EcoPoly Solutions, representatives from their technical support team, a Client Service Coordinator for the Terrachoice/EcoLogo Program and a Sustainability Analyst from the Terrachoice/EcoLogo Program met for an open, informative and resourceful meeting regarding the potential of including Oxo-biodegradable products in the CDD-126 Standard for Plastic Film products.
There was a lot of information gathering, educating and brainstorming from all meeting participants. EcoPoly Solutions initiated the meeting, that EcoLogo graciously accepted, with the intention of learning the process/steps required to make changes or amendments to Standards. Terrachoice/EcoLogo's representatives were very knowledgeable and helped us understand how things work with their processes and protocols. The unfortunate part is CCD-126 had just undergone changes and it is now with manufacturers/end users for re-certification. However, when Terrachoice/EcoLogo receive information that potentially will enhance current standards or credible information that other options are available from consumers/ stakeholders etc. they will listen, review and research the importance, validity and current available documentation. This is great news!
EcoPoly Solutions commissioned a report that included a 20 page summary, almost 50 reference papers totalling more than 500 pages. This report not only outlined the benefits of having Oxo-biodegradable products included in EcoLogo CCD-126 but also gave concrete, peer reviewed studies proving the technology does in fact work. I do not believe that any other company has gone beyond simply writing a 2, 3 or 4 page reply addressing their concerns that Oxo-biodegradable products were not accepted under this Standard. EcoPoly Solutions wanted to take a non-biased approach and compile a comprehensive package to present to EcoLogo. EcoPoly Solutions wanted to make it clear that we believe in both Oxo-biodegradable and Compostable technologies as well certain applications are better suited to each technology.
The EcoLogo representatives have agreed to review the extensive information compiled, present it to the appropriate personnel within EcoLogo, Terra Choice and Underwriters Laboratories (all the same organisation) and then move forward with potentially making draft changes to the current CCD-126. There is too much supported evidence to ignore the fact that the right thing to do is add Oxo-biodegradable plastics to the Standard so that manufacturers/End Users have a "CHOICE" between the two technologies. Compostable plastics are very well suited to holding organic waste so that separation is not required if they make it to an Industrial Composting Facility and Oxo-biodegradable technologies are better suited to plastic films that end up in the landfill, the unfortunate locations of waterways or other natural environmental locations as litter.
CCD-126, as mentioned, had recently undergone changes to the standard with re-certification currently under way. EcoPoly Solutions does not think disrupting the current re-certification is required. Instead we feel that a few deletions can be made in reference to not including Oxo-biodegradable plastics within this standard and some additions to section 5 including Oxo-biodegradable plastics giving a CHOICE between Compostable and Oxo-biodegradable. It is impossible to ignore the fact that both Compostable and Oxo-biodegradable plastics need to be supported by CCD-126 since one technology does not fit all applications available to consumers.
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