Question 1

How Does EcoPure® Work?

Accepted Answer

EcoPure® accelerates the biodegradation of plastics in microbe-rich, biologically active environments such as landfills, seawater, soil, and compost. Its patented approach is inspired by quorum sensing, the natural communication system bacteria use to coordinate their activities. EcoPure® is formulated with organic ingredients that modulate quorum sensing and promote microbial colonization of the plastic surface. The microorganisms form a biofilm and secrete enzymes that cleave polymer chains at the molecular level. As the polymer chains are broken down into smaller, bioavailable molecules, the microbes metabolize the carbon as a source of food and energy. EcoPure® enables conventional polymers to biodegrade in a manner similar to organic matter. The resulting biodegradation process produces natural by-products, including biomass, soil organic matter, and biogas.Plastics treated with EcoPure® retain their original performance, with no change in shelf life, and are non-toxic. Unlike conventional plastics, EcoPure®-treated plastics provide microorganisms with access to the polymer as a carbon source, enabling them to metabolize the material and significantly accelerate its biodegradation.

Question 2

What is left behind after the plastic biodegrades?

Accepted Answer

The biodegradation process produces the same natural by-products as decomposing organic matter: biomass, soil organic matter, biogas, and water.Independent laboratories have analyzed the residual material produced during the biodegradation process. Following biodegradation in accordance with ISO 15985, the remaining material is a nutrient-rich soil amendment that passes ecotoxicity testing and contains no detectable microplastics as confirmed by FTIR analysis.

Question 3

Does EcoPure® cause microplastics?

Accepted Answer

No. EcoPure® does not cause plastic to physically fragment into microplastics.Unlike oxo-degradable plastics, EcoPure® does not rely on transition metal salts to weaken polymer chains through exposure to oxygen and UV. Oxo-degradable technologies promote physical fragmentation, which can result in the formation of microplastics rather than true biodegradation.EcoPure® contains no transition metal salts or other additives that promote physical fragmentation. Instead, it enhances microbial biofilm formation on the plastic surface, enabling microorganisms to biodegrade the polymer at the molecular level. This biodegradation mechanism has been validated using ASTM D5511 (Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions), as well as other recognized ASTM and ISO biodegradation standards.Unlike EcoPure®-treated plastics, oxo-degradable plastics do not demonstrate meaningful biodegradation under these standardized test methods.

Question 4

How long does it take for plastic treated with EcoPure® to biodegrade?

Accepted Answer

The rate of biodegradation depends on several factors, including the type of conventional polymer used in product, the shape of the product,  and the environmental conditions to which the EcoPure®-treated plastic is exposed.In recent ASTM D5511 testing, sodium polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer treated with EcoPure® achieved 91% biodegradation in 345 days, while a polypropylene nonwoven fabric achieved 90% biodegradation in 180 days.An LDPE film treated with EcoPure® was also evaluated under ASTM and ISO test methods for controlled composting, seawater, and anaerobic digestion environments. The results demonstrated that biodegradation rates increase in more biologically active environments, with controlled composting exhibiting the fastest rate of biodegradation.

Question 5

What types of plastic are compatible with EcoPure®?

Accepted Answer

EcoPure® is compatible with virtually all polymer types and manufacturing processes.We have developed multiple EcoPure® formulations to ensure compatibility with a wide range of polymers. EcoPure® is commonly used with PET, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PVC, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), EVA, nylon (PA), PMMA, and polycarbonate (PC).EcoPure® is also fully compatible with recycled plastics and can be incorporated into bio-based resins, including PLA, Green PE, bio-based EVA, and bio-based polyurethane.

Question 6

Does EcoPure® contain enzymes or microbes?

Accepted Answer

No, EcoPure® does no contain enzymes or microbes.EcoPure® is a polymer additive composed of organic compounds that promote microbial colonization and biofilm formation in biologically active, microbe-rich environments. It contains no enzymes, microorganisms, or starch-based additives.

Question 7

Will EcoPure cause my product to degrade while it is in use or in storage?

Accepted Answer

Products made with EcoPure® require a biologically active, microbe rich environment (such as a landfill, soil, compost, or anaerobic digesters) for biodegradation. Warehouses, offices, store shelves, etc. do not have the concentration of microbes required for the quorum-sensing communication process to propagate.The microbes required to consume plastics made with EcoPure® are readily found in compost environments, landfills, waterways, and soil.

Question 8

Can EcoPure be used in food packaging and food contact applications?

Accepted Answer

Yes. EcoPure ® complies with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements under Title 21, Part 177 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for polymers used as components of single- and repeated-use food-contact articles.  It also complies with applicable EU food-contact requirements and has successfully passed migration testing.Keller and Heckman, a leading law firm specializing in FDA regulatory compliance, has reviewed EcoPure® formulations and confirmed that they comply with applicable FDA requirements.Intertek, an independent testing laboratory, also review EcoPure® formulation and confirmed it complies with EU food-contact requirements.The ingredients in EcoPure® are also Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)..

