Bio-Based Products May Receive Special Labeling
by Trey Granger
Published on August 13th, 2009
1 Comment
Under a proposed system by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, products made of renewable resources such as plants could receive a special “BioPreferred” label.
The system requires a certain percentage of products to be bio-based in order to receive certification, and the products covered range from linens to fertilizers to household cleaners. For example, while motor oil must be 34 percent bio-based to qualify, lip care products need an 82 percent bio-based rating.
The process for a labeling system began last year and gained traction during a public comment period from April to July 2009. If all goes according to plan, it will appear on products in early 2010.
Because bio-based products use more renewable materials during manufacturing, their eco-impact is primarily focused on the initial stages of a product. These products can often cause difficulty in disposal, such as in the case of plastic bottles.
Bottles made of polylactic acid (PLA) instead of petroleum are biodegradable or commercially compostable. However, this doesn’t include bottles made of traditional plastics, such as PETE or HDPE. As a result, there is debate over the impact of mixing these plastics with other plastic resins in the recycling stream, since the resins would not be compatible during recycling.
Bio-plastics are not currently a part of the BioPreferred labeling system.
Max
posted on August 13th, 2009 at 6:03 am
I believe that the term “Biopreferred” is another form of green washing that will mislead consumers. For example if PLA is labeled as biopreferred it would indicate to consumers that it is a preferable product. In spite of all the hype from Cargill spin masters, PLA isn’t a preferable alternative to current plastics. PLA plastic is made from plant products but that doesn’t make it environmentally or consumer friendly. PLA is made from genetically altered corn (here in the U.S) that isn’t fit for human consumption, will not biodegrade in a landfill environment, causes the increased use of pesticides which are causing an ecological disaster in the Mississippi delta region, reduces food grain supplies raising food prices, Reduces food grains that should be exported to countries that need our grain, and the only way to properly dispose of PLA is in a commercial composting site. Try finding a commercial composting site near you. Most PLA will end up in a landfill where it will languish for a long time.
Maybe we should have a new term “Ecopreferred,” which would signify that a particular product is designed to meet a cradle to cradle criterion. In my mind that would mean that a product was biodegradable in either an anaerobic or aerobic environment…like those found in a landfill.
There are plastics being developed that are biodegradable such as the ENSO biodegradable plastic bottle with EcoPure. Plastic products with EcoPure will biodegrade in a landfill environment and can be recycled.
Max
http;//www.ensobottles.com
“Bottles for a healthier earth”