May 2007

Sao Paulo

24th September 2007

Symphony Environmental Technologies

•PLASTIC (53 COUNTRIES)

•WASTE-TO-ENERGY

Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association

Scientific Advisory Board:

Professor Gerald Scott (UK) (Chairman),

Professor Emo Chiellini (Italy),

Professor Jaques Lemaire (France),

Professor Norman Billingham (UK),

Professor Ignacy Jakubowicz (Sweden),

Professor Telmo Ojeda (Brazil),

Dr. David Wiles (Canada).

Isn’t plastic fantastic?

The Benefits of Plastic Packaging

• Lightweight

• Flexible

• Strong/Durable

• Economical

• Heat sealable

• Impervious to moisture

• Printable

• Recyclable

BUT

100,000

*FACT*FACTOVER 100,000 MARINE ANIMALSDIE EVERY YEAR FROM PLASTIC ENTANGLEMENTTRUETRUE

THE SOLUTION

OXO-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC

The alternative

Hydro-biodegradable

Made from starch, PLA etc(Commonly called “bioplastic” or “biopolymer” or “compostable”

(Not to be confused with water-

soluble)

Standards and Terminology

Oxo-degradation is defined by TC249/WG9 of CEN (the European Standards Organisation) as

“degradation resulting from oxidative cleavage of macromolecules.” and

“oxo-biodegradadation” as resulting from oxidative and cell-mediated phenomena, either simultaneously or successively.”

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)

ASTM D 6954-04

“Standard Guide for Exposing and Testing Plastics that Degrade in the Environment by a Combination of Oxidation and Biodegradation”

How does Oxobiodegradation work?

WHAT IS OXO-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC MADE FROM?

NAPTHA

A bye-product of oil refining

Good environmental sense

(in future possibly from bio-ethanol)

NO SPECIAL MACHINERY

OR WORKFORCE

STANDARDS

Until recently no standards for oxo

The French Standards organisation, AFNOR, published in July 2007 a Standard (XP T54 980-1) for oxo-biodegradable plastics in agriculture.

A draft standard (8472) capable of measuring oxo-biodegradation has also been published by the British Standards Institution in 2007.

Oxo-biodegradable plastic can be tested according to American Standard ASTM D6954-04 for Plastics that Degrade in the Environment by a Combination of Oxidation and Biodegradation

EN 13432 (ASTM 6400)

•Requires almost complete conversion of the carbon in the plastic to CO2, thus depriving the resulting compost of carbon, which is needed for plant growth, and wasting it by emission to atmosphere.

•A leaf would not pass the CO2 emission test

•EN 13432, does not however require that plastics biodegrade during and after composting within any particular time-scale. Paragraph 5 of EN 13432 says: "It is important to recognise that it is not necessary that biodegradation of packaging material or packaging be fully completed by the end of biological treatment in technical plants but that it can subsequently be completed during the use of the compost produced"

EN 13432 (ASTM 6400)

The EU Packaging Waste Directive does NOT require that when a packaging product is marketed as “degradable” or

“compostable” conformity with the Directive must be assessed by reference to EN13432. The Directive provides that

conformity with its essential requirements may be presumed if EN 13432 is complied with, but it does not exclude proof of

conformity by other evidence, such as a report from an

accredited testing institution. Indeed Annex Z of EN13432 itself says that it provides only one means of conforming with the

essential requirements.

Products AvailablePE, PP, PS (Not PET)

•Carrier bags or “shopper-bags” which consumers use to take away their purchases from

the shop

•Refuse sacks, which consumers buy in rolls at the shop, and use for disposal of their

ordinary household waste.

•Aprons, for the protection of garments, in the home, hospitals, restaurants, workshops

etc.

•Bags to contain dog faeces collected in parks, gardens, etc

•Bin liners

•Gloves

•Bread bags

•Frozen food bags

•Wrappers for cigarette packets

•Shrink-wrap and pallet-wrap

•“Bubble-wrap”

•Rigid products such as bottles and cups

DURABLE BAGS

3-5 YEARS

What can you do with it?

RECYCLE (Erema TVE 1300)

MAKE FROM RECYCLATE

INCINERATE

COMPOST (in vessel)

LANDFILL (no methane)

BUT …….if not collected

Residues?

Water, CO2, Biomass, Trace elements

NO “HEAVY METALS”

OWS - ECO-TOXICITY TESTS

OWS Ecotoxity Test 8th March 2006

RAPRA Food Safety test 12th April 2005

SYMPHONY REJECTED HYDRO BECAUSE:

•TOO EXPENSIVE•CANNOT RECYCLE (Recoup)•NEEDS MICROBIAL ENVIRONMENT•EMITS CO2 TOO FAST•EMITS METHANE IN LANDFILL•NOT STRONG ENOUGH•THICKER AND HEAVIER•NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED MACHINES•NOT RENEWABLE (HYDRO-CARBONS and FERTILISERS)•LAND AND WATER RESOURCES

GOVERNMENTS

BAN OR TAX

Who is using d2w oxo-biodegradable?

Two weeks ago, Symphony heard from the Commercial

Packaging Manager of the Co-op as follows:

“I am happy to say that we are using oxobiodegradable

polythene films for direct food contact applications. We

currently use these materials for pre-packed produce, self

serve produce, pre-packed bread, frozen vegetables and

fresh turkeys as well as for carrier bags. The approval for

use has been based on the very strict EU requirements

under EU Directives 2002/72/EC and 2004/19/EC relating to

plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact

with foodstuffs. We have been using these materials for

food contact use since 2004.”

Co-op carrier bags

The Co-op’s d2w carrier bags are manufactured and supplied

through Bunzl, the UK’s leading supplier to the retail trade

On 3rd May this year the Environment Committee of the UK Periodical Publishers’Association recommended that their members use oxo-biodegradable plastic film for wrapping their magazines.

Government of Chile

Ministra del Medio Ambiente del Chile explicó en terreno bondades de bolsas

biodegradables. Jueves 9 de Agosto de 2007

....La biodegradación de las bolsas de polietileno Jumbo se produce gracias al uso

de un aditivo en la fabricación de las mismas sin alterar las propiedades básicas de

resistencia e higiene de las bolsas. Este aditivo fragiliza las cadenas moleculares del

plástico y lo convierte en material sensible a la luz solar, humedad, tensión mecánica

y temperatura, y en una sustancia digerible por microorganismos. ....

..... El aditivo cuenta con certificaciones internacionales que avalan su contribución a

la degradación del plástico y las propiedades higiénicas aptas para su contacto con

alimentos.

http://www.lasegunda.com/ediciononline/economia/detalle/index.asp?idnoticia=358857