Biopolymers - Compostable

Biopolymer products are comprised of natural starch or similar additives whose physical characteristics resemble those of a plastic product. Like plastics, biopolymers are a versatile material for use in a wide variety of consumer and industrial applications. Like all products the production, use and disposal of biopolymer products do place pressure on the environment. Different biopolymer products vary in terms of their starch content, their biodegradability, the time taken to biodegrade to an acceptable level under natural conditions, and the additives in their formulation (either natural or synthetic) which eventually enter the environment as a result of the biodegradation process. Biopolymer products also impact the environment indirectly. These include the clearing of land to grow potatoes and/or corn (for starch), the use of starch sourced from genetically modified (GMO) crops, the use of biocides and pesticides, and land degradation and the eutrophication of waterways associated with farming, among others. Clearly, the environmental impacts of biopolymer products are numerous and widespread.

Fortunately, progress in the biopolymer industry has allowed the development of natural material and starch-based products with comparatively lower environmental loads compared to synthetic alternatives, with applications for starch-based biopolymers growing steadily. Applications include plastic shopping bags, rubbish bags, agricultural products, food packaging and containers, sanitary products, stationary, fishing gear and more. As the technology and knowledge grows, the functional and environmental performance of biopolymer products will improve. Given the impact that plastic shopping bags and food packaging has had on our environment and our psyche, preference should – and must – be given to more environmentally preferable biopolymer products.

Consumer Behaviour Tips

Factors that identify, and will help you choose, environmentally preferable biopolymer products:

• They do not contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing), tetragenic or mutagenic substances;
• They comprise a minimum of 30% of natural material or starch;
• The plastic additives comprise less than 40% aromatic polyesters or other degradable plastics by weight;
• They comply with EU, DIN (German) and Japanese standards for hazardous material content and biodegradation;
• They do not contain genetically-engineered starch.

For specific information view our Environmental Standard for Biopolymer Products:
www.geca.org.au/standardsregister.htm