Eco Labels

We have five eco labels which describe the key environmental properties of the materials and products that we use:




Compostable

There are currently several international organizations which have established standards and testing methods for compostability:

American Society for Testing and Materials    ASTM-6400-99

European Standardization Committee (CEN)  EN13432

International Standards Organization (ISO)   ISO14855 (only for biodegradation)

German Institute for Standardization (DIN)  DIN V49000

The standards specify the criteria for biodegradation, disintegration and toxic residue for a plastic to be called compostable.

Biodegradability is determined by measuring the amount of CO2 produced over a certain time period by the biodegrading plastic.  ASTM, ISO and DIN standards require 60% biodegradation within 180 days.  The EN13432 standard requires 90% biodegradation within 90 days.

Disintegration is measured by sieving the material to determine the biodegraded size and all standards require that less than 10% should remain on a 2mm screen within the specified timeframe.

The toxicity part of the standards analyses the concentrations of heavy metals to ensure they are below the agreed limits. The residue compost is also tested by mixing it with soil in different concentrations and looking at the effects on plant growth, as compared with control compost.

Low carbon

A low carbon product is one that is responsible for significantly lower carbon emissions in the manufacturing process than the conventional plastic alternative. We have chosen a 20% carbon emission reduction as our minimum to label a product ‘low carbon’. While the research is not always we clear cut in this area, we use pier reviewed research to determine the carbon emission associated with the products we give this eco label. This research is referenced in the relevant material section of this website.

As the amount of bio based materials manufactured increases, so economies of scale, improved processes and new technology will all contribute to reducing what are already comparatively low carbon emissions associated with these materials.

Recycled material

A product labelled with this containers post consumer waste recycled materials. Usually our recycled products contain 100% recycled material. We will not label a product with this tag if it contains less than 20% post consumer waste recycled material. We ask the relevant manufacturer for certification of the recycled content they use.

Renewable resources

This label indicates that the raw materials used in manufacturing the product came from a bio based renewable resource. A renewable resource is replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans.

Conventional plastics, gasoline, coal, diesel and other commodities derived from fossil fuels are non-renewable. They will run out long before the natural processes that make fossil fuels will replace them. Products made from plants that grow back each year are renewable.

With existing technology most materials can be made from a renewable plant based resource. Not all bio based products will be compostable. For instance you can make conventional polymers such as polyethylene from bio based materials.

Sustainable forest source

Sustainably managed forests ensure that there is no overall forest destruction in the manufacture of products made from the forest. Sustainable forest management ensures long term timber supplies while protecting the environment, promoting biodiversity and protecting the lives of forest-dependent peoples.

There are systems of ‘chain of custody’ certification that trace forest products through the supply chain to the end-consumer. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is one such certification.