2012 0121 platt bioplastics101 uscc jan212
TRANSCRIPT
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Compostable Plastics 101:
Overview & Issues
Brenda Platt SBC Co-Chair
Institute for Local Self-Reliance January 21, 2012
USCC Conference, Austin, TX
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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
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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
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• 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
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Pendulum Swings Back
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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
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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
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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
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Biodegradable Products Institute 238 certified products 130 global companies Note: Some BPI-certified resins have zero biobased content
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BPI-certified Products (sample)
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Biobased ≠ biodegradable
Non-biodegradable biobased plastics are here
Mass of biobased carbon in the product ÷
Mass of total organic carbon in the product
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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.
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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.
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Biobased content varies
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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
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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
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• 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
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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.”
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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
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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”
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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.
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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.
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“Biocompostable” cutlery
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Confusion
Source: www.ensobottles.com
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Oxo-degradables
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“Biodegradable” PVC
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Better than paper claim
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Ultra Green but single-use
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Biobased content labeling inconsistent too
Biobased content based on ASTM D6866 ~20%
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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
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San Francisco: Aiming for Zero Waste
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Seattle: Compostable Foodservice Ware
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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)
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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
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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.
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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/
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Contact Info
Brenda Platt SBC, Co-Chair
Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Co-Director [email protected]
202-898-1610 ext 230
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