How EcoPure® Works

   Plastics (polymers) are made of long molecular chains consisting of molecules called monomers. Plastics are designed to be incredibly stable. The common perception is that these materials do not easily biodegrade and may last in the environment for centuries and possibly forever.

     EcoPure® is an additive that enhances the biodegradability of otherwise non-biodegradable plastic products through a series of chemical and biological processes when disposed of in a microbe-rich environments, such as a biologically active landfill.  EcoPure® causes the plastic to be an attractive food source to certain soil microbes, encouraging the plastic to be quickly consumed.*

    EcoPure® requires the action of certain enzymes for the biodegradation process to begin, so plastics containing EcoPure® will never begin to biodegrade during normal use. When an organic material biodegrades in an anaerobic environment, the byproducts are: humus, methane and carbon dioxide. When EcoPure treated plastics biodegrade* the byproducts are the same as any organic material. The methane can even be collected and converted to useful energy.

Read more about the EcoPure® biodegradation process in action in our Resource Library and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sections.

* Biodegradation rates of EcoPure®-treated plastic materials measured according to the ASTM D5511 test method.  Tests are generally conducted using 20% to 30% solids content; solids content in naturally wetter landfills range from 55% to 65%, while the driest landfills may reach 93%.  Actual biodegradation rates will vary in biologically-active landfills according to the type of plastic used, the product configuration, and the solid content, temperature and moisture levels of the landfill. Find out more about biodegradability testing in our resource library.