Below is a list of the most commonly asked questions & answers.
- Is BioFlow™ biopolymer edible?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer cost more than PET?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer require GMO corn?
- I understand that BioFlow™ biopolymer does not contain GMO but does it promote the prevalence of GMO into the world?
- Because it’s made from corn, does BioFlow™ biopolymer take away from the food supply?
- Can BioFlow™ biopolymer only be made from No. 2 yellow dent field corn?
- When and where will BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade?
- Will BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade if thrown by the side of a road?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade during usage?
- Will BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade on store shelves?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer disappear when it is put into the soil or seawater?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer biodegrade in landfills?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer emit methane when landfilled?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer offer better disposal options than traditional petroleum-based plastics?
- Can I throw BioFlow™ biopolymer into my backyard compost?
- BioFlow™ biopolymer is designated as compostable in the United States, as opposed to biodegradable in other geographies. What is the difference?
- Will BioFlow™ biopolymer contaminate the recycle stream and damage the value of the recycled materials?
- Will BioFlow™ biopolymer in the recycle stream make other polymers biodegradable?
- What is a LCA?
- Does BioFlow™ biopolymer use more energy and hence emit more greenhouse gases than the manufacturing of other traditional petroleum-based plastics?
- Does the energy used to grow and harvest the field corn used to produce BioFlow™ biopolymer offset the LCA benefits?
- Will BioFlow™ biopolymer availability be impacted by the increased production of ethanol?
- I heard BioFlow™ biopolymer will melt in extreme heat, is this true?
- Are BioFlow™ innovations only suitable for cold applications?
- How brittle is BioFlow™ biopolymer compared to other plastics?
- Why are BioFlow™ biopolymer parts sometimes yellow in color?
- Can BioFlow™ biopolymer be processed (extruded, blown, injection molded, etc.) on existing conventional equipment?
- Are insects or rodents attracted to BioFlow™ biopolymer?
Is BioFlow™ biopolymer edible?
BioFlow™ biopolymer is commonly used for cups, cutlery and containers. Ecospan does not recommend ingesting any plastics items such as these. While BioFlow™ biopolymer is approved for food contact and well-suited for a variety of packaging applications, it is not recommended for human consumption. BioFlow™ biopolymer, as with any plastic, would be a foreign body if accidentally ingested. Most swallowed foreign bodies pass harmlessly through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. BioFlow™ biopolymer has under gone extensive FDA extraction protocols to be approved as a food packaging material.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer cost more than PET?
The high cost of crude oil continues to reinforce the growing need for renewable-resource-based alternatives. The cost of BioFlow™ biopolymer is comparable to other conventional plastics materials. Longer term, BioFlow™ biopolymer has the potential to even be cost advantaged compared to petroleum-based resins.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer require GMO corn?
No, special crops or modifications are not required to produce BioFlow™ biopolymer. Corn sourced from farmers within a 30-mile radius of our plant Blair, NE is used to make dextrose (corn sugar). We at Ecospan purchase this dextrose to make BioFlow™ biopolymer. The corn used to make the dextrose is a mixed stream of non-GMO and GMO corn grown in the area. During the manufacture of BioFlow™ biopolymer, the multiple-stage processing and high heat used to create the polymer removes all traces of genetic material.
We are committed to offering meaningful options and delivering valuable solutions to our customers. For those who view corn variety as an important market issue, we offer three source options – certification, source offset and identity-preserved BioFlow™ biopolymer.
I understand that BioFlow™ biopolymer does not contain GMO but does it promote the prevalence of GMO into the world?
No, since special feed corn varieties are not required to produce out biopolymer, BioFlow™ does not promote the proliferation of any specific agricultural practices.
Because it’s made from corn, does BioFlow™ biopolymer take away from the food supply?
No, our production utilizes dextrose as the base feedstock used in a fermentation process (much like beer or wine) which converts sugar to lactic acid. We use that lactic acid to then create a polymer, which is later converted to a variety of packaging and fiber applications. This dextrose is made from No. 2 yellow dent field corn in the U.S., which is already grown for many industrial & functional end-uses. In North America, corn has been used because it is the most economically feasible source of sugar. When our plant is at capacity, Ecospan LLC will use less than 1/20th of 1% of the available annual global corn crop. Our process does not require corn. In the future we plan to move to non-food cellulosic feedstocks.
Can BioFlow™ biopolymer only be made from No. 2 yellow dent field corn?
