTM D5511, ASTM D5511 is
the industry standard for determining biodegradability of
plastic in an anaerobic waste disposal environment (like a
landfill)
Pride Green Bags:
Have been tested and passed the American Standard ASTMD6954 for oxo-biodegradability. They degrade, then
biodegrade, on land or sea, in light or dark, in heat or cold…
Federal Law
Federal Trade Commission
“Green Guides”
•Clear and Prominent Labeling
•“Reasonable Basis” for environmental claims
•Guidance concerning terms, such as:
Biodegradable
Compostable
Recyclable
California Law
CA Public Resources Code
• Section 42355, limits on
“compostability,” ban on “biodegradable”
CA Business and Professions Code
•Prohibits false/misleading claims
•Enforces FTC’s Green Guides
“Biobased”
Biobag, Food Waste Plastic Bag
100% Biodegradable &
Compostable
Biota,
biodegradable
water bottle
Dandelion,
Reusable
Cutlery
made from
corn
Sun Chips,
Compostable
Bag
“Additive” Based
Aquamantra,
Biodegradabl
e&
Recyclable
Water Bottle
Green Genius,
Biodegradable Trash
Bags
Balance,
Biodegradable
Water Bottle
PrideGreen,
Biodegradable
Trash Bag
“Additive” Based
DogPoopBags,
Biodegradable
Pet Waste bag
Simple Shoes,
Biodegradable
Sneaker
BioGreen,
Biodegradable
Water Bottle
BioGreen,
Biodegradable
Calculators
Water Bottle #1
Balance
The Bottle
The Bottom Line:
•Petroleum based
The Hype:
PET with Additive
•Not Recyclable
•Not Biodegradable
•Not Compostable
Water Bottle #2
Biota
The Bottle:
The Hype:
“BIODEGRADABLE”
Recyclable
The Bottom Line:
•Biobased bottle (corn based)
•Not recyclable
•Compostable (sometimes) in certain
conditions
Water Bottle #3
Coca Cola/Dasani
The Bottle:
The Bottom Line:
•Biobased bottle
The Hype:
(partially)
•Recyclable
•NOT Biodegradable
•NOT Compostable
Plastic Bag #1
Green Genius
The Bag
The Bottom Line:
•Petroleum Based
with additive
•Not biodegradable
•Not recyclable
•Not compostable
The Hype:
Biodegradable in Landfills
Plastic Bag #2
Mutt Mitts
The Bag
The Bottom Line:
•Petroleum Based
with additive
•Not biodegradable
•Not recyclable
•Not compostable
The Hype:
100% Degradable
The Bag
Plastic Bag #3
BioBag
The Bottom Line:
•PLA-based
•Compostable
•Not recyclable
The Hype:
Compostable
Why It Matters
False Environmental Claims hurt consumers and the
environment
100%
•Blatantly violates both FTC
Green Guides and CA Law
•Reduces Barriers to Littering
•Contaminate in Recycling AND
Composting
Whose Getting Hurt by These Violations?
CONSUMERS
Vs.
$ .066 per oz
$ .097 per oz
COMPETITORS
Compostable
Products
Vs.
Additive
Products
Recycling Impacts
•Most bioplastics can’t be recycled (with PET)
•Sorting is not effective: at consumer or MRF level
•Biobased and Additive based products contaminate
the PET stream.
•Who wants bricks strapped with biodegradable
plastic
Bale Specifications
Recycled plastic requirements for XXXXX Industries
(1)
CONTAMINATION:
Bales must not contain more than the specified levels of
certain contaminants listed below:
Green PET
20%
Colored PETE
2%
PVC
1%
Metal/Trash
3.5%
Hazardous Med/Ag
NONE
Plastic Bags/Film
NONE
PET Strapping/Shred
NONE
Hypodermic Needles
NONE
PREFORMS
NONE
Biodegradable material
or Modified PET
NONE
Composting Impacts
Opportunities:
• Food Scraps: the next
frontier
Barriers:
• Compostability: no
consistency
• ASTM standard: not
representative
• NOP Certification
Sources of Compostable /
“Biodegradable” Plastics
Intentionally
Targeted Materials
Residential Food
Scrap Collection
Commercial Food
Scrap Collection
Restaurants,
Large Venues,
Special Events, etc
(Food Service Ware)
Pre-Consumer
Unintentional
Green Waste
Contamination
Leaf Bags
Dog Poop Bags?
Produce Bags?
Food Scrap
Contamination
?
Compost Facility
Once it (Inevitably) Arrives…
Prohibit
Sort 100%
Separate
Go Conventional
Things to Consider
Composting
Front End
Back End
• Material Types. Can you control the
specific compostable products
(brand/product - not even all items
made from PLA for example going
behave the same)
• Identification. Will your staff and/or
your contamination removal system
be able to identify compostables
from non-compostables? Is the
collection system mature enough to
then sort appropriately?
• Permit Compliance. Is your facility
allowed to accept compostable
plastics (i.e., food scraps)?
• Will the materials break down
sufficiently in your system to not
cause blowing litter, other
nuisances?
• Is your tracking system robust
enough to track incoming loads to
the proper destination?
• Will materials break down
sufficiently to not affect your end
product (i.e., plastic contamination)?
• Are their potential impacts on your
end markets? (Acceptable in
Organic?)
$
“Joe the Composter”
To accept compostables, you need to work with the
generator/hauler/local government as early as possible
• What’s acceptable / what’s not
• Limits on contamination
• Procedure for introducing new materials, etc.
Consider…
• Accepting limited quantities from specific sources to pilot
• Handling loads with compostables separately to track progress
• Developing a rigorous testing procedure to evaluate individual
products for acceptance
“The idea that I'm not adding more
waste to the world, or endangering
wildlife from stray plastic bags, is very
reassuring. I'll be ordering more of
these!”
- A Green Genius Customer