
	Why BioPlas? BioPlas is not a starch-based additive or blended resin system that is partially biodegradable. Those types of products: - Most often degrade the physical properties of the resin to which the starch has been added; products are typically very brittle. - Can only be processed with great difficulty and with significant processing temperature limitations; difficult to avoid scorching. - Most often are very moisture sensitive further aggravating processing problems and creating difficulties in use. - Can affect the recyclability of the product in the recycle stream. BioPlas is not a uv- or oxo-degradation-promoting additive that initiates a chemical degradation followed presumably by biodegradation. Those types of products: - Have not been conclusively proven to degrade completely to water, CO2 and/or methane and biomass following the initial abiotic degradation. - Can affect the recyclability of parts when they enter the recycle stream. - Typically incorporate transition metals or other catalysts that may not be environmentally friendly. The BioPlas system is an additive that does not modify the conventional base resin to which it is added. - BioPlas initiates and promotes solely a biodegradation process, and does so only in the presence of micro-organisms. - Base resin retains all of its original properties and shelf life. - Recyclability of the part is completely unaffected; recycling number remains the same.

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Almost everyone knows that plastics are called “synthetic” and that they don’t break down easily in the environment, but why? Plastics are made from organic compounds called monomers. What makes them special and useful is that scientists found a way to combine monomers into long molecular chains, called polymers. Polymers do not exist in nature, and this is what makes plastic so useful. But it also creates a problem. As a result, regular plastic is not easily biodegradable and will last in the environment for centuries, maybe forever.

Until now. BioPlas is a biodegradable plastics additive that changes all that. When mixed into raw plastic at less than 1%, it allows that plastic to break down—but only when placed in a microbe rich environment, such as a landfill or compost facility. It provides the best of both worlds. The biodegradable plastic product is still as useful as it ever was. Consumers like it because they still get all the safety and convenience that plastic brings, while at the same time knowing they are not leaving a nightmare for our children’s children. Manufacturers like it because they don’t have to change their raw material or manufacturing process.

For manufacturers, BioPlas is simple to use. It is mixed in with the primary resin, just like color concentrates are, at the time the final product is made. And after the product has completed its useful life, it can be put into a landfill or a compost facility(depending on resin type and thickness). There, BioPlas begins its work. It allows microbes to break down those “synthetic” polymer chains into organic monomers that they can feast on. It does this by expanding the molecular structure of the plastic, scissoring the polymer chain, and adding in nutrients that attracts the microbes to colonize in and around the plastic. These microbes secrete acids which further break down the long molecules. Like any organic material that is biodegraded, the plastic will create byproducts, most of which are useful, including humus (which can be used to make soil richer) and methane (which can be used as fuel). In fact, landfills all over the country are beginning to tap the methane from the natural breakdown of organic materials to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. This biodegradation process can take place aerobically (where there is oxygen, such as in a compost facility) or anaerobically (where there is no oxygen, such as in a sealed landfill). It can take place with or without the presence of light, heat or moisture.

Alchemy Additives uses many testing laboratories to test the biodegradable plastics for their 3rd party test results. These tests are not our own design, but are created by an organization known as the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and ISO, and are the most recognized type of commercial and industrial tests and standards available. These tests show that under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, BioPlas biodegradable additive works in most major polymers.

BioPlas is a cost effective, easy to use solution for design engineers, manufacturers and end users. The addition of BioPlas does not change the manufacturing process except for the simple step of adding in BioPlas. The physical properties of plastic products remain the same during their useful life. Only when disposed of does the difference manifest itself as biodegradability.

Alchemy Additives' technology differs from other "degradable plastics" emerging in the market today. Many of these products use catalysts which are heated up at variable rates. These products do not attract microbial communities to the plastic in order to break down the polymer's molecular structure, but rather are broken down by light, heat, mechanical stress and moisture. This can take ages depending on the polymer's weight and mass. Other products are starch based plastic substitutes that simply do not have the same superior characteristics of plastics, and some depend on raw materials that must be grown on farm land which could be used for food production.

Most companies that make or use plastic products share our environmental concerns. They are looking for a solution that has the benefits of traditional plastic products but the advantages of organic substitutes. BioPlas biodegradable plastics are the answer to those concerns. It is a simple, easy and effective solution for virtually all biodegradable plastics needs. With the addition of less than 1% (by weight), manufacturers can make products with the same physical properties, tensile strength and in some cases improved performance of their current products. These attributes will last until the product is discarded into an active microbial environment (landfill), and will then break down into inert humus, Co2 and methane.

BioPlas is our proprietary blend of organic materials that does not modify the base resin to which it is added. The latter retains all its original properties and shelf life. BioPlas is melt-compounded into a masterbatch carrier resin, which is then pelletized. BioPlas initiates and promotes soley a biodegradation process, and does so only in the presence of microorganisms such as are found in landfills and similar environments.

The BioPlas additive renders normally water-repellent polymers more hydrophillic attracting and promoting the intimate adhesion of the prerequisite biofilm. The additive system then facilitates the growth of syntrophic colonies of diverse microorganisms that degrade hydrocarbon polymers through and enzymatically catalyzed oxidative process PP;PE) as well as by oxidative ring-opening (PS).

About our Products and Company

Our biodegradable plastics solutions, using BioPlas, are completely organic, non-starch based and non-destructive to the environment. They are designed for polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and most other types of polymer. Our newest formulation, BioPlas, is designed for use with clear PET, in such applications as film and bottles. If you are looking for more information on BioPlas, our biodegradable additive, please view our Products Section.

Alchemy Additives and all of our employees are internally devoted to inventing, producing and promoting environmentally-conscious biodegradable products and solutions world wide.

We are taking the first step in providing a viable biodegradable plastic additive, one that can be used in many applications, and we plan to build a legacy in the environmental industry that other corporations will follow.

We hope by introducing biodegradable plastics solutions to a world of manufacturing, we are able to aid the environment in an effective way. Strategically partnering with larger firms, we can bring biodegradable plastic products and packaging that are cost affordable yet still maintain all the advantages of traditional resins in today's stressful environment.

BioPlas is more cost effective with as little as a .7% load weight required. BioPlas is FDA compliant and has been proven not to leach. BioPlas can processed at up to 600F, which covers a wide range of polymers. BioPlas is also our new formulation for the PET industry. It has the same approvals as BioPlas, but it is a clear form for the PET industry.

Our goal at Alchemy Additives is to bring to you, our dedicated customers, solutions for your environmental concerns. We thank you for your business and appreciate any feedback that our R&D team, inventors and staff can work on to further our partnership in cleaning up the environment.