Terminology

Biobased – Instead of using fossil fuel based carbon for plastics manufacturing, biobased plastics use non-fossil carbon from resources such as sugar, starch, vegetable oils or cellulose in production.

Biocides & Fungicides - These additives act as pesticides and are used to inhibit the growth of fungus and other pests and microbes.

Biodegradable – The degradation of materials from naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or algae, over a period of time.

Bioplastics – This term defines two different kinds of plastics. First is plastics based on renewable resources (origin of the raw material used), second is biodegradable or compostable plastics according to EN 13432 or similar standards (compostability of the final product)

Compostable – A material that is converted by naturally occurring microorganisms into biomass and other basic elements, in a compost facility, at home or industrial scale.

Compostable plastic – Plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds and biomass, at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and that leaves no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - An objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity by identifying and quantifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment, to assess the impact of those energy and materials uses and releases on the environment, and to evaluate and implement opportunities for environmental improvements. The assessment includes the entire life cycle of the product, process or activity, encompassing extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, use/reuse/maintenance, recycling and final disposal.

Renewable energy resources – Naturally occurring energy and virtually inexhaustible in duration, but limited in amount per given time, which includes resources such as biomass, hydro, geothermal, solar, ocean thermal, wave action and tidal action.

Sustainable Development - To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. So, the resources are renewable.

Sustainable packaging – The goal or vision of manufacturers to strive for economically robust system, which has packaging which that can be transformed into cyclic flow of packaging materials, and provides benefit throughout its life cycle.