BIOSTAR® – RECYCLABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

The debate regarding plastics, their use and impact on the environment, is intensifying, and legislation is being enacted thick and fast, worldwide. The appearance of scientific basis of decision making is however, lacking the speed, with which environmentalists are reacting to the observed damage due to micro-plastics.

Compostable materials are in favour, and recyclable plastics are preferred to one-way use materials. Oxo-biodegradable materials have been relegated to the third tier, mainly because scientific studies, data, and conclusions up to now, have not been specific enough to support the hypothesis, that these materials are harmless, and have an accelerated rate of decomposition in the natural environment.  

More recently, a QC (Queen’s Counsel), was instructed to review  “ whether the scientific evidence, particularly, from recent scientific research supports the following proposition: Oxo-biodegradable plastic technology, if employed in the manufacture of certain plastic products, has significant effectiveness and utility in facilitating the ultimate total molecular degradation of the plastic in air or seawater by bacteria, fungi or algae, so as to cause the plastic to cease to exist as such, sooner than is the case when that technology has not been employed.”

Biostar® employs the Oxo-biodegradable technology as described and therefore the conclusions of this review are relevant to judge the enhanced sustainability of these products.

For a full expose of the Opinion please click (on the pdf) here. A summary of the conclusions is:

• The most recent scientific research has produced clear and compelling evidence of the effectiveness of Oxo-biodegradable plastic technology in promoting significantly speedier ultimate degradation in air or seawater than is the case, when technology is not used; that this evidence supersedes earlier conclusions about lack of evidence (as presented in the Eunomia Report to the European Commission dated 7 August 2016); and that the continuing use of the technology is supported by a number of respected researchers (as named, and those, who presented their views to the European Chemical Agency in May 2018)
• As regards the utility of the technology, testing has shown that its use does not preclude recycling for short term use, or even for longer term outdoor re-use when stabilizer is added before re-use; research has shown no increased toxicity, and other criticisms seem fanciful.

OPINION issued by Peter Susman QC on 2nd November 2018