Concerning PPI 4-20™
Environmentally Responsible Products

It is flexible and rigid packages made of traditional polymers that have been modified by the blending of organic and inorganic components so they are biodegradable and compostable when in the presence of microbial activity.

What degradable materials are currently available?

LDPE, HDPE, CO-EXTRUSIONS

Do materials made with PPI 4-20™ additive look, feel, or act any different than traditional materials?

No.  Products have the same physical and performance characteristics (clarity, strength, sealability, etc.) as the traditional materials they replace.

What makes PPI 4-20™ materials biodegrade?

By adding proprietary organic and inorganic components into the material, microorganisms will be attracted to, interact with, and degrade the material when in environments where there are other biodegrading organic materials. Over a period of time, the microorganisms will metabolize the polymers into an organic biomass and eventually carbon dioxide and water.

Are PPI 4-20™ products compostable and/or biodegradable?

All BCR products are both compostable as well as biodegradable.  Many competing products are either compostable OR biodegradable.

Are PPI 4-20™ products recyclable?

Yes. The method used to modify the polymers does not affect the recyclability of the materials.  All materials can be added to existing recycling streams without contaminating them.

Where will PPI 4-20™ products degrade?

All PPI 4-20™ products will degrade wherever there is continuous microbial activity.  These environments include commercial compost facilities, home compost pits, landfills, oceans, ponds and swamps.  Products will degrade where there are either aerobic or anaerobic conditions.

What starts the degrading process?

When the discarded material enters the microbe active environment, the additives in the material attract microorganisms.  These microorganisms then metabolize and fully biodegrade the polymer.  Oxygen, heat, or light are not needed to either initiate or continue the biodegrading process.

Does BCR degrade in aerobic or anaerobic conditions?

BCR materials degrade in both aerobic and anaerobic environments

How long does it take to degrade?

Depending on the conditions, full biodegradation will take from 180 days to 5 years.

What do the products turn into when they degrade?

All materials metabolize into an organic biomass and then continue to transform in an aerobic environment into carbon dioxide and water or in an anaerobic environment into carbon dioxide, water, and methane.

Does heat or light affect BCR products?

Good Earth products are not affected by heat or light. Unlike other materials like PLA or oxo-degradable plastics, no special precautions have to be taken regarding shelf life, storage or handling.

What testing procedures have been used to substantiate claims?

Independent labs, using ASTM testing methods including ASTM D5209-91, ASTM D5338.98, ASTM 5511 and ISO method 14885. have substantiated all our claims relating to degradable plastic as defined in ASTM 1991.

What is ASTM 6400 & how do BCR products compare?

ASTM 6400 outlines guidelines concerning materials and how they degrade specifically in commercial compost facilities.  BCR products are compostable in these facilities as well as home compost pits and biodegradable in landfills, oceans, and wherever there is constant microorganism activity.

Are BCR products approved for food packaging?

All BCR materials (except for PVC) are FDA approved for direct food contact.