So WHAT?!

There is no question the biodegradation of traditional plastics is a reality, and YES plastics can now biodegrade in a landfill.  However, as was so eloquently posed to me recently, “SO WHAT!?” We make plastics for every purpose imaginable and when we are done with them, we thoughtlessly toss the plastics in the landfill out of sight, out of mind…but “SO WHAT”!? Does it really matter if those plastics last forever or for just a few years?  “SO WHAT”!?

Let’s look at the past 50 years: We used 7 million tons of plastic in 1960.  We increased that to 196 million tons in 2005 and are expected to exceed 365 million tons in 2015. “SO WHAT”!? We put almost 90% of our plastic waste in our landfills. That equates to over 300 million tons of plastic every year in the landfill. TONS.  Billions of tons filling up our landfills with plastic that will last pretty much forever.  And each of us continues to add TONS more every day.  If that is not enough to make you jump out of your seat and upgrade all of your plastic products to biodegradable…

Let’s look at things from a different view; The ENSO view.

Biodegradable Plastics –

Because we can reduce the volume of our landfills

Because we can build fewer landfills

Because every biodegradable plastic product you use can be converted to clean energy

Because we can choose plastics that work with nature rather than against it

Because your products can create a better world

Because WE created the mess and continue to do so

Because it’s this generation’s responsibility, not our children’s or our grandchildren’s

Because today you have a choice and tomorrow may be too late

Because your customers want it

Because you know it is the right thing to do

“SO WHAT” will you choose?

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Today nearly all water bottles are #1 PET, meaning they can be recycled. Some competitors have recently introduced plant-based plastic bottles. Plant-based plastic bottles can be recycled, but do not biodegrade and do nothing to reduce the quantity of bottles that end up in landfills or the environment. The BIO BOTTLE represents a significant step forward as they can biodegrade naturally or be recycled.

“redleaf’s BIO BOTTLES are a step in the right direction to further reduce the impact empty water bottles have on the environment,” said redleaf COO Dave Hillis. “When we started the company, we made a commitment to aggressively seek alternatives to reduce our impact on the environment, while still providing customers with superior drinking water. We still have work to do, but redleaf’s BIO BOTTLES represent an important step forward in our ongoing mission to provide premium Canadian water in guilt-free bottles.”

ENSO pioneered the bottles from its research facility in Arizona. The company has worked for three years to perfect a bottle that is both #1 PET recyclable and biodegradable. While the process is classified, the results have been validated by Northeast Laboratories, a testing facility certified by the FDA, EPA and the Department of Defense and ISO.

“Our bottle is designed to be placed into the existing recycle streams, but if placed into a landfill or other natural environments, depending on the natures microbial activity, these bottles will disappear within 1-15 years as opposed to 500 for normal #1 PET bottles,” stated NAME AND TITLE. “Simply put these bottles disappear the same way other organic materials do.”

Complementing the release of BIO BOTTLES, redleaf will also launch the “Disappearing Project” in Spring 2011. The project is designed to highlight how BIO BOTTLES disappear in various environmental conditions.

redleaf starts as great water from an artesian aquifer in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and is made even better through a proprietary purification and bottling process. The water’s high oxygen content and high pH of 8.3 have been known to have several health benefits for the drinker, including increased alertness, hydration and stamina – all of which are crucial to athletes and sports fans alike.

Keeping with its efforts to reduce waste and minimize its impact on the environment, redleaf’s production process has a 1:1 bottling ratio. While many competitors have a 6:1 ratio, that means competitors waste five gallons of water for every one gallon they bottle.

About redleaf water
redleaf is North America’s only ultra-premium bottled water. It starts with great water from a naturally renewable source in the Canadian Rockies, and is made better through a state-of-the-art purification and bottling process, that is the industry’s most advanced and the best way to improve on the Earth’s own natural process for making great tasting, healthy water. It is available in locations throughout the Mountain West region of the United States, including more than 100 Albertsons LLC stores.

For more information, please visit redleafwater.com.

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Image by Aeropause

Standing at the grocery store checkout, realizing you forgot your reusable shopping bags, or if you did remember them, you don’t have enough, you’re faced with the decision: paper or plastic? First, you’re momentarily overcome with pangs of guilt; second, the inner dialogue commences. You’re a deer in the headlights, frozen, afraid to make a move.

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the Great Bag Debate, much of it perpetuated by misinformation, common assumptions, and a whole lot of greenwashing. For years, it was thought that the better choice for the environment was paper, but it turns out that paper and plastic bags are just about equal in pros and cons. They both use resources, cause pollution, and generate many tons of waste that more often than not, ends up in the landfill.

To further complicate the conundrum, there is more than just paper and plastic to consider these days; plastic alternatives, including corn-based PLA, and landfill biodegradable plastics are commonly being used in packaging. As eco-conscious consumers, which bag do we choose, and how can feel good about our choice?

The Resources and Energy Pitfall

Myth #1: Paper is made from a renewable resource, so it must have a lower impact.

The first part of this statement is true, but in fact, paper production deals a double blow when it comes to climate change and environmental impact. First, forests are cut down, removing trees that absorb greenhouse gases and convert it into oxygen (not to mention the other impacts on wildlife and ecosystems in general); in 1999, more than 14 million trees were cut down to produce the 10 billion paper bags consumed in the U.S. alone. Second, manufacturing paper from pulp takes a tremendous amount of energy, and because paper is relatively heavy, it takes a lot of fuel to transport the finished product.

How does this compare with the plastics? Of course, there are impacts associated with the extraction of petroleum (just look at the Gulf), but it turns out that the actual production of plastic bags releases about 92% fewer emissions into the atmosphere than paper bag production, and requires about Plastic bags also weigh significantly less than paper, requiring less fuel to get them from point A to point B.

