General

What is Degradation?
The degradation process commences with any combination of heat. Light and stresses acting as catalysts and affecting the speed with which it progresses. Once the process is initiated it will continue even in a landfill. Totally degradable plastics will  degrade harmlessy ultimately leaving only H2O, CO2 and biomass in negligible quantities.

What is Oxo-biodegradation?
Oxo-biodegradation is a two stage process. The first step is called degradation where the plastic is first converted byreaction with oxygen to fragments that are hydrophilic (meaning that they attract water) which then provides an environment where, in the presence of oxygen and moisture, natural micro-organisms can develop and thrive.

In the second part of the process, known as biodegradation, the molecules of the oxidised materials are small enough for micro-organisms to begin ingesting the degraded plastic materials, yielding carbon dioxide  water and
biomass.

Is biodegradation the end result of degradation?
For biowrap* plastic wrap, the answer is yes  Oxidative degradation of biowrap* polyethylene and polypropylene causes a breakdown of the molecular backbone of these plastics. The molecular chains become shorter and water ‘wettable’ permitting the formation of a bio-film on the surface of the plastics which allows microbial deterioration to take over.

What makes biowrap* totally degradable?
biowrap* - totally degradable plastic, is made from "normal" polyethylene but also contains a oxo-biodegradable additive manufactured by EPI.

* patent applied for