No, at this time we use the dextrose made from No. 2 yellow dent corn because it is the most abundant and cheapest source of a fermentable sugar in the world. In the future, the BioFlow™ biopolymer could use other sugars or non-food biomass feedstock.
When and where will BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade?
BioFlow™ biopolymer offers the most landfill waste diversion options globally of any current commercially available plastic material. It can be physically recycled, industrially composted, incinerated, chemically converted back to lactic acid through hydrolysis (feedstock recovery) or landfilled.
BioFlow™ biopolymer is compostable in industrial composting facilities where available throughout the world. Under industrial composting facility conditions the temperature and humidity in typical sites will cause BioFlow™ biopolymer to lose molecular weight and become biodegradable to naturally occurring microrganisms.
Will BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade if thrown by the side of a road?
Ecospan LLC does not support littering of any kind. If not disposed of properly, BioFlow™ biopolymer will not reach the typical composting humidity and temperature required and thus will maintain its product integrity in the near term.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade during usage?
No, BioFlow™ biopolymer is similar to other natural structures used for packaging, such as paper, which maintains product integrity during use.
Will BioFlow™ biopolymer degrade on store shelves?
BioFlow™ biopolymer will not degrade on retail shelves. BioFlow™ biopolymer is similar to other natural structures used for packaging, such as paper, which maintains product integrity during use.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer disappear when it is put into the soil or seawater?
No, soil and seawater are relatively cold environments that severely retard the molecular weight loss, thus not allowing BioFlow™ biopolymer to become biodegradable.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer biodegrade in landfills?
No, due to the low oxygen concentration and drop in temperature, the natural environment will retard molecular weight loss thus not allowing BioFlow™ biopolymer to become biodegradable.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer emit methane when landfilled?
BioFlow™ biopolymer goes through a two-step degradation; the first step is hydrolysis where the material is reduced down to a low molecular weight (<10,000) before becoming biodegradable. At that point the molecule is a food source for naturally occurring microorganisms.
This reaction is temperature and humidity dependent. If there were typical sub-surface temperatures (>3-4 feet) and humidity, it would take decades before the polymer would degrade even to its half life of 40,000 molecular weight. Methane is produced by organisms during the anaerobic phase of metabolism using food waste as a source in a typical landfill environment. BioFlow™ biopolymer cannot be a source of methane unless it becomes biodegradable.
We are currently conducting a study on this effect and have posted the preliminary results here.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer offer better disposal options than traditional petroleum-based plastics?
Yes, BioFlow™ biopolymer has the flexibility to be disposed of in several manners and fits most local end-of-life schemes throughout the world. These multiple disposal alternatives mean it can play a key role in landfill diversion. BioFlow™ biopolymer has been successfully composted in applications where a commercial composting infrastructure is in place. It also shows favorable properties for use where incineration is the preferred waste disposal system and offers potential for feedstock recovery.
Can I throw BioFlow™ biopolymer into my backyard compost?
BioFlow™ biopolymer should be composted in industrial compost facilities, which contain the right managed combination of temperature and moisture. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in typical backyard composting due to the lack of high temperature and inconsistent conditions.
BioFlow™ biopolymer is designated as compostable in the United States, as opposed to biodegradable in other geographies. What is the difference?
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission publishes the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (aka the Green Guides). According to the Green Guides, BioFlow™ biopolymer falls under the category of “compostable,” but does not fall under the category of “biodegradable.”
The Green Guides define compostable products as those that will break down, or become part of usable compost, in a timely matter. For composting, a “timely manner” is approximately the same time that it takes organic compounds, like leaves, grass and foodstuff to compost. Biodegradable materials are defined as those which break down and return to nature in a reasonably short amount of time after customary disposal or use. A “reasonably short time” depends on where the product is disposed. For specifics on the FTC’s Green Guides, visit http://www.ftc.gov/green.
Will BioFlow™ biopolymer contaminate the recycle stream and damage the value of the recycled materials?
Ecospan LLC is working with representatives of the plastics recycling industry to study the handling of post-consumer PLA in mixed plastic streams. The current research shows BioFlow™ biopolymer can exist in the present North American infrastructure with the existing commercial systems for recycling PET and HDPE. In addition, Ecospan is committed to responsibly ensuring the successful introduction of the material into existing waste management and recycling infrastructures.
Will BioFlow™ biopolymer in the recycle stream make other polymers biodegradable?