What About Waste

Myth #2: Paper breaks down in the landfill faster than plastic, so it must be the better choice.

Image by greenismyfavoritecolor.net

It turns out that under standard landfill conditions, paper does not degrade any faster than plastic. Even newspaper can take years to break down; newspapers excavated from one New York landfill were mostly intact after 50 years, and another in Arizona was still readable after 35 years. Indeed, the largest percentage of solid waste in U.S. landfills comes from paper and paperboard products, about 31%.

On the other hand, the new generation of plastics somewhat complicate this debate. PLA, or corn-based, plastics commonly used in disposable cutlery, packaging, and plastic grocery bags is compostable, but only among the perfect conditions found in a commercial composting facility, NOT in the landfill where  most plastic ends up, or even in the backyard compost pile.

Biodegradable plastics, like ENSO’s products, however, do break down in the anaerobic landfill environment in a short amount of time (an average of five years), leaving behind only methane, carbon dioxide, and biomass. The use of an additive in standard plastic production also makes it a cost-effective solution. In terms of the plastic waste problem, the biodegradables currently hold the most promise.

Next week, in Part II, we’ll take a look at the aspects of pollution and recycling, and see how the contenders hold up.

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Photo courtesy of 350.org

On Sunday, 10-10-10, people in all corners of the world joined together for a Global Work Party to support the grassroots movement known as 350. Thousands of participants in 188 countries worked on more than 7,347 projects to raise awareness about, and take steps toward solving, climate change. By building community gardens to fortify local food systems and planting trees to offset CO2 emissions, to installing solar panels in the Namibian desert, project organizers hoped to send a clear message to world political leaders: “If we can get to work, so can you.”

Scientists and climate experts say that 350 parts per million is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere; the number currently hovers around 392 ppm, so it’s become a matter of both reducing emissions to keep the number from creeping upward, and changing behaviors to reduce the amount.

It’s a tall order, no doubt, that requires an overhaul of not only our lifestyles, but our political policies, business practices, and everything in between.

A Little Less Talk, A Lot More Action

It’s not just about 350. Reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change are at the forefront of a worldwide dialogue, and it’s a long conversation. Add to the docket the related problems of the energy crisis, waste management, petro-laden conventional farming methods, the dwindling supply of fresh water, and the discussion could go on forever.

While having a clear understanding of the issues at hand is important, there is more than a lot of work to do to affect change on the large scale. Let’s hope the Global Work Party and similar events will inspire people and governments across the globe to get moving, and make these activities a part of everyday life. But where do we even begin, and how can the average person make a difference?

Getting to 350

Image courtesy of ENSO Bottles

The most sweeping changes must be mandated at the federal and international levels; policy and environmental impact go hand in hand, so a logical first step is to keep up with the issue and be vocal about it. Tell local and state representatives, congressmen and women, and the President how critical the issue is, then get to work at home, at work, and in your community.

Many of us are already working to reduce our impacts, and efforts like bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, opting for the to-go mug instead of a paper cup, and even driving a hybrid car are a great start. But there are other overlooked steps we can take to further minimize our impacts, and make an even bigger difference.

Reduce environmental impacts at home and in the workplace by:

• Examining daily habits, including consumption, energy, and waste. Track patterns for one month.We often don’t realize how much we are consuming, and how much goes to waste in a typical month-long period of day-to-day living.

• Consuming less. Buy only what you need, share when you have extra, and use less water and electricity. You’ll save money, and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide your household contributes to the atmosphere.

• Investing in alternative, clean energy to power your home. The upfront cost of technologies like solar panels is coming down, and many states offer tax credits and rebates to help offset the initial investment.

• Understanding that all labels are not created equally. Currently, the onus is on the consumer to know what they’re buying. Just because a product claims to be eco-friendly that it really is; research, and substantiate green claims.

• Changing the way we look at waste. Whether we recycle or not, all waste eventually ends up in the landfill, and can take thousands of years to degrade–if ever. It’s important to look at the inevitable last phase of the cycle, and factor it in to consumer decision-making. For example, biodegradable packaging, like ENSO Bottles, is a good option because it can be recycled along with other plastics, and completely breaks down in the landfill, often in less than a year’s time.

Paying it Forward

Photo courtesy of 350.org

Get involved with grassroots efforts already underway, like 350.org and other local causes. Once we’ve taken steps in our own lives, raising awareness and educating others is the only way to affect change on a large scale. For our kids, families, neighbors and our friends, set the example, and inspire others to take steps toward healthier living, and a healthier planet.

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Langlade Springs natural mineral spring water now available in the Upper Midwest. Langlade Springs, LLC, is introducing a private label program of natural mineral spring water packaged in ENSO biodegradable bottles.

Learn more at: http://www.langladesprings.com

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Check it out!

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Boston, MA (PRWEB) June 3, 2010 — Native Waters, a Massachusetts company that produces locally sourced natural spring water in earth-friendly PET plastic bottles, will now be widely available across Eastern Massachusetts, including Metropolitan Boston, and New Hampshire thanks to a distribution agreement with Great State Beverages of Hooksett, New Hampshire and their subsidiary Blue Coast Beverages of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.

Great State Beverages is one of the leading beverage distributors in New England. The company will offer Native Water to its customers in Eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and other venues.

Native Water is bottled in ENSO Bottles, a biodegradable and recyclable PET plastic bottle. Made from 25% recycled plastic the bottles are produced with Ecopure™, an organic compound added to the plastic manufacturing process that allows the bottles to be metabolized and neutralized on a microbial level, completely breaking down the plastic. ENSO bottles maintain the same physical properties and strengths as existing PET plastic bottles yet provide a more shelf stable and practical solution than starch-based PLA materials and oxo-degradable plastics. The bottles are biodegradable in both anaerobic and aerobic environments and can also be successfully mixed with standard PET plastic recycling.

