Landfill-biodegradable is a true biodegradable approach, where the plastic features an organic additive, which accelerates the rate at which plastics will biodegrade, by allowing naturally occurring bacteria to consume the plastic in a landfill environment, resulting in biogas and humus (natural fertiliser). It also does not fragment into microplastics. Only ‘degradable’ or ‘oxo-degradable’ plastics fragment, which is a concern as it leaves microplastics in the environment.

If it cannot be recycled then landfill-biodegradable plastics should be disposed to a general waste bin where it will go to a managed landfill.

Yes. However our method allows the methane produced from landfill-biodegradable plastics to be captured within the time-frame the landfill is actively managed, rather than being neglected and released into the atmosphere for hundreds of years after the landfill has closed and stopped being managed. The methane captured can be used for fuel and energy production displacing energy from coal combustion.

Landfill-biodegradable uses a proprietary organic additive added to conventional plastic material. This additive draws microbes in a modern landfill to the plastic. In eating it, they secrete enzymes which break down the plastic molecule to the point where it too can be digested. The additive effect only comes into play when the plastic product is disposed of in a microbe-rich environment, such as a modern municipal landfill. Depending on the plastic thickness it can take a few years or 10’s of years to biodegrade; making it suitable for landfill gas recovery and making Biowrap the logical choice for everyday plastic.

Biowrap uses a organic additive, which is:

• An organic food source.
• Approved by USFDA for food contact.
• Mixed in a small ratio to not affect the parent plastic material properties.

Yes, the biodegradable plastic is very safe. In fact, food packaging film made with the additive is USFDA compliant for food contact applications.

Yes. Landfill-biodegradable products are currently used in 25 countries across the world.

Currently, there is no regulating body for this technology in New Zealand or Australia and we are unable to provide any certificate as not one exists. Nevertheless, we can provide third-party lab test results that prove accelerated biodegradation under anaerobic conditions (ASTM 5511) and BMP (Biochemical-Methane Potential).

Yes. With so many manufacturers and retailers offering ‘green’ products, it has become confusing to distinguish between what is a genuine biodegradable product, what is a compostable product, what is a degradable product, and what are unsubstantiated claims. We have ASTM and BMP tests, which are recognised internationally as being the benchmark of verifications. The ASTM D5511 is a test performed by an independent laboratory that measures the carbon released from the plastic as a biogas to verify claims of biodegradability in anaerobic conditions, intending to replicate conditions found in a typical landfill.

The BMP (Biochemical-Methane Potential) lab test data is used internationally by governments, universities and commercial operators to determine the true biochemical methane potential and dynamic degradation profile of a material in anaerobic conditions. The test validates our landfill-biodegradable plastic can be digested by microorganisms within an environment with no/limited oxygen and limited light.

No. There is no toxic residue when the biodegradable plastic decomposes. Plastic such as polyethylene break down to CH4, C02 and organic matter.

No. It has no shelf life or expiry dates and will only biodegrade when disposed of in a landfill.

No. Landfill-biodegradable plastics will biodegrade in a modern landfill and require no light or oxygen.

No. Landfill-biodegradable is a proprietary organic additive added to conventional plastic material. The additive only comes into play when the plastic product is disposed of in a microbe-rich environment, biodegrading into organic matter-producing natural fertiliser. Our landfill-biodegradable products do not feature any degradable additives and will not fragment to form microplastics. We do not use or support degradable/fragmentable additives.

The biodegradation time of a product depends on a variety of factors. The landfill-biodegradable additives will make plastic biodegrade approximately 90% faster than conventional plastics (years to decades) – keeping in mind many conventional plastics will take hundreds of years to biodegrade. It all depends on the following variables:

• Landfill conditions are different across the country. Some are in cooler or warmer conditions. If the plastic is put into a dry landfill it will degrade slower than a more actively managed modern landfill.
• The difference in plastic thickness. Our landfill-biodegradable plastics vary in thickness. The thicker the plastic section, the longer it will take to biodegrade. Membrane films are expected to biodegrade quickly. Thicker sections may take several years.

The main point is whether it takes a few months or multiple years doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that after some limited time, the product will completely biodegrade into biogas and a natural fertiliser – we are no longer leaving our plastic waste for future generations to deal with, and the biogas can be captured and utilised by the landfill within the timeframe that it is actively managed.

No. They are very different processes. As its name infers biodegradation is a biological process, and is the breakdown of plastic material caused by naturally occurring microorganisms such as those occurring in a modern landfill. Degradable plastic is a plastic with a metallic additive that sets off a slow chemical reaction and over 12-24 months will cause the plastic to fragment into little pieces. This has nothing to do with biodegradation and microorganisms. Also, the reaction will only work in the presence of oxygen and sunlight. So if a degradable plastic is buried in a landfill where there is no sunlight and very little oxygen, it will stay there like a conventional plastic not degrading. Therefore for a degradable plastic to fragment down into little pieces it has to be up on top of the ground and there those little pieces will blow around and disperse into the environment. Our landfill-biodegradable products do not contain any degradable additives (prodegradants) and do not fragment down to microplastics. We do not use or support oxo-degradable / fragmentable additives.