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Press Release April 15th, 2003
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Printing the logo or pictures below is only permitted by refering to the source.
Text: Logo
for compostable packaging. 'Kompostierbar' (German) = Compostable.
Source: IBAW
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Text: Assortment
of Products available in Kassel.
Source: Lichtl
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Text:
Bio-Paprika in compostable PLA Packaging
Source: Lichtl
Press Release April 15th, 2003
Test with compostable packagings completed
Project results reveal great consumer
acceptance and prove the feasibility of organic recycling
Kassel (Germany), April 15th - Consumers are in favour of compostable plastic as an alternative to conventional plastic packaging. The feasibility of organic recycling of compostable plastic together with organic waste is demonstrated in practice. These are the main results of the two-year pilot project in Kassel (Germany) that ended in March of this year. In this worldwide unique pilot scheme for marketing and recycling of compostable packaging two complex issues were examined in-depth: consumer acceptance and waste management aspects.
Supermarkets in Kassel, like the German Tegut, Rewe, Edeka or Dm, were offering a range of products: fruits, vegetables, biscuits, antipasti and dairy products or flowers and diapers in compostable packagings as well as compostable catering dishes and shopping bags.
The products were labelled
with an orange hexagon. This logo stands for certified compostability
in accordance with EN 13432 - the European standard for compostability
of packaging. Labelling is needed to differentiate between similar
looking compostable and conventional plastics, so that consumers
can make a conscious decision.
The logo also signified that the distributor licensed the product
to a new organic recycling system, the consumers thus were allowed
to dispose used packaging in the organic waste bin.
The consumer acceptance is notable. Nearly 90 percent of the
consumers said in the market research interviews that they would
prefer the substitution of conventional packaging by the new
materials. 75 percent said they would either at least consider
or definitively accept additional costs for the new packaging.
Beside the compostability, the consumers appreciated that most
biodegradable packaging is made from renewable raw materials
instead of crude oil. Consumers recognize the positive effect
on saving fossil energy and reduced CO2-emission to prevent climate
change by using these materials. Industrial users of these innovative
products can profit from the image transfer and use the high
acceptance as an effective marketing tool.
Scientists from the Bauhaus
University Weimar (Germany) were examining waste management and
waste streams. In Germany, organic waste is collected separately
in households in bio-bins. The test results show that the consumers
sorted the packaging correctly in these bins. There was no increase
of impurities. The labelling concept and the communication campaign
were successful.
Whilst being processed in the
composting plant the packing itself did not have any negative
effects on the composting process. The resulting compost fulfilled
high quality standards. Examinations also revealed that compost
which contained certified compostable packaging was highly suitable
for agricultural application.
"The organic recycling of compostable packaging together
with municipal organic waste is feasible in practice," summarized
professor Werner Bidlingmaier.
The waste management service
company Interseroh operated this new type of recycling system
for the first time. Because of its good results it is planned
to expand the system in Germany. "Compared to the cost for
the usual plastic recycling in Germany - the so called green
dot -, organic recycling is extremely cost effective. It will
save about one Euro per kilogram. This can boost the market development
of compostable packaging and thus help to establish a real sustainable
plastic production", comments Harald Kaeb, Chairman of the
interest group IBAW.
More than a dozen companies
were taking part in the project: BASF, Cargill-Dow, Eastman and
Novamont as resin producers and Apack, Autobar, Compopure, Klöckner
Pentaplast, Natura, Naturemind, Petroplast, Trespaphan and UPM
Kymmene as packaging producers. Composto, Interseroh, Lichtl
and Narocon consulting were service providers.
The German Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and
Agriculture sponsored the scheme and the Hessian Ministry of
Environment supported the project with an adequate legal framework.
A new brochure with the results
can be ordered at the IBAW office at info@ibaw.org or downloaded
on the web site
www.modellprojekt-kassel.de
Press Contact: Anja Jakobi
Public Relations IBAW
Marienstr.19/20
D- 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 28482354
Fax: +49 30 28482359
jakobi@ibaw.org
--------------
In
case of further questions feel free to contact the following
persons:
Public Relations
IBAW
International Biodegradable Polymers Association & Working
Groups
Anja Jakobi
jakobi@ibaw.org
Phone: + 49 (0) 30 28482354
Fax: + 49 (0) 30 28482359
Marienstr.19/20
D- 10117 Berlin
www.ibaw.org
Responsible for Content of the Public Relations and Technical Press Information is
narocon InnovationConsulting Dr. Käb, Berlin
Project-Management
LICHTL
Environmental-Communication Consulting, Frankfurt/M.
Phone: +49 69 7880 2447
Visit www.ibaw.org for further information concerning BDP.