STUDIES
The eco-friendliness is achieved by using P-Life™, a specially formulated degradant catalyst which leads polyolefin polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, considered as non-biodegradable polymers, into "Oxo-Biodegradable Plastics".
P-Life degradant additives provide the chemical environment that subsequently and inevitably leads to the total (100%) degradation of the polyethylene product into carbon dioxide, water and a benign, non-toxic residue at the molecular level, which is then totally assimilated back into nature when discarded in a landfill, controlled composting environment or even as litter.
P-Life™ advanced Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic Additive is a Patented Technology based on US Pat. No.6482872 "Process for Manufacturing a Biodegradable Polymeric Composition", and conforming to ASTM D 6954-04.
OXO-BIODEGRADABLE |
HYDRO-BIODEGRADABLE |
| Usually made from a by-product of oil-refining |
Usually made from starch |
| Can be recycled as part of a normal plastic waste-stream |
Damages recyclate unless extracted from feedstock |
| Can be made from recyclate |
Cannot be made from recyclate |
| Emits CO2 slowly while degrading |
Emits CO2 rapidly while degrading |
| Inert deep in landfill |
Emits methane deep in landfill |
| Can use same machinery and workforce as for conventional plastic |
Needs special machinery and worforce |
| Suitable for use in high-speed machinery |
Not suitable for high-speed machinery |
| Compostable in-vessel |
Compostable |
| Little or no on-cost |
Four or five times more expensive than conventional plastic |
| Same strength as conventional plastic |
Weaker than conventional plastic |
| Same weight as conventional plastic |
Thicker and heavier than conventional plastic |
| Leak-proof |
Prone to leakage |
| Degrades anywhere on land or sea |
Degrades only in high-microbial environment |
| Time to degrade can be set at manufacture |
Time to degrade cannot be controlled |
| No genetically modified ingredients |
Possibility of GM ingredients |
| Safe for food contact |
Safe for food contact |
| No PCB's Organo-chlorines, or "heavy metals" |
No PCB's Organo-chlorines, or "heavy metals" |
| Can be incinerated with high energy-recovery |
Can be incinerated, but lower calorific value |
| Production uses no fertilisers, pesticides or water |
Production uses fertilisers, pesticides and water |
| No limit on availability of feedstock |
Limited availability of feedstock |
| Demand for oxo-biodegradable plastics does not drive up cost of fuel for vehicles |
Demand for hydro-biodegradable plastics drives up price of human and animal foodstuffs. |
PLASTIC BAG
"Facts and Figures"
THE NUMBERS...BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Introduced just over 25 years ago, the ugly truth about our plastic bag addiction is that society's consumption rate is now estimated at well over 500,000,000,000 (that's 500 billion) plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year.
Single-use bags made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are the main culprit. Once brought into existence to tote your purchases, they'll accumulate and persist on our planet for up to 1,000 years.
EZ Bagz are LDPE and Biodegradable
- Four out of five grocery bags in the US are now plastic.
- The average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store.
- According to the EPS, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.
- According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion)
- According to the industry publication Modern Plastics, Taiwan consumes 20 billion bags a year - 900 per person.
- According to Australia's Department of Environment, Australians consume 6.9 billion plastic bags each year - 326 per person, an estimated 0.7% or 49,600,000 end up as litter each year.
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