Number
276-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of plastics products, including compounding and conversion
Function
Other
Process
Other
Product category
polymer ppaations and cimpounds
Application
Compostable waste bags
Abstract
Bags for household waste are an environmental problem if they are not biodegradable, like in the case of polyethylene. In Bad Durkheim District of Germany a large scale test proved that plastic bags based on polylactic acid were degraded in three weeks at the local waste composting facility.
Substituted substances
Polyethylene, PE
CAS No. 9002-88-4 EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Thermoplastic polymers
Alternative Substances
Polylactic acid
CAS No. 26100-51-6 EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Polyester
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
ecotoxicity
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Polyethylene, PE has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation).but it is not biodegradable. Alternative substance: Polylactic acid is harmful if inhaled and if swallowed. Ecovio is a product based on polylactic acid. Ecovio MSDS form the producer assumes the product is safe for health and environment, based on the properties of the individual components. The product is not PBT or vPvBT. It passes the test for composting according to the European standard DIN EN 13432 for compostable and biodegradable polymers
Description of Substitution
In 2012, Ecovio has been tested at a local composting facility in the district Bad Durkheim. The large-scale test involved 65000 households that were each given Ecovio 10 bags to use for their biodegradable waste. The participants were generally satisfied with the product and the composting test showed that Ecovio bags completely degraded in three weeks, without negative impacts on the quality of the compost. The bags are not intended for home composting. According to the producer Ecovio has a high puncture resistance preventing leakages. The material can be used for different other applications (like injection moulding)because the producers claims that it combines well with other biodegradable polymers like polycaprolactone (PCL); polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) or polybutylsuccinate (PBS), all obtainable from regenerating sources.
Case/substitution evaluation
The substitution prevents the use of petroleum derived products that do not degrade in the environment, as well as that of petroleum based plastics that may contain hazardous pro-degradation additives. Since incineration of plastic wastes generates high rates of carbon dioxide and recycling is generally costly and does not apply (generally) to plastics already recycled, composting is an alternative to consider. Ecovio is largely based on renewable sources, polylactic acid being made of corn. Production of (bio)chemicals and (bio)fuels from corn is increasing but a balance has to be maintained with its use as food source. The second generation bio fuels and bio plastics tend to be made of renewables that would otherwise end up as waste-products.
State of implementation
In use
Availability ofAlternative
The product is available on the market.
Producer/Provider
Type of information supplier
Producer / distributor
Contact
Further information
BASF: ecovio certified compostable polymer with biobased content
Ecovio F2223 MSDS from the producer
Ecovio: Download
CenterPolylactic acid MSDS from Sigma Aldrich
Type of publication and availability
Internet presentation
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
Information is based on the presentation 'Compostable organic waste bags made of Ecovio successful composting project in the Bad Dürkheim district, Germany' made on the website of the producer, BASF-The Chemical company
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021