Belgium-based Vinçotte, a certification, inspection, assessment, and training company widely recognized in Europe, has added OK Compost and OK Compost Home certifications to Metabolix’s Mirel bioplastic resins. This corn-sugar-derived material will biodegrade in industrial and home composting systems of varying temperatures, and by being certified with the OK Compost mark will meet the EU packaging directive as well as the EN 13432:2000 standard.
Metabolix reports that with this certification, Mirel is the only nonstarch bioplastic to gain all four Vinçotte certifications of OK Biodegradable soil, water, compost, and compost home, with the first two certifications for soil and water announced in October 2008. “Today’s environmentally conscious consumers and brand owners are seeking out eco-friendly products, and certification from Vinçotte confirms Mirel resins meet accepted standards for biodegradability and compostability,” says Bob Findlen, VP of sales and marketing for Telles, a joint venture of Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland.
“With organic material making up about half of all household waste, it is important for manufacturers to produce durable products that can be responsibly disposed of via composting, along with food scraps and other organic waste,” says Petra Michiels, contract manager, OK Compost of Vinçotte. “Composting decreases the amount of organic material and turns it into a valuable product that improves soil characteristics.” —[email protected]
