bioplasticsMAGAZINE_0904

European Bioplastics
Says “No“ to Oxo‘s
News
Industry association European Bioplastics has published
a position paper distancing itself from the so-called ‘oxobiodegradable’
industry. The paper sheds some light on
the ‘oxo’-technology, its failure to live up to international
established and acknowledged standards that effectively
substantiate claims on biodegradation and compostability,
and the implications resulting from the different
approaches.
“Bioplastics are still a relatively young industry”, says Andy
Sweetman, Chairman of the Board of European Bioplastics.
“Inherent implications made on the environmental
suitability of our products are subject to close scrutiny by
all kinds of stakeholders. It is, therefore, vital that claims
on biodegradability or compostability are backed by
internationally accepted standards”, he adds.
“We just cannot allow that the public, who are generally
very sensitive to ecological issues, be further confused by
claims on biodegradability and compostability resulting
from conflicting approaches. If certain products that claim
to be biodegradable or compostable are proven not to fulfil
acknowledged standards, this is liable to impact negatively
on our own members’ products, even though they do fully
comply”, Sweetman further states. It should, under all
circumstances, be avoided that products carrying the
compostability mark of European Bioplastics, the seedling,
be associated in any way with so-called ”oxo-biodegradable”
products and the like.
Products carrying the seedling (see page 9) have
undergone rigorous independent testing beforehand. Only if
proven to comply with the strict standards on biodegradability
or compostability, such as ISO 17088, EN 13432 or other
similar standards, can the tested material or product be
awarded the seedling.
“This is also why we so vigorously fought against the
attempt of the ‘oxo-biodegradable’ industry to water-down
the criteria of the EN 13432, requesting longer timeframes for
materials to decompose. It would not have been in the public
or the composting industry’s interest to have compromised
the strict criteria of EN 13432 which ensures the materials
are fit for purpose”, the chairman adds. “Fortunately, our
position is fully shared by the experts of the plastic and
packaging sectors, as was evident during the last meeting of
the relevant Working Group of The European Committee for
Standardization (CEN) on July 9, 2009, where the requests
for revision of the standard were rejected.”
In the next issue bioplastics MAGAZINE will publish extracts
from the position paper, the complete version of which can
be downloaded from www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/200904
interpack 2011 –
Again a Promising
Product Think-Tank
Five years after the launch of the special show
concept ‘Innovationparc‘ the bioplastics theme has
become such an established fixture that it will form
an integral part of the regular ranges on display at
interpack in 2011 (to be held in Düsseldorf,Germany
from 12 to 18 May). interpack is the world‘s most
important trade fair for the packaging sector,
including packaging in glass, metal and aluminium,
paper and cardboard as well as conventional plastics,
and its relevant processing industries.
Bioplastics made their debut at the ‘Innovationparc
Bioplastics in Packaging‘ in 2005 represented by 20
exhibitors on 250m² of rented exhibition space. Three
years later this theme was featured four times as
prominently at interpack 2008 with 40 companies on
1000 m². Commenting on this, Bernd Jablonowski,
the Director of interpack, said: “The development
of bioplastics over the past few years confirms our
approach of using the innovationparcs to address
trend themes that promise ‚substance‘ for the
future.“ For interpack 2011, the association European
Bioplastics expects further interest on the exhibitors‘
part. “Four months before registration documents are
to be sent out, there are already signs of a doubling
of the exhibition area occupied by the bioplastics
industry compared to 2008,“ says Hasso von Pogrell,
Managing Director at European Bioplastics.
Companies wishing to exhibit in the Bioplastics
segment of interpack 2011 can register with Messe
Düsseldorf from October 2009 on (Mr Grosser, Tel.:
+49211/4560-417, GrosserC@messe-duesseldorf.de).
Official deadline for registrations is
February 28, 2010.
www.european-bioplastics.org
www.interpack.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/09] Vol. 4