Link to full article: Native Waters Signs Distribution Agreement with Great State Beverages.

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Rotaract is dedicated to making the world a better place, but might see the world from a slightly different perspective than Rotary. Rotaractors are between the ages of 18 and 30, and are typically very early in their careers. Although still fresh to the professional world, they are future leaders in business, politics and the community.

Those in attendance at the Rotaract Pre-Convention 2009 in Birmingham, England came from backgrounds including medicine, law, the U.S. Foreign Service, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, American Civil Liberties Union, Peace Corps, German Luftwaffe Office Corps, European royalty, consulting firms, investment banking, and a plethora of small businesses started by Rotaractors themselves. Rotaractors will be shaping the world, and they’re passionately involved in Rotary International to make that happen.

Rotaract needs the support of local Rotary Clubs, but doesn’t require hand-holding. A successful Rotaract Club must function independently – guided by Rotarians, but led by Rotaractors. Rotary Clubs can work to develop Rotaract Clubs by first identifying a solid group of sociable young leaders who are able to motivate and inspire both friends and strangers. These people are most frequently the children of Rotarians or those that have participated in Rotary youth programs. Once a core group has been established and the new Rotaractors have a basic understanding of Rotary International, service projects should become the primary focus. From there Rotaractors can participate in local and international service projects in partnership with other clubs and organizations, attend conferences around the state, country and world and even take an active role in the leadership of the global organization.

Each Rotaract Club develops on its own and finds its own causes to support. The Rotaract Club of Phoenix, currently the only Rotaract Club in District 5490, is best known for its annual Water Drive benefitting St. Vincent DePaul and other valley homeless shelters. During the summer of 2009 the club raised and donated 17 tons of bottled water (20,000 bottles) to valley homeless shelters; enough water to support valley shelters for an entire month. This project is possible thanks to the generous support of Rotary Clubs throughout Arizona, the Rotaract Clubs of ASU and East Valley and ENSO Biodegradable Bottles.

Phoenix Rotaract works on service projects throughout the year and has partnered with Project C.U.R.E., Friendly House, and UMOM. Additionally, the Club was recently represented for the second year in a row in Caborca, Sonora, Mexico for the PolioPlus campaign there. Currently, Phoenix Rotaract is working with Bridging AZ Furniture Bank on an estate sale taking place on the weekend of April 30 at the southwest corner of 32nd Street & Indian School Road in Phoenix. The Club has created an inventory system and catalogue of items being sold and is in charge of promoting the event across the Phoenix metropolitan area.

In order to support these projects Phoenix Rotaract is developing a series of fundraisers. The Club is selling tickets to the opening weekend of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the Saturday, April 10 game against Pittsburg. Additionally, the club is planning an outing at the Scottsdale Drive-In for fall 2010 and is developing a volleyball tournament. Supporting these events and Phoenix Rotaract allows the Club to send members to local, national and international conferences, send members to Mexico to participate in PolioPlus projects and supports causes like the Water Drive.

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Learn more at: http://www.customlabeledbottledwater.com/home

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Here in the U.S. recycling rates for plastic is less than 30 percent which means a lot of plastic is ending up in a landfill.  Many other countries do a much better job of recycling then we do here in the U.S., and our recycling rate isn’t going to improve until the recycling industry develops markets for recycled materials.

Many companies are trying to do something about plastic pollution and are developing more environmentally friendly plastics. There are basically three types of plastics which are considered to be more environmentally friendly which are: Compostable, Degradable and Biodegradable plastics.

Compostable plastics are common

ly called Polylactic Acid (PLA) are made from plants.  Here is the U.S. most PLA is made from corn.  PLA is compostable but must be processed by a commercial composting facility.  There aren’t many commercial composting facilities so most PLA will end up in a garbage dump.  PLA doesn’t biodegrade quickly so once it finds its way into a landfill it will remain there for a long time.

Degradable plastics degrade through photo degradation and oxygen degradation isn’t biodegradable plastic, they are degradable plastics.  Degradable plastic breaks down (degrades) into smaller and smaller pieces until they are too small to see.  The plastic doesn’t biodegrade; it just gets too small to see.

The third type of plastic is a truly biodegradable plastic, and will biodegrade leaving behind biogases and humus.  A recently introduced biodegradable plastic is the ENSO biodegradable plastic bottle with EcoPure.  The ENSO plastic bottle is standard Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic with EcoPure G2 additive.  When placed in a microbial environment, the ENSO bottle will attract microbes which consume plastic in either an anaerobic (no oxygen) or aerobic (with oxygen) environment.

There isn’t any one perfect answer that will solve plastic pollution.  However, we are working toward a solution that will help.

By

Max

ENSO Bottles

www.ensobottles.com

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December, 2009 – West Des Moines, Iowa — For Immediate Release – Hiland Premium Artesian Water, exclusively available at Kum & Go convenience stores, is now available in the ENSO biodegradable plastic bottle.

Hiland Premium Artesian Water is sourced from a natural artesian aquifer that is sealed and protected for purity, producing superior quality water with perfect PH balance. This premium water is offered exclusively at Kum & Go, one of the nation’s largest convenience store chains, voted number one in customer service and awarded the National Excellence in Customer Service Outlook.

“Kum & Go is committed to improving our environment and we are thrilled to offer our Hiland Premium Artesian Water in an environmentally friendly bottle,” said Kyle Krause, Kum & Go president and CEO. “We all need to become environmentally aware and we’re taking steps to ensure a better environment for us and future generations.”

Hiland Premium Artesian Water will be in ENSO biodegradable bottles which are designed to biodegrade in a landfill and can also be recycled with standard plastics.

