| Why do we need oxo-biodegradable plastic? |
| Because thousands of tons of plastic waste are entering the world's environment every day, and will remain there for hundreds of years, unless collected for incineration. |
| What is EPOM? |
| EPOM (Eco Protection Optimization Materials) can be treated as an additive in plastic production. EPON is a reformed ore mainly composed of CaCo3. EPOM is made by nano technology. |
| How does it works? |
EPOM plastic products will be fragmented by ultraviolet. If ultraviolet does not shine on the EPOM products, the products still remain as it is. But the physical function may be decayed after three to five years. After we use the plastic products, the products will touch microorganisms or fungi. Then the bio-degradable process starts. EPOM products will be eaten by microorganisms and fungi. EPOM plastic products are 100% bio-degraded. This will make sure EPOM plastic products will not pollute the environment if people litter the EPOM products. |
| Does the EPOM plastic products been tested in the mother nature? |
| Yes. EPOM plastic products have been conducted the farm land tests since 2015 at different climate on different corps. The Agriculture Science Institute issued test reports to proof the EPOM plastic film is biodegradable, capable to increase the productivity and even to reduce the heavy metal in the soil. |
| Does it really biodegrade, or does it just fragment? |
When the material has reached the fragmentation stage it is no longer a plastic, and is "biodegradable" in the same way as nature's wastes such as straw and twigs. The process continues until the material has biodegraded to nothing more than CO2, water, CaO and humus, and it does not leave fragments of petro-polymers in the soil. |
| How much does it cost? |
Very little, because the additive is not expensive and the products can be made with the same machines and workforce as ordinary plastic. |
| Won't it put existing factories out of business, with loss of jobs? |
| No, because customers can still use the factories which supply them with ordinary plastic products. |
| What types of biodegradable plastics exist? |
The two main types are oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable. In both cases degradation begins with a chemical process (oxidation or hydrolysis), followed by a biological process. Both types emit CO2 as they degrade, but hydro-biodegradables (usually starch-based) can also emit methane. Both types are compostable, but only oxo-biodegradable can be economically recycled. |
| The two main types are oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable. In both cases degradation begins with a chemical process (oxidation or hydrolysis), followed by a biological process. Both types emit |
| Surely education is the way to solve the litter problem? |
Hopefully education will reduce the litter problem over several generations, but there is a lot of litter today and there will always be some litter. Action needs to be taken today to switch to oxo-biodegradable before millions more tons of plastic waste accumulate in the environment. |
| Isn't it better to recycle than to let it biodegrade? |
Yes, and one of the benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic is that it can be recycled as part of a normal plastic waste stream. (see http://www.biodeg.org/position-papers/recycling/?domain=biodeg.org)However, if the plastic is not collected it cannot be recycled, so it needs to biodegrade instead of accumulating in the environment. |
| What about energy recovery? |
In some countries incineration is popular, and modern equipment is in place. Oxo-biodegradable plastic can be incinerated with energy recovery in the same way as conventional plastic, and has a higher calorific value than the hydro-biodegradable alternative. |
