Resources charity WRAP has said the British Standards Institution (BSI) specification for measuring the biodegradability of polyolefins had a “small but significant anomaly in the normal high standards of the BSI consultation process”.
WRAP says the committee is now due to meet again in January “to examine the recommendation that the standard tests for micro-plastics during the breakdown process, not just at the end”.
PAS 9017
The dispute relates to oxo-degradable plastics
The statement comes after a BSI specification for measuring the biodegradability of polyolefins was published in October.
The specification, PAS9017, was sponsored by a company which produces biodegradable and compostable plastics and was developed by a steering group which included WRAP, among others.
However, soon after it was published, more than 40 organisations called for a ban on plastics containing additives to make them degrade in response to the standard’s publication (see letsrecycle.com story).
The open letter said the specification supports the sale of oxo-degradable plastics. The letter reads: “The calls [for the ban] follow news that the BSI enacted a new specification this month supporting the sale of such plastics.”
Signatories include retailers Tesco, Aldi, Waitrose and the Co-op, as well as a number of trade associations, including the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA) and the Environmental Services Association (ESA).
Clarification
WRAP moved to clarify soon after that its presence on the steering committee of the new specification (PAS) for measuring the biodegradability of polyolefins should not be taken as an endorsement of the standard (see letsrecycle.com story).
It said at the time that it is awaiting some further information with regards to these representations, and issued a further statement yesterday (21 December).
Anomaly
This statement from WRAP this week said: “Wrap highlighted that it was waiting for some further information with regards to these representations. The information received has confirmed that that was a small but significant anomaly in the normal high standards of the BSI consultation process. As a result, the committee is to reconvene in January to examine the recommendation that the standard tests for micro-plastics during the breakdown process, not just at the end.
“The information received has confirmed that that was a small but significant anomaly in the normal high standards of the BSI consultation process”
“As previously stated, WRAP’s involvement on the steering committee should not be taken as an endorsement of the PAS in its current form. Indeed, it is WRAPs representations which has ensured that all the necessary evidence is presented and examined”.
Sponsor
The BSI specification was sponsored by Polymateria, a London-based privately owned technology company which develops biodegradable and compostable plastics.
Polymateria is described as “a European advanced technology company developing a new standard in biodegradable and compostable plastics. Their scientists have created a breakthrough, proprietary formulation for plastics – called Biotransformation – that makes this possible in the natural environment if fugitive plastics escape from the circular economy.”
The specification was developed by a steering group made up of WRAP, the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), amongst others.
The standard, ‘biodegradation of polyolefins in an open-air terrestrial environment’, can be seen behind a paywall here.
Polyolefins are a family of thermoplastics that includes polyethylene and polypropylene and are widely used to make products such as plastic bags and drinks bottles.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