“We’re excited to be working with Kum & Go to launch Hiland Premium Artesian Water in ENSO biodegradable plastic bottles. They are leading the convenience store industry by providing their customers with an environmental solution for bottled water. Having ENSO biodegradable bottles available at all 431 stores is going to have a huge impact on helping our environment,” said Danny Clark, President of ENSO Bottles.

Hiland Premium Artesian Water is scheduled to hit store shelves in December of 2009.

Founded on exceptional customer service, Kum & Go is a pioneer in the convenience store industry. The family-owned company began in 1959 in Hampton, Iowa, and has grown to more than 431 convenience stores in 11 states (Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming). In addition to a wide selection of products, Kum & Go provides customers a proprietary mix of products under the well-known Hiland brand name. Other proprietary product offerings include Java Ridge Premium Coffee, Napa Creek and Sea Ridge wines, Go Fresh Market sandwiches and Nuclear energy drinks. For more information visit www.kumandgo.com

ENSO Bottles, LLC, of Phoenix, Arizona is an environmental company dedicated to creating “Bottles for a Healthier Earth.” ENSO Bottles with EcoPure™ are designed to recycle and biodegrade in landfill environments. For more information on ENSO Bottles, visit www.ensobottles.com or call 866-936-3676.

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Take for instance plastics. Plastics are a naturally occurring material, and have been used for millions of years. In natural plastics, the material is biodegradable meaning that once it’s use is complete, the biodegradable plastic returns naturally to the earth and a new cycle can begin. Now we have come along and created artificial plastic; a material we have modified from a natural product to create strength, protection and durability. We stand in awe at the amazing benefits of this material, while we turn a blind eye to the mountains of plastic waste piling up around us. To address this, in the past we would burn, bury or try to force artificial degradation with starch and oxo-degradable additives. This left us with toxic fumes and /or toxic particles and metals left in the environment.

There is a better way: ENSO Bottles with EcoPure, take the wisdom of nature and the creativity of man to create a truce in this battle, a collaboration of all sides. Plastics that have the durability and strength man created, coupled with the biodegradation that nature intended.  ENSO bottles facilitate natural biodegradation through the same natural microbial digestion that breaks down dead trees in a forest. Once biodegraded, ENSO biodegradable plastics leave the same natural products as that tree in the forest. Naturall biodegradable plastics a true innovation, showing that by working with nature as opposed to fighting against it, amazing things can be created.

Teresa Clark
ENSO Bottles, LLC
866-936-3676
Web: www.ensobottles.com

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The Ecology of microbes to one another and their surroundings is extraordinary with respect to the diversity of chemical and physical conditions that can be tolerated. Microbes thrive in extreme environments with regards to temperatures, high concentrations of salts and sugars, relative acidity, and with or without the presence of oxygen.

I’ve had a few conversation and read comments by scientists, individuals and organizations who promote the PLA industry claiming that biodegradation does not happen in landfill environments. One person I met while attending NPE2009 in Chicago was so bold as to make the statement that biodegradation does not happen anaerobically. I thought this was very interesting as the process for producing lactic acid (which is a required process for PLA – Polylactic Acid) is through the fermentation of corn starch. Fermentation is the biological process in which sugars and starches are converted into cellular energy in anaerobic conditions (a.k.a. anaerobic biodegradation). In fact, found on the BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) website is an explanation on biodegradation. BPI quotes the following”.

“Myth: Biodegradable products are the preferred environmental solutions because waste simply biodegrades in the landfill.

Reality: Nothing biodegrades in a landfill because nothing is supposed to.”

Although some would like to believe we can simply will away microbes from digesting garbage in a landfill we have been unsuccessful up until this point. I think anyone who has attended a high school biology class would know that biodegradation through microbial activity happens basically everywhere on the planet and in either aerobic and anaerobic environments. The environmental laws we have passed requiring landfills to capture and burn the methane generated through the process of microbes breaking down organic materials in anaerobic conditions found in landfill environments is a testament that biodegradation does in fact happen in landfills.

Although it may have seemed like magic to our ancestors and still today to a rare few, the activities from microbes on our planet is so vital to our existence. As we continue to develop and evolve as a species it is hopeful that we can recognize and develop symbiotic relationships with these tiny organisms. One such relationship would be the creation of methane gases by allowing microbes to naturally digest our organic waste which is then used as a source for clean inexpensive energy. Our garbage becomes a source of microbial food which becomes a source for clean energy which reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, which helps to improve the environment.

References:

By Danny Clark

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The ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is a standards organization, host to committee D20.96 on Environmentally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.  The ASTM maintains a Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics under their designation: D 883 – 08.  The following are the ASTM definitions for degradable plastics:

biodegradable plastics—a degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally-occurring micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae.

compostable plastic—a plastic that undergoes biological degradation during composting to yield carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and leaves no visually distinguishable or toxic residues.

degradable plastic—a plastic designed to undergo a significant change in its chemical structure under specific environmental conditions resulting in a loss of some properties that may vary as measured by standard test methods appropriate to the plastic and the application in a period of time that determines its classification.

Although there are three main categories of degradable plastics each category has its own nuances and particulars which need to be understood.  For example: biodegradable plastics can happen in either aerobic (with oxygen) or anaerobic (without oxygen) environments.  Compostable plastics such as PLA do not degrade in backyard composting but require “professional composting facilities” in order to maintain the constant temperature requirements for the bioplastics to degrade and the infrastructure for proper disposal is not present at this time.  Degradable plastics are those which break down from environmental conditions such as oxygen and ultra-violet light.  This degradation or fragmentation leaves small particles of plastic around until microbes are able to digest them (if ever).

