Who is Natur-Tec? Natur-Tec is a division of Northern Technologies International Corp., a Minnesota based company Northern Technologies International Corp. Focused on Environmentally Beneficial Materials Science Headquartered in Circle Pines, MN USA NASDAQ Ticker: NTIC Natur-Tec bioplastics products: Allow customers to reduce their carbon footprint Provide superior performance at competitive prices Meet industry standards for biodegradability such as ASTM D6400 Made from renewable resources as per ASTM D6866
What are Bioplastics? Biobased Plastics: Plastic products made by transforming biobased material, either exclusively or in combination with non-biobased (petrochemical based) material. A biobased material is one in which a significant portion of the carbon is derived from a renewable resource, e.g.: corn, soybeans, grasses, or other plant mass Biodegradable Plastics: Plastic (either biobased or petrochemical based) products that are designed to breakdown for complete assimilation by microorganisms in a disposal infrastructure such as composting
Drivers: Why BioPlastics? Why Now? Volatility of crude oil prices Global warming (GHG) issues Favorable regulations on waste management Heightened environmental awareness at consumer level
Waste Management Trends Increasing adoption of Waste Diversion policies as a tool to reduce Green House Gases (GHG) emissions and combat climate change EU Directives on landfills 99/31/EC and waste 91/156/EC Diversion of organic waste from landfills as a way to reduce GHG emissions In the U.S., the City of San Francisco has adopted these goals: 75% Landfill Diversion Reduce GHG emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2012
Typical Municipal Solid Waste Stream Food Scraps 20% Recycled Paper 21% Plant Trimmings 5% Glass and Plastic Bottles Aluminum and Steel Cans 4% Compostable Paper & Fiber 10% Construction and Demolition Waste 25% Other 15% Source: Dept. of Environment, City and County of San Francisco; All % by weight (tons)
Organic Waste Diversion Organic Waste (35% by weight of MSW stream) Diverted away from Landfills to Centralized Composting Facilities Key Benefits: Reduction in Methane generation, which is 21 times more dangerous than CO2 as a Green House Gas (GHG) Composting provides 70% volume reduction in waste and end product is valuable soil amendment (fertilizer)
Integrated ZeroZero - Waste Solutions A growing trend in the US is the implementation of Zero Waste or Zero Landfill solutions. Entities of all sorts and sizes, are adopting compostable foodservice ware in their cafeterias to enable source segregation and diversion of food and yard waste (organics), away from landfills, and to centralized composting facilities.
Benefits of Compostable Plastics for an Integrated ZeroZero - Waste Solution Improves collection efficiency and reduces costs Use of compostable plastics products simplifies waste collection procedures Use of compostable bin liners reduces need for washing collection bins Reduces waste disposal fees Improves processing at compost facilities Reduces contamination of the inputs Reduces processing cost by eliminating debagging of organic waste Ensures higher quality of end product (compost)
What Does Biodegradable Mean? Can the microorganisms in the disposal system (composting, soil, anaerobic digester) assimilate/utilize the carbon substrate as food source completely and in a short defined time period? Environment soil, compost, waste water plant, marine Hydrolytic Oxidative Oligomers & polymer fragments Enzymatic Plastics / polymers Complete microbial assimilation defined time frame, no residues!!! CO2 + H2O + Cell biomass
Degradation vs. Biodegradation Compost Plastic Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Water (H2O) Polymer Fragments Fragmentation Compost Environment - Microbes - High Temperature ( 140 F) - Oxygen (O2) Biodegradation Biodegradability complete assimilation of the fragmented product as a food source by the micro-organisms in the disposal environment (compost, soil, etc.)
ASTM D6400 U.S. Standard for Compostable Plastics ASTM D6400 specifies 3 criteria Mineralization Conversion to carbon dioxide, water & biomass via microbial assimilation Same rate as natural materials - leaves, paper, grass, food scraps Time -- 180 days or less Disintegration Less than 10% of test material remains on 2mm sieve Safety No impacts on plant growth, using OECD Guide 208 Regulated (heavy) metals less than 50% of EPA prescribed threshold
Global Standards for Compostable Plastics ISO 17088 ASTM D6400 (USA) EN13432 (Europe) GreenPLA (Japan)
Biodegradation Comparison Test C o m p o s t a b l e F i l m v s. O xo - D e g r a d a b l e P o l ye t h yl e n e F i l m Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film Meets ASTM D6400 Standard
Biodegradation Comparison Test C o m p o s t a b l e F i l m v s. O xo - D e g r a d a b l e P o l ye t h yl e n e F i l m Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film Meets ASTM D6400 Standard
Biodegradation Comparison Test C o m p o s t a b l e F i l m v s. O xo - D e g r a d a b l e P o l ye t h yl e n e F i l m Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film Meets ASTM D6400 Standard
Biodegradation Comparison Test C o m p o s t a b l e F i l m v s. O xo - D e g r a d a b l e P o l ye t h yl e n e F i l m Oxo-Degradable Compostable Film Polyethylene Film Meets ASTM D6400 Standard
Biodegradation Comparison Test C o m p o s t a b l e F i l m v s. O xo - D e g r a d a b l e P o l ye t h yl e n e F i l m Compostable Film Oxo-Degradable Polyethylene Film Meets ASTM D6400 Standard
Biodegradation Comparison Test C o m p o s t a b l e F i l m v s. O xo - D e g r a d a b l e P o l ye t h yl e n e F i l m Compostable Film Oxo-Degradable Polyethylene Film Meets ASTM D6400 Standard
Compostable Logo Program The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), provides an independent certification program for products that meet all requirements of the ASTM D6400 standard uses independent approved labs and reviewers not based upon manufacturer s claims The proof is in the Label
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