Frequently Asked Questions

Very frequently we have been asked about many questions about how oxo-biodegradable plastic works, and there are debats around these topics which is because now the plastic industry is really paying attention to it. As follows are some frequently asked question for your review:  

Paper bag or plastic bag?  

Why do we need oxo-biodegradable plastic?

What does it cost?

Very little, and very affordable.  This d2w® technology helps converting the ordinary plastics to biodegradable plastics with only a tiny proportion of the product, and also because the products can be made with the same machines, raw materials, and workforce as ordinary plastic.

Surely education is the way to solve the litter problem?

Hopefully education will reduce the litter problem over several generations, but large quantities of plastic waste will always find their way deliberately or accidentally into the open environment. Action needs to be taken today to switch to oxo-biodegradable before millions more tons of plastic waste accumulate in the environment.

Isn't it better to recycle than to let it biodegrade?

Yes, and one of the benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic is that it can be recycled as part of a normal plastic waste stream.  However, if the plastic is not collected it cannot be recycled, so it needs to self-destruct instead of accumulating in the environment.

Does it contain "metals"?

It contains transition metal ions of Cobalt or Iron or Manganese, which are trace elements required in the human diet. They should not be confused with toxic heavy metals such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Chromium, which are never used in oxo-biodegradable plastics. Also metal salts should not be confused with the metals themselves. Eg. pure sodium is dengerous, but sodium chloride is table salt.

Does it leave any harmful residues?

No. Oxo-biodegradable plastic passes all the usual ecotoxicity tests, including seed germination, plant growth and organism survival (daphnia, earthworms). Ecotoxicity tests are carried out in accordance with ASTM D6954 and EN 13432 standards.

Is it safe for food-contact?

Yes. Oxo-biodegradable plastic has been certified by RAPRA Technology Analytical Laboratories as safe for long-term contact with any food type at temperatures up to 40oC. RAPRA is accredited by the United Kingdom accreditation authorities as meeting the requirements of International Standards Organisation norm no. 17025. It is also certified for food-contact according to US and Brazilian regulations.

So d2w® biodegradable products are biodegradable. What exactly does that mean?

This means that once our d2w® plastics are discarded (whether that be on land, underground, at sea, etc.) they will completely degrade and break down returning to nature in as little as 12-24 months - leaving absolutely NO residue or harmful toxins.

How does the oxo-biodegradable application work?

The technology is based on a very small amount of prodegradant d2w® additive being extruded into the manufacturing process, therefore changing the behavior of the plastic and the rate at which it degrades.