No, BioFlow™ biopolymer will not make other polymers “biodegradable.” BioFlow™ biopolymer is a base polymer and not an additive so it cannot introduce its benefits to other polymers simply by mixing them together.
Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a systems analysis tool to account for all the environmental impacts associated with a product or service, from cradle to grave. The basic data set for an LCA is a life cycle inventory (LCI). In the LCA the LCI data is converted into a series of impact categories (non-renwable energy use, climate change, etc.) and is followed by an assessment of how relevant these impacts are.
Does BioFlow™ biopolymer use more energy and hence emit more greenhouse gases than the manufacturing of other traditional petroleum-based plastics?
Peer-reviewed and published eco-profile data shows that manufacturing BioFlow™ biopolymer requires 50% less non-renewable energy and produces 60% less greenhouse gases than traditional polymers like PET & polystyrene.
Does the energy used to grow and harvest the field corn used to produce BioFlow™ biopolymer offset the LCA benefits?
The total energy required to grow and harvest the corn actually adds benefits to our LCA due to the plants’ absorption of CO2 and sunlight during photosynthesis. In addition, we are continuing to evaluate alternative energy sources that will make the life cycle even better in the future. Learn more about our eco-profile and life cycle analyses.
Will BioFlow™ biopolymer availability be impacted by the increased production of ethanol?
No, located in the heart of the “Corn Belt,” BioFlow™ biopolymer is sourced from an abundant regional supply. This supply is more than enough to meet the needs of BioFlow™ biopolymer and existing feed and ethanol production in the area.
I heard BioFlow™ biopolymer will melt in extreme heat, is this true?
Like most clear or transparent polymer, exposure to high temperatures and humidity can adversely affect the performance and appearance of plastic materials depending on the use. BioFlow™ biopolymer is currently being used as coated paper liner for use in foodservice disposables and a film application tolerant to higher heat. Our introduction of the BioFlow™ 3801X resin grade has expanded the capabilities of BioFlow™ biopolymer for high heat applications. Ecospan LLC is also helping customers preserve the performance of the polymer throughout the shipping, storage and handling process. It is recommended that BioFlow™ biopolymer be stored at temperatures less than 105ºF (40ºC). For more information on recommended care and handling of BioFlow™ biopolymer, please visit: Smart Care of BioFlow™ biopolymer.
Are BioFlow™ innovations only suitable for cold applications?
Although BioFlow™ biopolymer packaging is ideal for cold-fill or ambient temperature applications, such as fresh-cut produce, whole fruit, salads, fresh juice, still water and dairy products, it can also be used as an extrusion coating on paper for applications such as coffee cups. BioFlow™ biopolymer is also well suited for the film market including labels, heat-seal overlays, window films, flow wrap, twist wrap and formulations for carrier bags. BioFlow™ biopolymer offers the performance of heat sealability, where initiation temperatures are as low as 180º F (80º C) and heat seal strengths of greater than 2 lb./inch to allow for faster sealing and increased output.
The introduction of the BioFlow™ 3801X resin grade also now expands the possibilites for environmentally friendly high heat applications.
How brittle is BioFlow™ biopolymer compared to other plastics?
BioFlow™ biopolymer is a revolutionary polymer exhibiting a balance of material properties that are comparable to or, in many cases, superior to those of traditional thermoplastics and other conventional materials. Its high stiffness enables more efficient down gauging versus existing PET materials without loss of part strength. BioFlow™ biopolymer has a unique blend of physical properties that make it well suited for a range of packaging applications, including rigid packaging, bottles, films, labels and serviceware.
Why are BioFlow™ biopolymer parts sometimes yellow in color?
The natural tint of BioFlow™ biopolymer is a very, very pale natural yellow. Many processors prefer completely transparent BioFlow™ parts, and add small quantities of a blue tint to mask the natural yellow shade of BioFlow™ biopolymer.
Can BioFlow™ biopolymer be processed (extruded, blown, injection molded, etc.) on existing conventional equipment?
Yes, BioFlow™ biopolymer can be processed in many existing operations with minimal changes. Currently, BioFlow™ biopolymer is seeing the greatest use in thermoformed, extrusion and injection stretch blowmolding applications.
Are insects or rodents attracted to BioFlow™ biopolymer?
No, Making BioFlow™ involves high temperatures and numerous processing steps that leaves no sugar in BioFlow™ biopolymer. Therefore there is no food source for rodents/insects to be attracted to. In addition, similar to other polymers, after going through the multiple processing steps BioFlow™’s physical state would not be recognized as food.