This document summarizes information about biodegradable consumer packaging alternatives to expanded polystyrene (EPS) products like foam coffee cups. It discusses how EPS does not biodegrade and breaks into smaller pieces that litter the environment. Many cities and states have passed legislation banning EPS use due to environmental and health concerns. Alternatives discussed include packaging made from renewable resources like sugarcane that fully biodegrade and are safer for the environment and wildlife.

1. Bio-Degradable Consumer Packaging J & L Marketing, Inc Judith Opager (310) 850-3356 JOpager@aol.com . Richard Allen (714) 357-1362 allenlhs@gmail.com

2. Environmental Stewardship is Everyone’s Responsibility Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) products are designed to be disposable and, therefore, have a useful life of only minutes or hours. Yet, it takes several decades to hundreds of years for EPS to deteriorate in the environment or landfill. The EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) claims that the foam coffee cups so many of us use daily will still be sitting in landfills five hundred years from now.

4. it floats on water

5. is easily blown by the wind from place to place even when disposed of properly.

6. it merely breaks down into smaller pieces that litter the landscape.

7. is a major component in the overall make up of beach and marine debris

9. EPS is non-biodegradable (unable to decay into constituent substances)

10. Because of the physical nature of EPS(i.e., floatability, breakability, large surface area), scientists are beginning to speculate about the role of EPS waste in contributing to other persistent non-visible water pollution problems, such as bacterial indicators.

13. Discarded polystyrene does not biodegrade and is resistant to photolysis.[1] Polystyrene is unable to decay into constituent substances.

14. Instead, it breaks down into smaller pieces that litter the landscape. [1] Bandyopadhyay, Abhijit; Chandra Basak, G. (2007). "Studies on photocatalytic degradation of polystyrene". Materials Science and Technology23 (3): 307–317. doi:10.1179/174328407X158640.

16. This material is currently non-recyclable (in California) and non-biodegradable (unable to decay into constituent substances).

17. Instead, it merely breaks down into smaller pieces that litter the landscape.

18. Polystyrene further contributes to white pollution as litter, especially due to its lightweight nature as it floats on water and/or is easily blown by the wind from place to place even when disposed of properly. Discussion is an excerpt from a staff report to City Council (San Clemente, CA) on April 20, 2004

21. As the economy picks up and the green alternative products are competitively priced and readily available, consumer are going to see the difference and enforcing these bans with become a larger target on judicial radar.

22. If you want to offer take-out in some major cities, you must use polystyrene green alternatives. If you want to package your steaks or prepackage your vegetables and cheese for consumer purchase, you must use green alternatives in a growing number of metropolises.

25. Taiwan’s stringent restrictions on use of plastic bags and disposable dishes

26. Manitoba, Canada – towns ban plastic shopping bags in 2007.

27. Canada has declared the plastics’ chemical BPA toxic and banned its use

28. Ontario, Canada is a world leader in polystyrene recycling.

29. Throughout the world, governments are taking the EPS and plastic pollution problems very seriously.

30. Legislation to regulate the use of and reduce the pollution caused by plastic packaging and EPS products exist in virtually every major country in the world today.

32. Plastic Bag Fee and Styrofoam Food Packaging Ban Information Session – PENNSYLVANIA

33. On April 3, Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenny will hold a hearing on legislation they have introduced to reduce waste in Philadelphia PA.

34. California

35. Bans the use of polystyrene foam food packaging

36. San Francisco banned the use of Styrofoam in 2007

39. Another part of the new proposal will ban expanded polystyrene food containers from restaurants and packaging from grocery stores, beginning January 1, 2009. In July of 2010, foam trays for raw meat and seafood will also be banned and replaced with compostable alternatives. Expanded polystyrene foam not only adds to the waste stream, but also presents a hazard for birds because it breaks up into indigestible pellets. There are better products that are readily available and serve the same purpose.

41. Jefferson City, Mo. — Posted Aug 28, 2009

42. In an attempt to ban certain plastics from several Missouri waterways, lawmakers wrote out an important component to a bill that will take affect this week.

45. Nationwide, U.S. airports generated 425,000 tons of waste in 2004 -- a figure expected to increase nearly 45 percent by 2015.

46. Each passenger today leaves behind 1.3 pounds of trash, the researchers found. Seventy five percent of this waste is recyclable or compostable.

