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Steve Mojo-BPI Exec. Director Western Plastics Association June, 2014 COMPOSTING & BPI DEVELOPMENT, LABELING & FTC ENFORCEMENT
Steve Mojo-BPI Exec. DirectorWestern Plastics AssociationJune, 2014
COMPOSTING & BPI DEVELOPMENT,
LABELING & FTC ENFORCEMENT
• Compost Infrastructure
• New BPI Activities• Regulatory Scrutiny
Agenda
“Compostable plastics are a vehicle for collecting more food waste.”
Dick Lilly, Seattle Public Works
Value of Compostable Plastics
Benefit of Compostables• Compostable liners keep
bins cleaner and improve participation.
• Eliminate need to separate food soiled plastics
• Compostable foodservice items go in same bin as foodscraps
BPI is resource for
Manufacturers Generators
Haulers Composters
Not Just West Coast
Find A Composter
245 Post Consumer Food Scraps
New BPI Logo• More Modern• Uses 30% less
space• Unique
certification # for each participant
• Includes FTC “qualification language”
• NA & Canada only versions
Canada Only
North America
products.bpiworld.org
New BPI Product Catalog
products.bpiworld.org
Searchable by Company
products.bpiworld.org
Results by Company
“Biodegradable”
Increasing Attention to Biodegradable Claims
• 2008: CA PRC codes amended to eliminate use of the term “biodegradable” on plastics
• 2009: Kmart’s paper plates biodegradable claims misleading (FTC)
• 2010: Italian court fined 3 companies €100,000 for biodegradable claims
• 2010: Loosefill manufacturer “biodegradable” product claims found misleading (NAD)
• 2011: CA AG sued bottled water company for misleading biodegradable claims
• 2012: FTC Revised “Green Guides
Green Guide “Degradable” Definition
• Covers degradable, biodegradable, oxo-degradable, oxo-biodegradable, or photodegradable
• For unqualified claims, manufacturer needs scientific evidence that the product will completely decompose into elements found in nature in a reasonable short period of time, after customary disposalSource: http://
www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/press-releases/ftc-issues-revised-green-guides/greenguides.pdf pp 17
Green Guide “Degradable” Definition (New)
• “It is deceptive to make an unqualified degradable claim for items entering the solid waste stream if the items do not completely decompose within one year after customary disposal. Unqualified degradable claims for items that are customarily disposed in landfills, incinerators, and recycling facilities are deceptive because these locations do not present conditions in which complete decomposition will occur within one year.”
October 29, 2013Source: http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2013/10/ftc-cracks-down-misleading-unsubstantiated-environmental
FTC Oct. Announcement• 6 companies “biodegradable”
claims were misleading• 3 plastics manufacturers
– American Plastics, Champ, Clear Choice Housewares and Carnie
• Also, named additive suppliers• 1 Paper Company
– AJM, which was fined $450,000 as it was a repeat offense (original in 1994).
“Qualified Claims”• In order to make qualified claims, the
companies must state the time required for complete biodegradation in a landfill or the time to degrade in a disposal environment near where consumers who buy the product live. Alternatively, the companies may state the rate and extent of degradation in a landfill or other disposal facility accompanied by an additional disclosure that the stated rate and extent do not mean that the product will continue to decompose or decompose completely.Source: http://
www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/05/ftc-approves-final-order-settling-charges-company-made-misleading
Summary
• Food scrap diversion programs are growing throughout NA.
• The BPI is focused on serving as the link between manufacturers and the composting industry.
• Manufacturers making “biodegradable” claims face increased scrutiny at both Federal and local levels.
• Tel: (01) 888-274-5646• Fax: (01) 508-858-0608 • Email:
– [email protected] • Website:
– www.bpiworld.org– http://products.bpiworld.org
BPI Contact Information