Bioplastics/Bioresins — these are really the same terms in that bioresins are manufactured into bioplastics.  Bioplastics are a form of plastics derived from biomass sources which come from plants.  There are a number of various bioplastics solutions on the market today, however, based on the market size there are really two main bioplastics categories PLAs (Polylactic Acid) and PHAs (Polyhydroxyalkanoates)  .  PLA being derived from plant starches i.e. corn, potato, etc and PHA being derived from plant sugars i.e. sugarcane, molasses, etc.  Within both bioplastics category technologies there are literally dozens of different kind of polymers which can be created.  Currently both of these solutions require the use of the part of the plant which is also used as a human or animal food source.  In the bigger picture of things we as a human race need to decide which is more important to feed those in the world who are starving or to use our food resources to make plastics?

There is currently a lot of research happing in the area of bioplastics to develop new sources which are more environmentally friendly.  Moving away from fossil fuels as the feedstock for traditional plastics is definitely a better solution for the environment, however, we should move to bioplastics which are more environmentally sound, today there are no bioplastics on the market which have a better environmental footprint than that of traditional fossil fuel based plastics.

A very important aspect to keep in mind with the issue of biodegradable plastics is the entire lifespan of the biodegradable plastic (raw materials, development of those raw materials, manufacturing, product use and lifecycle, product end of life and disposal) and the environmental impact each segment has.

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ATLANTA, July 9 /PRNewswire/ — GoodPac Plastics, a Division of Goodwin Enterprises, Inc., known for their high quality PET bottles, announced today they are offering the ENSO biodegradable (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottle, the world’s first truly biodegradable and recyclable PET plastic bottle.

“Our customers and consumers have been asking for an environmentally friendly plastic bottle. We teamed up with ENSO Bottles, LLC, and RESILUX America, LLC to provide them with the world’s first truly biodegradable plastic water bottle,” said Jim Goodwin, President of GoodPac Plastics. “Over the years, we’ve taken special pride in producing high quality products. Now, by adding our environmentally 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

Hugh Goodwin, CEO of GoodPac, was a pioneer in the bottled water industry, starting Crystal Springs Pure Water Co. back in the mid-1960′s in Decatur, Georgia. Today, GoodPac Plastics, still family owned and operated, has been providing high quality PET bottles since 1997.

ENSO Bottles, LLC, of Phoenix, Arizona is an environmental company dedicated to creating “Bottles for a Healthier Earth”. ENSO biodegradable bottles have been tested by The University of New Mexico, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, and Northeast Laboratories Berlin, Connecticut. ENSO bottles are FDA approved for contact with food and are OSHA approved as non-hazardous. ENSO bottles with EcoPure(R) are designed to biodegrade in anaerobic (no oxygen, no light) or aerobic and compostable environments. ENSO also has tested the physical properties to verify that the biodegradable PET has the ability to be intermingled with standard PET during recycling.

RESILUX America, LLC of Pendergrass, Georgia, a producer of resin preforms, is known worldwide in the PET packaging market. Originally based out of Belgium, RESILUX has been instrumental in the development, production, and distribution of the ENSO biodegradable preforms.

“We’re excited to be working with GoodPac to provide bottlers with the ENSO biodegradable bottle. Together, we’re going to have a huge impact on reducing plastic bottle pollution,” said Danny Clark, President of ENSO Bottles.

Gene Ross, Vice President of GoodPac, notes, “The use of biodegradable PET resin is essential ‘green’ technology for the entire beverage industry. We have biodegradable resin available NOW to produce an array of bottle sizes. Biodegradable PET can be used in stock bottles or proprietary bottle ideas and needs.”

ENSO bottles with EcoPure(TM) have been 3rd party tested and validated for biodegradability and recyclability using ASTM standards.

For further information from GoodPac, contact Gene Ross, Vice President of Sales & Marketing (c) 404-323-3978, (O) 404-363-8978 or ENSO Bottles, LLC. At www.ensobottles.com

Web Link: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-09-2009/0005057667&EDATE

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Fall River, MA (PRWEB) July 10, 2009 — Proving that bottled water can be earth friendly, Native Waters, LLC, is introducing Native Water, a sustainable bottled water in environmentally friendly packaging. Locally sourced and packaged in biodegradable bottles, Native Water is 100% natural, organic and pure while making minimal environmental impact.

Native Water is bottled in ENSO Bottles, a biodegradable PET plastic bottle. The bottles are produced with Ecopure™, an additive added to the plastic manufacturing process that allows the bottles to be metabolized and neutralized on a microbial level, breaking down the plastic. ENSO bottles maintain the same physical properties and strengths as existing PET plastic bottles yet provide a more shelf stable solution than starch-based PLA materials and oxo-degradable plastics. The bottles are biodegradable in both landfill and compost environments and can also be successfully mixed with standard PET plastic recycling.

Native Water is sourced from Chester Hill Springs, located in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains in Western Massachusetts. The water flows naturally through sand, clay and rocks, and provides Native Waters with a spring water which is exceedingly low in mineral and dissolved solid content. By sourcing the water locally, Native Water can minimize its carbon footprint by eliminating long trucking routes for distribution.

“Our goal is to provide the healthiest and highest quality natural spring water with a minimal carbon footprint,” said Rodger Cohen, vice president and co-founder of Native Waters. “By combining our locally sourced water with the ENSO earth-friendly, biodegradable bottles, we hope to take a step forward in the battle to stop plastic containers from filling our waterways, streets, and landfills.”