48. natural sugarcane by-waste, also known as bagasse

49. formerly considered un-useable waste

50. quickly renewable resource

51. Offer an earth-friendly alternative to plastic paper and expanded polystyrene (ESP) and design consumer products to replace petroleum based packaging products

52. Not a contributor to deforestation

53. Not a contributor to food price inflation

54. Products that are 100% biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable.

55. Certified by independent testing laboratories for bio-degradability

56. Certified for industrial and home composting

58. retail food packaging

59. food catering

60. household use

61. food-source packaging

62. meat packaging

63. fresh vegetable and fruit

64. cheese

65. UV Sterilized

66. Microwave, steamer and oven safe

67. Freezer and refrigerator friendly

68. Good thermal insulation for hot content

69. Resistant to leakage or distortion in shape

70. High temperature resistance

71. Oil 150°C / 302°F

72. Water 100°C / 212°F

74. Biodegradability & Compostability From Beginning To End To Beginning Compostability refers to the capability of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site (such as an industrial or home compost) so that the material breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with known compostable materials. Biodegradability refers to the capability of being decomposed by biological agents such as microorganisms, plants, and animals.

76. This Standard is most applicable to manufacturers of food contact packaging for retailers’ labeled products and branded products as well. Manufacturers have an obligation to put appropriate systems and controls in place to ensure the suitability of their packaging for safe food use.

77. Degradability and Food Safety Standards of Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (HKEPD)

78. This Testing Guideline is developed to evaluate the degradability and food safety of containers and bags. The Guideline includes two parts. Part 1 gives the background, scope and technical specifications for degradable containers and bags. Part 2 describes the details of the testing methods for three main aspects: food safety, degradability and physical performance.

79. Hong Kong Green Label Scheme

80. Eco-labelling schemes have been widely used worldwide since the late 1970's. To date, there are approximately 30 different green label schemes worldwide. Most of them are run on a voluntary basis. Germany's "Blue Angel" eco-label, the first national scheme in the world, was introduced in 1977.

82. Certification is an integral part of an industrial recycling system. It enables compostable products to be identified by a unique mark and channelled for recovery of their constituent materials in a specially developed process. The Compostability Mark thus conveys product information to waste-disposal plant operators and product image to consumers.

83. With the new version of our certification scheme a certification can be conducted according to three well-accepted standards:

84. DIN V 54900 - "Testing of the compostability of plastics" (replaced by DIN EN 13432)

85. DIN EN 13432 - "Packaging - Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation - Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging"

87. BioPack America is able to meet customer packaging needs in a unique variety of colors, sizes all at a high quality.

88. Due to our proprietary coatings we are the only 100% biodegradable and compostable food packaging with moisture protection.

89. Our European experience ensures we have a unique combination of certifications found nowhere else at this pricing, competitors rarely have more than one of the 5 certifications and approvals Biopack America holds.

90. Our products are non bleached and do not contain any GMO sourced product.

93. Biopack offers a wide range of products in different categories, applications, sizes, and shapes. In addition to its broad range of existing products,

94. Biopack is dedicated to developing new, innovative ways to meet its clients’ packaging needs.

95. Unlike bioplastic products made from corn starch or paper, which may drive up the prices of these commodities and encourage deforestation, Biopack’s products are truly environmentally and socially conscious.

97. Biopack’s products are made from natural, renewable materials that would otherwise be considered waste.

98. The raw materials used leave a small environmental footprint and they regenerate very quickly and abundantly in nature.

99. Specifically, Biopack’s products are produced from agricultural waste ( bagasse,straw, wheat stalk, reed, and bamboo).

101. Certifications on File

103. ISO 14001:2000 - Environmental Management System

104. HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point)

105. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)

106. SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures)

107. Degradability and Food Safety Standards of Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (HKEPD)

108. BRC/IoP Global Food Packaging Standard

109. Superbrands Award

110. Hong Kong Green Label Scheme

111. Din Certco (DIN EN 13432, DIN V 54900 and ASTM D6400)

113. July 6, 2006 - Special SME Quality Award 2006

114. July 3, 2006 - HSBC SME Living Business Award 2006 (Ruby Award)

115. February 13, 2006 - Caring Company Award 2005/06

116. January 26, 2006 - 2005 Hong Kong Eco-Business Awards (Certificate of Merit)

117. December 16, 2005 - Environmental Performance 2006 (Certificate of Merit)

118. June 14, 2005 - HSBC SME Living Business Award 2005 (Ruby Award)

119. June 6, 2005 - Superbrands Award

121. Fruit Vegetable Cheese Trays

122. Meat Packaging

123. Plates