Sustainability is a core part of our business at Roberts PolyPro
Constantly working toward a brighter future through innovation and sustainability, we chose to “go bio,” obtaining 100% biodegradable certifications for our full line of multipacking products. This includes our can carriers – Craft-Pak®, Craft-Pak® Versa and Grip-Pak® – and our multipack bottle handles.
But what does it really mean to be 100% biodegradable and how does that impact the planet compared to other popular sustainability methods? We’ll explore those and related questions on this page.
What Does Biodegradable Really Mean?
Plastic is considered biodegradable if it can break down naturally into substances found in nature within a relatively short time frame.
Biodegradable plastics are usually made from the sugars found in certain plant species mixed with citric acid to make the building block for plastic. This naturally-derived plastic can be eaten by certain microorganisms, which is what causes them to biodegrade — meaning they completely break down into water, carbon dioxide and compost, according to the Columbia Climate School.
In comparison, traditional plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, and it never completely returns to the environment, instead breaking into a fine powder that often contains chemicals that may be harmful to the environment.
Why Roberts PolyPro “Went Bio”
Roberts PolyPro has a long and proud history of eco-friendly packaging products, having boasted 100% recyclable and 100% photodegradable multipacks in the past. So, why did we push to make our multipack products 100% biodegradable, and why did we choose biodegradable over just recyclable or compostable products?
We believe biodegradable plastic has many unique advantages over other common sustainable options. For us, the path is clear.
At Roberts PolyPro, we’re always looking for better ways to lessen our impact on the environment, and we’re proud to have achieved 100% biodegradability for our multipack products. As new information and advancements emerge, we aim to continue reducing our ecological footprint with our innovative designs. We thank all of our customers for contributing to a greener future through the adoption of biodegradable products.
Understanding the Biodegradable Certification Process
In the United States, ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) sets the industry standard for the biodegradability of plastic. ASTM is an international organization that provides standards for many materials, products, systems, and services based on globally recognized expectations.
Each ASTM standard has its own designation number. The number for biodegradability standards is ASTM D6954. Reputable U.S. testing facilities follow ASTM D6954 standards to conduct biodegradability testing and certification.
Our ASTM evaluation process:
It took our low-density polyethylene (LDPE) products and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) products 28 and 56 weeks, respectively, to fully break down under conditions meant to mimic an urban landfill environment.
- Roberts PolyPro submitted products for testing to an ASTM-accredited facility
- The products were placed in a controlled laboratory setting that mimicked appropriate disposal conditions
- Each degradation stage was tested separately in three tiers so evaluators could tell how well the product performed in different conditions (soil, compost, landfill, and water)
- Once the product was broken down, any residue from oxidation and biodegradation was tested to ensure it wasn’t harmful and could be reabsorbed by the environmen
- Once the evaluation was complete, we received our lab results …
Once the facility confirmed our products didn’t leave behind any environmentally harmful residue and that there were no false positives or false negatives, they granted biodegradable status to our entire line of multipack solutions.
