THE LATEST ADVANCEMENT
BIO-TEC ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADABLE
7 GOLDEN RULES
TO CHOOSING A
BIODEGRADABLE
PLASTIC BOTTLE
1. Biodegradability backed by
recognized standards board
testing – organizational
certifications are not adequate.
2. Verify all test data – obtain
copies of all test results and
review them carefully.
3. Recyclability – any impact on
the existing recycling stream?
4. Product end of life – will the
bottle be disposed of in the
environment required for
biodegradation?
5. Special handling – are there
changes to the shelf-life, color,
strength, melt temp, etc?
6. Conversion costs – does it
require special equipment?
7. Ask lots of questions – be
cautious with companies who
leave questions unanswered
or don’t provide supporting
data.
IN PET PLASTIC BOTTLES
BIO-
FIN D IN G V IA B LE B IOD E GR A D A B LE B OTTLE S OLU TI O NS
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES FROM BOTTLE COMPANIES
Bottled water companies have been hit hard by
the damaging effects of plastics in the environ-
ment. Many bottlers that are looking for earth-
friendly solutions, are finding it difficult to sort
through the various “green” packaging options.
We follow several innovative companies as they
sort through the confusion to find cost effective,
practical solutions for biodegradable packaging.
Many companies are seeking to take advantage of
the recent scientific advances in green products to
address environmental concerns. AQUAMANTRA
founder and president, Alexandra Teklak, has
been on a comprehensive search since her com-
pany’s inception to find a bottle that complements
her brand, and meets the needs of consumers and
retail partners who want environmental solutions.
She strongly believes that consumers are entitled
to choices that include easy opportunities to be
Earth-friendly. “I didn’t want to find just any solu-
tion – I wanted to find a solution that worked for
everyone,” said Teklak.
AQUAMANTRA consultants and advisors inves-
tigated many alternatives, including PLA (corn-
starch) bottles, and found that it wasn’t a viable
solution for the public. “The reality is that water
has to be packaged in a bottle that will not dis-
integrate on the store shelf, and that’s an issue
with the PLA bottle,” said Teklak. “We investigated
the ‘Oxo-degradables’, but there were ‘big ifs’
surrounding it, such as an adequate amount of
exposure to sunlight for degradation and plastic
fragmentation.”
PLA (corn plastic) has many challenges to over-
come before becoming a viable alternative.
The excitement that once surrounded the plastic
has given way to unfulfilled expectations. The
bottles are not shelf stable, gas transmission
rates are high, cannot be recycled and inadequate
composting facilities leave a questionable end of
life solution.
Oxo-degradables are plastics with an additive
that causes fragmentation of the plastic when
exposed to UV light and oxygen. There is quite
a bit of debate over the use of heavy metals and
metal ions in Oxo-degradables and there are
serious concerns about fragmented plastic in the
environment.
“I didn’t want to find just
any solution – I wanted
to find a solution that
worked for everyone,”
Finally, AQUAMANTRA found ENSO Bottles with
EcoPure™, the latest scientific advance in biode-
gradable PET plastic bottles. ENSO bottles biode-
grade in aerobic and anaerobic environments and
can be recycled along with standard PET. ENSO
bottles have the same physical properties as stan-
dard PET and do not fragment, degrade, or break
down from environmental conditions such as UV,
moisture or oxygen. ENSO bottles are also a very
cost effective solution.
ENSO bottles have the same properties as tradi-
tional PET during manufacture and on the shelf
(no extra equipment expenses or limited shelf.)
“ECOPURE BRINGS DYNAMIC CHANGE TO THE INDUSTRY AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, POSITIVELY AFFECTS THE ENVIRON-
MENT,” SAMUEL ADAMS, VP BIO-TEC ENVIRONMENTAL
GoodPac Plastics, a bottle blower, found the
ENSO bottles a welcome and easy transition; “Our
customers and consumers have been asking for
an environmentally friendly plastic bottle. We pro-
vide them with the world’s first truly biodegradable
plastic water bottle,” said Jim Goodwin, President
of GoodPac Plastics. “By adding the environmen-
tally friendly ENSO bottle, not only do we continue
to offer excellent quality products and superior
service, we are doing our part to help to encourage
bottle recycling and effectively eliminating plastic
bottle waste,” said Goodwin.
Other companies are also moving to the ENSO
bottles, Native Waters, LLC, a company founded
to provide sustainable product solutions to the
beverage industry, found ENSO bottles to be the
best environmental solution available. “Our goal is
to provide the healthiest and highest quality natu-
ral spring water with a minimal carbon footprint,”
said Rodger Cohen, VP of Native Waters.
“By combining our locally sourced water with the
ENSO earth-friendly, biodegradable bottles, we
are taking a step forward in the battle to stop plas-
tic containers from filling our waterways, streets,
and landfills,” said Cohen.
Breaks barrier, creates biodegradable plastics
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, ronments. EcoPure is compatible with
Bio-Tec Environmental was founded all petroleum based polymers, has been
in 2003 by company president John proven through extensive testing to make
Lake and Samuel Adams. They continue plastic biodegradable when discarded in
to break barriers once thought to be a landfill or compost facility, and is per-
impregnable. The entire focus of their fectly safe for food and drug packaging,
extensive research and development is meeting all requisite FDA standards.
to manufacture additives that will make EcoPure’s biodegradable plastic additive
all plastics biodegradable in all applica- is manufactured in the United States.
tions. Their goal is a world where plastic You can learn more about the company
materials once again return to the cycle at http://www.bio-tec.biz.
of life. EcoPure in both its’ forms not only
eliminates a problem with plastics -- their Bio-Tec Environmental, LLC
synthetic nature that prevents them from 7009 Prospect Ave NE #202
biodegradation -- but creates benefits as Albuquerque, New Mexico
well in the form of Co2 or methane (fuel) 87110 USA
and humus (soil additive) when those
plastics are placed in microbial-rich envi- Tel: 505-999-1160
ENSO Bottles are created using EcoPure™, an Consumers, bottlers and manufacturers now have
additive manufactured by Bio-Tec Environmental a choice, and can demand the ENSO bottle, a
designed to make polymers biodegradable. biodegradable bottle that is better for the environ-
EcoPure is widely recognized in the plastics ment. When you pick up a plastic bottle and see
industry to render petroleum based polymers bio- the ENSO “Bottles for a Healthier Earth” logo, you
degradable and is currently used on many name will know that the bottle biodegrades and you are
brand products. Through ENSO Bottles, a special making a choice for a healthier earth.
formulation of EcoPure is now available to the PET
bottle industry.
“Be cautious with compa-
nies who leave questions
unanswered and do not
provide supporting data.”
TM
ENSO bottles have been validated through third
party laboratories for compliance with ASTM
For more information on ENSO Bottles™ made
standards for both biodegradation and recycling.
with EcoPure™, please contact an ENSO Bottles™
Results prove ENSO bottles with EcoPure™ bio-
sales representative or visit us on the web.
degrade through natural microbial digestion and
all recycling results meet industry specifications. In
ENSO Bottles, LLC
addition, ENSO Bottles has worked with indepen-
1500 East Bethany Home Road
dent recycling companies validating that ENSO
Suite #120
bottles have no adverse effects on the recycling
Phoenix, AZ 85014
stream.
Tel: 866-936-3676
“This is welcome news to retailers and consumers
who have felt the pressure from environmental
Visit our Website:
groups and consumers, who are concerned about
www.ensobottles.com
exploding landfills bulging with non-recyclable-
compostable plastics.”