NAPCOR Opposes the Use of Degradable Additives in PET Packaging
NAPCOR expresses its concerns pertaining to degradable additives in two press releases issued in 2009 and 2011. Both continue to reflect NAPCOR's position on this issue.
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"(California) Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Sues Plastic Water Bottle Companies over Misleading Claims of Biodegradability" (link to California Department of Justice Press Release, 10/26/11)
Update on California Bill SB 567 (restricting plastics end-of-life claims)
California Governor Jerry Brown signed state Senate Bill 567 into law on October 9, 2011. The new law expands a current law, and will restrict the use of potentially misleading end-of-life labeling claims (compostable, degradable, biodegradable) on all plastic products, regardless of plastic type or item.
Under the law, end-of-life claims must be verifiable using ASTM standard specifications (or other standards deemed equivalent or better). Labeling that implies that a plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade or decompose in a landfill is prohibited under the law (unless a relevant standard, as defined in the law, can substantiate the claim). Current law: PRC §42355-9 (html page) Revised: SB 567 (pdf file)
FTC "Green" Guides
The proposed revisions to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guides for Environmental Marketing Claims, "Green" Guides, are expected to be finalized and issued shortly. The revised Guides state that degradable claims must be qualified (as to what portions of a product or package will degrade and how long it will take) unless marketer can substantiate that the "entire product or package will completely breakdown and return to nature within a reasonably short period of time." The Guides disallow unqualified claims about items destined for landfills because decomposition will not occur within one year. See "Summary of Proposal" (pdf file) or summary of FTC process (html) with links to full text.
Relevant Studies and Links
updated 1/31/12
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