Frequently Asked Questions

By far the largest proportion of single use plastics such as those used in disposable packaging and garbage bags end their lives in landfills or, unfortunately, as litter. Conventional plastics can persist unchanged for many years in such environments.

The same items produced by Proud2BeGreen made from plastics utilizing EPI’s proprietary TDPA™ technology safely degrade and biodegrade within a few months to 2 - 3 years in these environments. In landfills, they reduce landfill volume and help maximize capacity utilization and they aid in landfill compression.

Degradable and biodegradable plastics are defined by ASTM D883-99 as follows:

Degradable Plastic: A plastic designed to undergo a significant change in its chemical structure under specific environmental conditions resulting in a loss of some properties that may vary as measured by standard test methods appropriate to the plastic and the application in a period of time that determines its classification.

Biodegradable Plastic: A degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally-occurring micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae.

Oxo-biodegradation is a two-stage process in which a plastic is first converted by reaction with oxygen to molecular fragments that are water- wettable. Secondly, these smaller oxidized molecules are biodegraded and converted into carbon dioxide, water and biomass, by microorganisms. The rate at which this happens for conventional plastics is very slow, taking decades or even centuries. EPI's TDPA™ additives are catalysts that accelerate this reaction so that it occurs over a few months to a couple of years.

• Proven technology in the marketplace
• Provide environmental benefits
• Provide large economic benefits in some end uses
• Cost effective
• Claims are scientifically validated
• Same excellent physical properties as conventional plastics
• Can be reused and recycled in existing recycle streams
• Available immediately
• Enhance a product brand name
• Working with the pioneer and leader in oxo-biodegradable technology

Products made from commodity plastics such as PE, PP and PS can be made degradable by incorporating TDPA™ additives. Some commercial products that have successfully incorporating TDPA™ include carrier bags, garbage bags, Ziplock bags, cling film, shrink-wraps and EPS trays.

Information on product requirements such as storage conditions, disposal environment and expected degradation rate will enable EPI to give the best recommendation; TDPA™ additives are manufactured in a range of formulations and incorporated at various concentrations in order to control product shelf life and service life.

Yes, different disposal methods require the use of different TDPA™ formulations specific to the conditions of the disposal environment and the desired degradation performance. EPI can make recommendations for the most suitable formulation.

Yes, in-plant materials (trimmings, scrap, etc.) are normally recycled - commonly practiced amongst EPI’s manufacturers. The usual amount of recycled materials used is about 20% for degradable/biodegradable and 5% for non-degradable end products. This will ensure that quality of the end products is not compromised. Additionally, post-consumer plastics can also be recycled in existing recycle streams provided they have not already started to degrade.

The presence of TDPA™ does not affect processability, output rate or quality of end product and are processed using the same equipment as plastics without the additive.

Prior to the onset of degradation and disposal, products incorporating TDPA™ will have virtually identical performance to those without the additive. Products with TDPA™ are engineered to have a predetermined life and have a designated "use before" date.

The breakdown of TDPA™ incorporated products is triggered by heat, UV light and/or mechanical stress or a combination thereof.

The end products of biodegradation are carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Extensive studies and tests have been conducted by EPI with internationally recognized laboratories and institutions to confirm that they do not leave harmful or toxic residues to the environment.

Yes. TDPA™ additives comply with FDA, EFSA and CFIA requirements in the US, Europe and Canada respectively and are safe for food contact applications. Proud2BeGreen garbage bags and products are FDA approved.