New oxo-biodegradable additive for plastic products

EnerPlastics LLC announces the launch of an additive package that enables the fragmentation and bio-assimilation of plastic films and other one-time use polyolefin products.

The additive is called EP OBD and will be manufactured in UAE at EnerPlastics' plant in Jebel Ali, Dubai, using ingredients from Middle East and Europe.

The package conforms to rigid French protocols for oxo-biodegradability and is certified by an independent French Government Accredited Laboratory - CNEP (Centre National d'Evaluation de Photo protection, Universite Blaise Pascal, France).

"With a marginal increase of less than 5% in the manufacturing cost of plastic bags we can assure a safe environment. Our ambition is to start educating the consumers and manufactures of one-time use plastics product about the benefits EP OBD and its impact is conserving the environment," said CEO Aman Rahman.

The EP OBD additive is formulated from non-toxic chemical constituents and, when added, in recommended dosage to polyolefin polymers, guarantees their fragmentation into non-polymeric compounds and eventual bio-assimilation in soil.

The complex chemical reactions involve photo degradation of the film left exposed to the sunlight and thermo-oxidation under atmospheric conditions both on land and in water.

The thermo-oxidative process continues even if the article is buried, such as in landfills, though at a slower rate.

EP OBD thus promotes conversion of the plastic films into particle size invisible to the human eye and of a chemical nature that forms part of the food chain of soil microbes, fungi and bacteria.

It contains stabilizers that ensure mechanical strength and durability to the film to ensure highest mechanical integrity in service during an initial 12 month period.

After this initial phase of actual use, the oxidative fragmentation process commences leading to eventual bio-assimilation in a period of three to five years.

The film also undergoes similar fragmentation and bio-assimilation when accidentally blown into marine environment.