The controversy and debate around oxo-degradable plastics was recently fuelled by the European Bioplastics Association which published a paper distancing itself from oxo-degradable, as opposed to biodegradable, plastics. Green Home welcomes this move as it has helped to clarify a lot of the confusion around the differences between degradable and biodegradable and highlights the fact…
According to a popular green living blog, polystyrene cups are number 1 on the list of 10 things you should never buy again if you care about the environment. For a list of all 10 green no-no’s released by Green America, click here.
According to this article, the European Plastics Recyclers Association (EuPR) is urging manufacturers to exercise caution if using oxo-degradable additives, warning that degradable plastics have the potential to do more harm to the environment than good. Unlike biodegradable alternatives to plastic which are made out of natural, renewable resources like sugar cane and corn, degradable…
It has come to our attention that over the last few months, the Polystyrene Council’s marketing people have been on a mission to punt the environmental benefits of polystyrene – especially now that it is recyclable. We are particularly concerned by the fact that ‘green’ or ‘holistic’ events and publications have been the target of…
According to this article on ThomasNet Industrial News Room, green packaging is on the rise and was the top packaging trend in 2008. The article states: “Biodegradable plastics are foreseen to have the fastest gains, fueled by increased price competitiveness with conventional resins, rapidly expanding capacity and a lower pricing volatility than petroleum-based plastics”.
Eben Bayer, co-founder of the company Ecovative Design has found a way to use fungi from agricultural waste to replace polystyrene/styrofoam! Read the full article that appeared in the New York Times here.
“Biodegradable” is one of packaging’s most misused terms– Packaging Digest, 12/1/2008. Read this great article on how the term ‘biodegradable’ is often just a form of greenwash…
Watch this fascinating documentary about the history of the world’s most ubiquitous, non-biodegradable product…plastic.
According to this blog on biodegradable plastics, oxo-biodegradable plastics used locally by South African companies such as Albany Bakery, have come under fire. “Claims of compostability for such products are therefore wrong and untrustworthy. In Italy and Australia lawsuits resulted in fines for using misleading claims in the marketing of such products”. Read more here….
