What is the current impact of plastic bottles on the environment?

In 2006, more than 60 billion PET bottles were used for beverages. PET bottles are fully recyclable; however, PET bottle recycling rates are at less than 25% which means that overall, more than 75% of all plastic PET bottles are ending up in landfills or as litter. In 1960 there was no plastic bottle production, however over the past 12 years there has been a 700% increase in bottles sold but only a 5% increase in recycling.

In what environments will the bottles degrade and how long will this take?

Composting is not the only form of biodegrading. Biodegradation through naturally-occurring micro-organisms happens in both aerobic and anaerobic (landfill) environments. Biodegradation of BIO BOTTLES will occur only where there is an active microbial environment but of course there are a number of variables that come into play because it is a natural process. If there is a warm and moist environment, the BIO BOTTLE tends to break down a lot faster. The latest test results show that BIO BOTTLES will biodegrade in less than 4 years in normal environments. With a wide range of conditions, you will see a range of 1-15 years. Seeing as a “normal” plastic PET bottle can take 500-1000 years to biodegrade, a maximum of 15 years is a significant benefit.

Can you explain the difference between the “BIO BOTTLE” and the “PlantBottles”? What is the key ingredient that marks the difference between the two?

The Plant Bottle is fully recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource, and reduces carbon emissions when compared with petroleum-based PET plastic bottles. The Plant Bottle is made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and up to 30 percent plant-based materials. However, by bringing the biodegradable additive to the PET bottle industry, BIO BOTTLES will biodegrade in any microbial condition. The key ingredient is the additive which marks the difference between a plant bottle and a BIO BOTTLE because the Plant bottle is IN NO WAY biodegradable.

What is the biodegradable additive in BIO BOTTLES?

The additive is a combination of true organic, renewable compound. There is no known taste, flavor, or smell of the additive imparted to BIO BOTTLES.

What materials are BIO BOTTLES made of?

redleaf’s BIO BOTTLES are made of the exact same material as non-biodegradable bottles-recyclable #1 PET plastic with the addition of a organic compound which renders the PET landfill-biodegradable in the unfortunate event it is not recycled.

What prevents BIO BOTTLES from degrading while in inventory or on the shelf?

In most environments such as warehouses, offices, store shelves the microbial environment would be considered suspended or dormant and would not fall under an active microbial environment which is needed for the BIO BOTTLES to activate. An example of an active microbial environment is a landfill.

Can BIO BOTTLES be recycled with traditional PET?

Yes, the biodegradable additive does not change the physical characteristics of the PET. BIO BOTTLES have been rigorously tested by actually recycling facilities and cycled with ease through the most current infrared trash-sorting technologies. The biodegradable additive hydrostatically bonds to the PET and does not chemically bond to it. Because of this, the same physical properties (tensile strength, permeation, melt flow, intrinsic viscosity, etc) remain unchanged.

How will BIO BOTTLES help reduce the impact of plastic bottles?

redleaf Water is the first in the Canadian market with a viable recyclable and biodegradable PET product. Their desire is for biodegradable bottles to replace standard PET bottles that are filling our landfills and polluting our oceans. Though biodegradable plastics are not the complete answer to solving our pollution problems, when combined with a viable recycling program, this is a step in the right direction toward reducing this growing environmental issue.