Native Waters, LLC
Native Waters, LLC, was founded in 2009 by Steven Nasiff and Rodger Cohen. The company was founded to provide sustainable product solutions for the beverage industry using the latest technology and a local approach towards improving the environment for current and future generations. To learn more about Native Water in the ENSO biodegradable bottle, visit http://www.earthfriendlybottle.com or call 877.228.0711,

About ENSO Bottles
ENSO Bottles, LLC, of Phoenix, Arizona is an environmental company dedicated to creating “Bottles for a Healthier Earth”. ENSO bottles are designed to biodegrade in anaerobic (no oxygen, no light) or aerobic (compostable) environments leaving behind biogases and humus. ENSO bottles with EcoPure™ have been 3rd party tested and validated for biodegradability and recyclability using ASTM standards. Contact ENSO Bottles at www.ensobottles.com or call 866.936.3676

Web Link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2622244.htm

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July, 2009 – ENSO Bottles LLC has been awarded the Green Education Network Seal of Approval because its product makes a needed contribution to the problem of non-recycled plastic, and ENSO has demonstrated a commitment to education. ENSO bottles are 100% biodegradable, decompose in about five years and add little to the cost of a bottled beverage or other product. Like traditional PET bottles, the ENSO bottles also can be recycled along with nonbiodegradable PET bottles without being separated.

PET  stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate, a plastic that’s used as a container for water, soft drinks, other foods, and non-food items such as household cleaners. PET containers can be recycled into new bottles and other products, but most of the millions of tons in use each year wind up in landfills, roadsides, rivers, lakes and oceans, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose.

In an effort to help reduce the tons of plastic bottle waste accumulating in our nation’s solid waste facilities, ENSO Bottles™, in partnership with Resilux America and Bio-tec Environmental, is bringing Eco-Pure™ technology to the PET bottle industry through specially formulated additive, preforms and blown bottles. ENSO Bottles™ and Bio-Tec Environmental are both environmental companies with a dedication to providing earth friendly biodegradable plastic solutions, and together, are offering the latest scientific advances to the PET industry.

ENSO bottles are not Oxo-degradable or PLA (corn based) plastics. ENSO bottles are biodegradable in aerobic (compost) and anaerobic (landfill) environments, breaking down through microbial action into biogases and inert humus leaving behind no harmful materials. ENSO bottles are recyclable and can be mixed into the standard PET recycling stream.

Launched in 2008, ENSO Bottles, LLC was created with a vision of bringing environmentally focused solutions to the PET bottling industry.  In partnership with Resilux America and Bio-tec Environmental, ENSO Bottles™ is bringing Eco-Pure™ technology to the PET bottle industry through specially formulated additive, preforms and blown bottles.

ENSO CEO Danny Clark told GEN, “Our mission is to develop, promote and bring to market earth friendly plastic PET bottle solutions.  We also believe that an important part of our business is to provide education on the topic of biodegradable plastics.”

“We believe in approaching business with an integral perspective in understanding the impact and sustainability of our products. Our long-term goals are to develop renewable and sustainable sources of bioplastics which are derived from non-food feedstocks.  Our future products will assist in reducing our dependence on unsustainable resources such as fossil fuels.”

“Our current biodegradable products will greatly assist in reducing plastic bottle pollution in both landfill and ocean environments. Current ENSO Bottles are recyclable with traditional PET. We strongly encourage and assist corporations, municipalities and organizations in creating viable recycling programs. We promote the recapture and use of bio-gasses created from landfills and bioreactor landfills to be used in creation of clean bio-energy.”

“We chose the name, ENSO Bottles™ to reflect the concept and life cycle of our products. Our name and logo, ENSO, represents wholeness and the returning to where it initially began. Our bottles reflect this precept, originating from the earth, providing a value of use, and returning to the earth in a reusable organic form.”

California-based Aquamantra water will be the first corporation to use ENSO’s 100% biodegradable bottles, according to an Aquamantra announcement.

The goal, said Aquamantra founder and president Alexandra Teklak, is to cut the amount of non-degradable plastic in landfills, an issue that a number of cities have cited in removing bottled water from government offices.

“I have a love for this planet and a love for humanity,” said Teklak. “I’m just so grateful to be a leader in the solution.”

Teklak said she ruled out bottles made from cornstarch (PLA) because the company needed a bottle that would survive 1-2 years in stores before beginning to degrade. Other possible solutions, such as oxy-degradables require sunlight to breakdown, according to an Aquamantra news release, making it difficult to dispose of them in landfills.

“I just wanted people to know, we really do care,” said Teklak, whose Aquamantra water is sold under four names: I Am Healthy, I Am Loved, I Am Lucky and I Am Grateful. The spring water comes from Palomar Mountain Spring near San Diego, Ca.

Aquamantra is the first company to announce it will use ENSO Bottles, said Clark, but the company already has orders for over 5 billion from other corporations, including non-food suppliers, such as cosmetics firms. Companies either can order complete bottles from ENSO or buy the material to make bottles and form their own.

Within months, consumers should start seeing ENSO bottles in a variety of stores, said Clark.

She said the firms that contributed to creation of the bottles are hoping consumers will see them as an answer to the landfill-clogging problems that go with PET containers and to the health worries associated with [other types of non-PET*] hard plastic bottles that contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a weak estrogenic compound that studies are linking to health problems because it leaches into food or water.

“We’re trying to encompass the entire industry that handles PET packaging,” she said.

One ENSO-related issue is what happens to the methane gas produced when ENSO bottles degrade, said Clark. Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming but it can be captured and used as fuel. “We’re working with landfills to capture the methane,” said Clark.

*ie BPA is not used in PET bottles – GEN Publisher

Web Link: http://www.greeneducationnetwork.com/article/biodegradable-plastic-bottles-from-enso-bottles-awarded-gen-seal-of-approval

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There is a lot of concern about the growing plastic pollution problem, and rightly so.  Did you know?

