Biodegradation additive company enters Mexican market, partners with Letica

EcoLogic's biodegradation-enhancing Eco-One additives will be distributed throughout Mexico under the terms of a new distribution agreement signed with GEA Biodegradables. EcoLogic says the organic additives, which are compatible with PE, PP, PET, PS, polyamide, ABS, PVC, and PC,  have been shown under ASTM D5511 tests to promote 5-15% biodegradation within 30 days in biologically active landfills.

GEA Biodegradables was formed to focus solely on bio additives for plastics, with its privately held parent company having experience in distribution, compounding, and plastic bag manufacturing. Mexico City, the country's largest metropolitan area, and one of the largest in the western hemisphere with a population of around 19 million, passed a ban on the use of plastic bags that are not biodegradable. By one estimate, more than 20 million plastic bags are used per day in Mexico City.

Gerardo Garcia, general manager for GEA Biodegradables, said in a release that his company opted to partner with EcoLogic after an extensive review of various methods, technologies, and products for making plastics more sustainable, noting that the Eco-One additive seemed to be the best suited for the Mexican market.

In July, EcoLogic announced an exclusive supply agreement to provide Eco-One to foodservice packaging and rigid plastic container manufacturer, Letica Corp. Letica will introduce Eco-One in its Maui Cup EcoLine FoodWare products line. Jim Rooney, president of EcoLogic, said that, by his figures, more than 90% of plastic products ultimately end up in landfills, forcing companies to look beyond the recycling process for "waste alternatives that help decrease our impact on the earth and the limited resources we have."