Frequently Asked Questions:

Emerald™ 100% Degradable Garbage Bags

1. what is the difference between degradable and biodegradable plastics?
   Degradable plastics are designed to undergo significant changes in chemical structure under specific environmental conditions, resulting in a loss of product integrity. Molecules are oxidized and break down into smaller molecules, and then the plastic disintegrates. Biodegradation occurs as a result of the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae as they consume the smaller plastic fragments.
    
2. What is OxoBiodegradation of a plastic?
   OxoBiodegradation is a two –stage process in which, first the plastic is converted by reaction with oxygen in the air to molecular fragments that are water wettable and second, these smaller oxidized molecules are biodegraded (converted into CO₂, H₂O and biomass).
    
3. What products can be made degradable?
   most short term, single-use plastic packaging products.
    
4. Can TDPA-based degradable plastics be recycled?
   Yes. Recycling in-plant material is entirely possible. Recycling post-consumer degradables is possible if they are based on TDPA technology, and provided degradation has not started.
    
5. What is the difference between TDPA® technology and starch-based technology?
   in specific PLA (Polylactic Acid)starch-based technology, the plastic is drived from plat starch. Though this sounds reasonable it has serious implications including:
   • Major use of energy to produce the product.
   • Rapid release of CO2 limiting humus production.
   • High costs compared to commodity PE, PP and PS blended with TDPA®
• Major use of energy to produce the product.
• Rapid release of CO2 limiting humus production.
• High costs compared to commodity PE, PP and PS blended with TDPA®
   
6. What is the significance of ASTM D6954-04 as applied to OxoBiodegradable Plastics?
   ASTM D6954-04 formally recognizes the technology internationally. For single use throwaway plastic products it offers a controlled lifetime to items that are not being recycled yet, and when discarded, they will degrade.

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