* Plastic bottles take hundred or thousands of years to begin biodegrading
* 150 billion plastic beverage bottles are produced each year
* 70-80% of plastic bottles are not recycled
* 100 billion plastic bottles end up in landfills, roadsides, streams or oceans
* The average American consumes 167 bottles of water a year
* Bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States
* A majority of containers today are made from plastic

It seems that a lot of interest is being placed on bottled water, but take a look at the shelves where you shop; almost everything is packaged in plastic.  Bottled water has become an easy target; many of us think that because our tap water is safe, it must be safe everywhere else.  I wish that were true, most places in the world don’t have safe drinking water.  We should be focusing on the pollution caused by all plastics and insist that plastics be designed to be sustainable.  Sustainable plastics regardless of what it is made from, petroleum or plants should be biodegradable and designed to meet“Cradle to Cradle,” design criteria.  A cradle to cradle product is made from something, used, reused, recycled and when its useful life is over, it returns to the earth as a harmless substance.

The problem is that we consumers are confused we don’t understand what is biodegradable, what is compostable, what is the carbon foot print, etc?  Market experts know we’re confused and have designed their campaigns to keep us that way.  Here’s an example, Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA)is a plastic made primarily from corn but can be made from other plants, is marketed as biodegradable and compostable.  Making plastics from corn may sound like the perfect utopian answer for solving all our plastic pollution problems, but everything in PLA land isn’t what it seems to be.  PLA made from corn increases use of pesticides, is made from genetically altered corn, reduces food crops, raises food prices, and does not biodegrade any quicker than standard plastic in a landfill.  A huge problem with PLA is that it isn’t easily recycled and for proper disposal, it must be processed in a commercial composting site.  There aren’t many commercial composting sites here in the U.S. and some that do exist won’t accept PLA that is made from genetically altered corn. The bottom line is that PLA can’t be composted in your backyard compost pile and with the limited number of commercial sites here in the U.S., most PLA will end up in the garbage dump where it will languish for thousands of years, right along with other plastics.

Beware spin masters, consumers are getting smarter and we want products that don’t harm us or our future generations.

Max

http://www.ensobottles.com

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Sonoma, CA, September 25, 2007 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles have garnered a great deal of media attention recently, some of it raising questions about PET safety. According to the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), the trade group for PET packaging, it’s time to clear up any fallacies and set the record straight: Consumers can continue to rely on the safety of PET bottles.

If you drink a single-serve water or carbonated beverage from a plastic bottle, chances are you’re drinking it from PET, identified with a small number “1” or “PETE” on the container side or bottom. The PET bottle is a well-accepted package all over the world and is completely safe to drink from as well as lightweight, unbreakable, and recyclable.

But, can you safely freeze a PET bottle? Yes. There is no danger in the freezing of PET bottles, and no truth to the rumors that dioxins leach from frozen PET bottles. There is no dioxin in PET plastic. Dioxins are formed by combustion in incinerators at temperatures above 1700 degrees F. — and by volcanoes. Furthermore, freezing does not affect PET bottles.

Leave a PET bottle in your hot car? Yes. The idea that PET bottles “leach” chemicals when heated in hot cars is not based on any science, and is unsubstantiated by any credible evidence. This allegation has been perpetuated by emails until it has become an urban legend, but it just isn’t so.

Reuse a PET bottle? Yes. Just wash it first, as you would any other food or beverage container after use.

Do PET bottles contain “bis-phenol A” which some claim can cause birth defects? No. Bis-phenol A is not used to make PET, nor is it used to make any of the component materials used to make PET.

What about the chemicals called “phthalates? They are not in PET. In spite of the similarity of part of PET’s chemical name, PET is not the kind of “phthalate” that is being talked about. The type of “phthalate” about which concern has been raised is used to make various plastics more flexible, and in that role is called a “plasticizer.” PET does not contain plasticizers or the type of “phthalate” that is used in plasticizers.

What about Antimony? Antimony oxide is often used in extremely tiny amounts as a “catalyst” in the production of PET plastic. Its very low toxicity combined with very low extraction rate from PET translates to very, very low risk. Its use in PET does not endanger workers, consumers, or the environment.

NAPCOR Contacts: Dennis Sabourin (707) 996-4207, X13 or Kate Eagles, x16

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With the domestic and world markets looking into alternative energy, it is not surprising that the use of biogas created by our landfills are emerging as an easy answer to clean energy (see bioreactor landfill). What is surprising is that this seemingly untapped resource has been available for decades, and is only now being taken serious as a mainstream source for clean energy.

With countries like England adopting a massive effort to capture and utilize methane from waste off gassing from landfills, it is another exciting development towards a green and responsible stewardship of our planet for future generations to come. Here in the US, we are looking to forge ahead in the ambitious challenge to change the way we are consuming our products and resources, and in turn how we dispose of them. There are the “old school” influences that are entrenched in “status quo”, but do not be fooled, change is here, and the scale is tipping towards a healthier way we treat our planet. We are changing mainstream things that could set a new course our children will look back and thank us for. Look at the city of San Jose, CA were this city’s vision has a goal of using 100% of the city’s electrical power from clean renewable sources.

These are exciting times where innovations like our biodegradable bottles are springing up, and alternative sources for clean power are emerging. We are excited about our involvement in this transformational process that is taking place because we can help rid a pollution problem both from a litter perspective, as well as an emission perspective. Our biodegradable plastic bottles will biodegrade to reduce plastic trash in the environment, and in the process create clean energy from the methane off gassing produced by the degrading process in a landfill. We are first and foremost an advocate of recycling; recycling should and must be the goals of everyone within the voice of our message-please choose to recycle! But with the rates of recycling as low as they have historically been in the US, we take solace in that we can still achieve a positive effect by providing clean power through our plastic PET bottle technology made with Eco-Pure.

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June 03, 2009 06:52 PM Eastern Time
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Bio-Tec Environmental, LLC (http://www.bio-tec.biz) and ENSO Bottles, LLC (http://www.ENSObottles.com) announce the data and test results validating recycling and biodegradation of “Bottles for a Healthier Earth.”

