Cause and Effect of Greenwashing, Years in the making.

At Beyond Plastic, we don't profess to be the most seasoned or knowledgeable participant in the realm of bioplastic packaging and applications. Nevertheless, our cumulative experience spanning over 200 years has imparted valuable insights over time. As the saying goes, for every action, there exists an equal and opposite reaction.

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Around two decades ago, the PLA industry (Polyethnic Acid "Bio-Polymer") made grandiose claims about sustainability and compostability, rooted more in controlled laboratory environments than empirical evidence. PLA, originating from plant-based raw materials, primarily corn, undergoes external industrial polymerization utilizing heavy metals as catalysts to transform into a functional resin. This secondary polymerization process should have debunked the notion of "compostability." However, rather than addressing this reality, new standards like ASTM6400 were crafted to conform and reshape the narrative surrounding this biopolymer. Notably, this standard doesn't align with the composting industry's actual needs and desires. And so the PLA industry, in collaboration with its researchers and scientists, established that “IF” PLA packaging were suitably collected, transported, and IF delivered to a facility mirroring the composting conditions outlined in ASTM6400 lab tests, “THEN”, and only then, could PLA be designated and labeled as "compostable."

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The quandary becomes apparent when you inquire about the average American's understanding of what "compostable" entails. I can assure you that the mental image most people conjure doesn't resemble a colossal, fully enclosed anaerobic digester with intricate environmental controls. Instead, it's more akin to piles of organic matter exposed to the elements, facilitated by nature (possibly with a dash of cow manure, reminiscent of Grand-Dad the farmer) as it metamorphoses into enriching compost fit for a vegetable garden.

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While home composting and several industrial aerobic methods exist, PLA and other non-biodegradable plastics often find their way into conventional composting facilities due to the public's perception of how the system should operate, as opposed to how it must work. This discrepancy leads to significant complications.

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For the PLA industry, this situation feels like déjà vu, as this material was a prominent contributor to the recycling dilemma of the 1990s. The introduction of PLA-based packaging materials into the market without distinct recycling symbols or by using the #7 "Other" category bred confusion. Consumers would toss these products into the recycling bin, thinking they resembled and functioned like PET, leading to cross-contaminated silos dispatched to landfills or requiring laborious efforts to separate deteriorating PLA-PET conglomerates. Ah, the memories!

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The PLA industry seemed unconcerned about the non-recyclability of their material. Even after two decades, it appears indifferent to the contamination of composting sites. Nevertheless, the reality remains that PLA microplastics can pose a genuine threat to the food chain and the environment in general.

“Consequently, very recently, a few studies have identified polylactic acid microplastics in sediments (Bancin et al. 2019), marine ecosystems (Kazour et al. 2019) and wastewater treatment plant (Granberg et al. 2019), which further makes it an alarming issue. Yagi et al. (2012) reported that polylactic acid microplastics degradation rate is much slower as compared to large fragments, which reflects their persistent nature similar to petroleum-based microplastics. Polylactic acid microplastics are also resistant to degradation under normal environmental conditions and will persist in ecosystems, where they will pose potential threat to the natural environment and biota.”

The above quote is from the following article: https://rdcu.be/dpRZG

Now, the most influential recycling authority, Cal Recycle, entrusted with overseeing regulatory laws in the recycling and composting industry, has grown weary of two decades of "greenwashing." And in a manner reminiscent of SB54, AB1201 recent published report doesn't outright prohibit "bioplastics" from compost bins. Instead, AB1201 simply mandates that the material must obtain Organic Certification from the NOP to be accepted by State Composters.

However, none of the available PLA materials can meet such certification requirements, as the NOP lacks standardized testing procedures to begin with. And if there was, I very much doubt PLA could pass the necessary testing, unless they invent a new tailored made standard of course.

Consequently, PLA and by default of association all other bioplastics will soon be disallowed from labeling their products as “compostable”. This “cause” is a direct action to bring an end to years of misleading claims and safeguard the composting industry and its consumers.

PHA being a biodegradable material, as it made from the fermentation process of a wide range of biomass and biogas (Methane and CO2). And not needed any added external polymerization (thank you Mother Nature). And is truly a biodegradable plastic is being corralled with the well known and documented groups of story tellers.

And yet this material that has so much to offer, stands of risk of death by association.

Our potential salvation and hope lie in ensuring we do not repeat the same mistakes made by the PLA industry and other’s that are actively trying to confuse consumers and are perpetuating “greenwashing” into a fine art.

We suggest working with reputable 3rd party certifications that work with the actual folks running composting facilities is a good place to start. And for that we hope the Composters Manufacturing Alliances (https://compostmanufacturingalliance.com/) ?leads the way. As well as following stricter standards for claimed biodegradable such as TUV OK Marine Standards (https://www.tuv-at.be/fileadmin/user_upload/docs/download-documents/CS/CS-OK12-EN_biodegradable_MARINE.pdf.

And for the governmental agencies (State and Federal) to actively pursue corporations that willingly participating in greenwashing and a new favorite “wishcycling”.

One can only dream.