Question 9

How is the biodegradation of plastic products treated with EcoPure® tested?

Accepted Answer

The biodegradability of plastics made with EcoPure® is tested using internationally recognized standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), including:ISO 15985 / ASTM D5511 – Standard test method for determining anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic-digestion conditions.
ISO 17556 / ASTM D5988 – Standard test method for determining aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in soil.
ASTM D5526 – Standard test method for determining anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under accelerated landfill conditions.  
ISO 14855 / ASTM D5338 – Standard test method for determining aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions, incorporating thermophilic temperatures. 
ASTM D6691 – Standard test method for determining aerobic biodegradation of plastics in seawater.
OECD 207: OECD Guideline for the Testing of Chemicals No. 207: Earthworm, Acute Toxicity Tests.
OECD 208: OECD Guideline for the Testing of Chemicals No. 208: Terrestrial Plant Test – Seedling Emergence and Seedling Growth Test.

Question 10

Does EcoPure meet industry standards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our customers routinely test their finished products to ensure compliance with the regulatory and industry standards applicable to their markets. Finished products containing EcoPure® have been tested for compliance with the following:U.S. FDA – Compliance with the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for food-contact applications.
European Union – Compliance with Commission Regulations (EU) No. 10/2011 and (EU) No. 2020/1245 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 – Certification for products tested for harmful substances.
American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) – Compliance with the AAFA Restricted Substances List (RSL).
Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM) – Compliance with the AFIRM Restricted Substances List (RSL).
Global Toy Safety Standards – Testing to internationally recognized toy safety standards and specifications.
Children's Drinking Equipment Safety – Compliance with applicable safety regulations for children's drinking equipment.
Hong Kong Certification Centre (HKCC) – Certification for biodegradability.
RecyClass – Recyclability evaluated in accordance with the RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocol V1.0.

Question 11

Are products made EcoPure® recyclable?

Accepted Answer

The inclusion of EcoPure® does not affect the recyclability of plastic products.While there is no single globally recognized standard for certifying recyclability, several widely accepted industry protocols and certification programs are used to evaluate the recyclability of plastic products.Plastic products containing EcoPure® have been independently tested for recyclability. For example, PET bottles containing EcoPure® were evaluated in accordance with the RecyClass PET Bottle Recyclability Evaluation Protocol V1.0, which demonstrated that EcoPure® has no adverse impact on the quality of recycled PET (rPET).In addition, many of our customers routinely reprocess and reuse EcoPure®-treated production scrap in their manufacturing operations for extended periods without any adverse effects, further demonstrating that EcoPure® does not interfere with the recycling process.

Question 12

If my product is made from recyclable materials, why should I care about biodegradation?

Accepted Answer

Recycling and biodegradation serve different but complementary purposes. Recycling should always be the preferred end-of-life solution. However, despite decades of investment in recycling infrastructure, only about 9% of plastic waste generated globally is recycled. The remainder is landfilled, incinerated, or leaks into the environment due to contamination, inadequate collection systems, product design, or improper disposal.In addition, a product's recyclability depends on more than the materials used to manufacture it. Factors such as product design, multi-material construction, labels, adhesives, pigments, additives, and the availability of collection and sorting infrastructure all influence whether a product can be successfully recycled. For example, disposable diapers are manufactured using recyclable materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene. However, because they are multi-material products and become contaminated during use, they are not recycled and are typically disposed of in landfills.EcoPure® does not interfere with the recyclability of plastic products. Instead, it provides an additional layer of environmental protection by enabling plastic that escapes the recycling stream to biodegrade in biologically active, microbe-rich environments. By supporting both recycling and biodegradation, EcoPure® helps manufacturers reduce the long-term persistence of plastic waste while advancing their sustainability goals.

Question 13

If I'm already using bio-based plastics, why would I need EcoPure®?

Accepted Answer

Bio-based plastics can offer important environmental benefits, but being bio-based does not necessarily mean a plastic is biodegradable or that it will reduce plastic waste. These are two different concepts.For example, green polyethylene (green PE) is made from renewable sugarcane instead of petroleum, but it has the same chemical structure as conventional polyethylene. As a result, it behaves the same way in the environment and can persist for decades if not recycled.Similarly, PLA (polylactic acid) is biodegradable under industrial composting conditions, but it generally does not biodegrade effectively in home composting, landfills, soil, or marine environments and requires specialized composting facilities that are not widely available.EcoPure® is compatible with both conventional and many bio-based plastics, including PLA, green PE, bio-based nylon, and bio-based polyurethane. It enables these materials to biodegrade in biologically active, microbe-rich environments, providing an additional end-of-life solution when recycling or industrial composting is not available.Using renewable raw materials and ensuring responsible end-of-life management are both important. EcoPure® helps manufacturers address the latter by reducing the long-term persistence of plastic waste.

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