“Organizations who make unsubstantiated claims that there is no data proving plastic biodegradation and recycling compatibility are only inhibiting environmentally sound solutions and contributing to the confusion and the growing pollution problem.”

ENSO Bottles™ with EcoPure™ are biodegradable plastic bottles through the use of organic compounds which promote biodegradation though microbial digestion only when the biodegradable bottles are placed in a highly active microbial environment. “ENSO bottles have the same physical properties as standard PET and do NOT fragment, degrade or break down from environmental conditions such as UV, moisture and oxygen. When ENSO bottles are recycled they have the same useful life as other durable plastics,” said Danny Clark, President of ENSO Bottles.

ENSO bottles with EcoPure™ have been tested and validated for recyclability through a third-party lab for ASTM D 1003 (Haze and Transmission), ASTM D 4603 (Intrinsic Viscosity), ASTM F 2013 (Acetaldehyde), Fluorescence Visual, and Visual Black Specks and Gels. All test results meet industry specifications. In addition, ENSO Bottles, LLC™ has worked with independent recycling companies validating that ENSO bottles have no adverse effects on the recycling stream. ENSO Bottles, LLC™ believes an important aspect of solving the plastic pollution problem is recycling. ENSO Bottles is a member of several recycling organizations, standards boards and environmental organizations supporting recycling solutions for a better environment.

A major recycling company evaluating ENSO bottles stated, “If you hadn’t told me these bottles were ENSO bottles, I would have never known they were not a standard PET bottle. They processed just like standard PET bottles.”

ENSO bottles have also been tested and validated through an accredited third-party laboratory using ASTM D 5511 Standard Test Methods, a standard for biodegradation testing in anaerobic environments. Results clearly indicate ENSO bottles with EcoPure™ biodegrade through natural microbial digestion.

“ENSO Bottles, LLC™ and Bio-Tec Environmental, LLC™ are both environmental companies dedicated to responsibly addressing the growing plastic pollution problem through the development of biodegradable plastics. Technological advances of biodegradable plastics and understanding of why microbes eat plastic should be considered a phenomenon and good for the environment, not rejected by groups with little to no understanding of microbiology,” said Samuel Adams, Senior Vice President of Bio-Tec Environmental.

The plastic pollution problem is huge. In 2007 nearly 4.3 billion pounds of PET containers were not recycled. These bottles end up in landfills or as litter contributing to the tremendous amount of plastic pollution in our oceans. Del Andrus, Vice President of Environmental and Technology Group, said, “Organizations who make unsubstantiated claims that there is no data proving plastic biodegradation and recycling compatibility are only inhibiting environmentally sound solutions and contributing to the confusion and the growing pollution problem.”

ENSO Bottles, LLC™ and Bio-Tec Environmental, LLC™ believe a responsible approach to improving our environment is to address both recyclability and the development of environmentally friendly plastics. Working together will create better solutions and provide a more positive approach toward improving the environment for us and future generations.

Contacts

To learn more about these solutions visit www.ensobottles.com and www.bio-tec.biz. To request official test results contact ENSO Bottles at 866-936-3676

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March, 2009 – California-based Aquamantra water will be the first corporation to use 100% biodegradable bottles that manufacturer ENSO Bottles will make available this spring, according to an Aquamantra announcement. The bottles also can be recycled into other products.

The goal, said Aquamantra founder and president Alexandra Teklak, is to cut the amount of non-degradable plastic in landfills, an issue that a number of cities have cited in removing bottled water from government offices.

“I have a love for this planet and a love for humanity,” said Teklak. “I’m just so grateful to be a leader in the solution.”

The first bottles of Aquamantra in the new containers are expected to be on shelves west of Denver in Albertson’s, Whole Foods and speciality stores in May.

Teklak said she ruled out bottles made from cornstarch (PLA) because the company needed a bottle that would survive 1-2 years in stores before beginning to degrade. Other possible solutions, such as oxy-degradables require sunlight to breakdown, according to an Aquamantra news release, making it difficult to dispose of them in landfills.

“I just wanted people to know, we really do care,” said Teklak, whose Aquamantra water is sold under four names: I Am Healthy, I Am Loved, I Am Lucky and I Am Grateful. The spring water comes from Palomar Mountain Spring near San Diego, Ca.

Only a year old, ENSO Bottles of Phoenix, Ariz., was created, according to its web site, “through the collaborated effort of bottle manufactures looking to provide earth friendly PET bottling solutions.”

PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate, a plastic that is strong, lightweight and clear. It’s used as a container for water, soft drinks, other foods, and non-food items such as household cleaners. PET containers can be recycled into new bottles and other products, but most of the millions of tons in use each year wind up in landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose.

ENSO Bottles, according to Teresa Clark, vice president of sales and marketing, are 100% biodegradable, decompose in about five years and add only “pennies” to the cost of a bottle of water or other product. Like traditional PET bottles, the ENSO bottles also can be recycled into other products. And they don’t need special treatment. They can be mixed in with PET bottles and recycled.

Aquamantra is the first company to announce it will use ENSO Bottles, said Clark, but the company has orders for 2.5 billion from other corporations, including non-food suppliers, such as cosmetics firms. Companies either can order complete bottles from ENSO or buy the material to make bottles and form their own.

Within about six months, consumers should start seeing ENSO bottles in a variety of stores, said Clark.

She said the firms that contributed to creation of the bottles are hoping consumers will see them as an answer to the landfill-clogging problems that go with PET containers and to the health worries associated with hard plastic bottles that contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a weak estrogenic compound that studies are linking to health problems because it leaches into food or water.

“We’re trying to encompass the entire industry that handles PET packaging,” she said.

One ENSO-related issue is what happens to the methane gas produced when ENSO bottles degrade, said Clark. Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming but it can be captured and used as fuel. “We’re working with landfills to capture the methane,” said Clark.

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