Q & A – About EcoBio® Products:What is the difference between EcoDegradable® and EcoBio® Oxo-Biodegradable products?Do the additives in "Eco" products meet the regulatory requirements for safety and ecotoxicity?Can I recycle "Eco" products?Will "Eco" products begin to degrade before I use them?Will water cause "Eco" garbage bags to weaken or leak?Are "Eco" products as strong as "normal plastic" products?What is ultraviolet light?What is mechanical stress?If "Eco" products become litter do they still degrade?What happens to "Eco" products in a landfill?What happens to "Eco" products in a commercial compost?How should "Eco" products be stored?How will I know if my "Eco" product is beginning to degrade?[Top]Answers about the Products:What is the difference between EcoDegradable® and EcoBio® Oxo-Biodegradable products?• EcoDegradable® products are engineered for disposal in a landfill and under these conditions will degrade and fragment at a slower rate (12 to 18 months). In full scale Landfill trials, the molecular weight of EcoDegradable® modified films was reduced from 114,000 Mw to less than 4,500 Mw, a loss of more than 95% in just ten months and a Mw at which mineralization can take place. • EcoBio® Oxo-Biodegradable Organic Waste Collection Bags are engineered to degrade and totally fragment in 30 to 60 days and 60% mineralize / biodegrade in 12 to 24 months when disposed of in long term commercial compost facility and subsequent soil application.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] Do the additives in EcoBio® products meet the regulatory requirements for safety and ecotoxicity?• Yes – there are no harmful materials or toxic residues • All components are on the FDA – GRAS list (generally regarded as safe) • They comply with FDA requirements for direct food contact • And meet CONEG regulations for heavy metal limitations.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] Can I recycle EcoBio® products?• Yes, EcoBio® plastic products that are normally recycled carry the appropriate recycling designation.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] Will EcoBio® products begin to degrade before I use them?• No, they will not. This is an important question. What differentiates EcoBio® products is their "best before" date, which allows ample time for use before they begin to degrade. The degradation process will start when the product is exposed to heat, ultraviolet light, or mechanical stress.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] Will water cause EcoDegradable® garbage bags to weaken or leak?• No, water does not compromise the strength or serviceability of our products.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] Are EcoBio® products as strong as "normal plastic" products?• Yes they are. The additives do not compromise any good qualities of normal plastic except that EcoBio® products are engineered to last only as long as required for normal use and are designated with a "best before" date.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] What is ultraviolet light?• Ultraviolet light is sunlight. If an EcoBio® Oxo-Biodegradable product was exposed to sunlight for 30 to 60 days, it would start to degrade while an EcoDegradable® degradable bag would take a few months.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoSafe® Products] What is mechanical stress?• Mechanical stress is tearing or stretching of plastic.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] If EcoBio® products become litter do they still degrade/biodegrade?• Yes they do. The prodegradant additives accelerate the natural oxidative process of ordinary plastic by factors of 100, a 1000 or more. Once triggered, it cannot be stopped and depending on the available oxygen and microbial activity, the process will continue in air and soil.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] What happens to EcoBio® products in a landfill?• The heat in a landfill is sufficient to make them quickly degrade and totally disintegrate. EcoDegradable® Degradable products are specifically engineered for landfill disposal and will lose as much as 95% of their Mw in 10 to 18 months which not only frees space in the landfill, it exposes any food, paper or other EcoBio products to the natural chemistries of the landfill. • If an EcoBio® Oxo-biodegradable product were to get into a landfill the same chemistry would occur only much faster.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] What happens to EcoBio® products in a commercial compost?• EcoBio® Oxo-Biodegradable products are engineered specifically for disposal in longer term commercial compost facilities. The heat in most commercial composts is controlled in the range of 55o to 65o C (145o F), which causes the modified plastics to oxidize and totally disintegrate in about 30 to 60 days. Depending on the ambient conditions in the compost and soil application, the fragments will mineralize 60% in 12 to 24 months. • If an EcoBio® Degradable product were to get into a commercial compost, the same chemistry would occur only at a much slower rate. It is expected that total disintegration should occur within 6 to 12 months). • EcoBio® products are not recommended for home composts as the time frame for composting will be extended because of the lower temperatures.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] How should EcoBio® products be stored?• EcoBio® Oxo-Biodegradable products have a shelf life of about 9 to 12 months, while for EcoDegradable® products it is about 18 to 24 months. • Depending on when they are used or the storage conditions, this time fame can be shortened or extended. • Ideal storage conditions limit exposure to oxygen, heat and UV light. Products are best stored in the original package in a cool location away from direct sun light. • Storage for extended periods (weeks or months) at temperatures above 30oC (86oF) will shorten the expected shelf life.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products] How will I know if my EcoBio® product is beginning to degrade?• The first sign that it is in the early stage of oxidation is when it begins to discolor. • In advanced stages of degradation it will become brittle and fragment.[Top] [Q & A – About EcoBio® Products]
