About |
The ENSO additive is a small white/off-white pellet comprised of a proprietary organic blend with a polymer carrier which is mixed into standard plastic to create a product and/or packaging that can be naturally digested by nature’s microorganisms. Although the intended end of life application of the ENSO plastic is to first try to recycle, 95% of all plastics end up in a landfill. If the recycle bin is not available, ENSO plastics should be placed into the trash can destined for a landfill. Plastics utilizing ENSO are also fully recyclable and can be mixed into existing recycling streams without resulting in contamination.
Traditional plastics mixed with the ENSO additive is biodegradable in anaerobic (landfill) environments, breaking down through microbial action into biogases and inert humus; leaving behind no harmful materials. ENSO Plastics are not Oxo biodegradable or PLA (corn based) plastics. When ENSO products are thrown away, the organic blend creates a perfect environment and food source for microbes in the landfill. As microbes consume the additive, they secrete enzymes. These enzymes break down the polymer chain into materials that are easily consumed by microbes. The end result is carbon dioxide, methane, and healthy, new soil.
The material is added at approximately 1% during the melt phase of manufacturing, as easy as using a dry colorant!
Once the ENSO material is added, there is no change to your current processing. Even better, the products you manufacture will continue to perform perfectly, including material strength, barrier properties, flexibility, heat tolerance, stability and appearance.
During manufacturing, product storage and while on the retail shelf, products made with the additive are the same as traditional plastic. The ENSO material is inert in the polymer (similar to a colorant or filler), and does not alter the chemical structure of the final product. Keeping the original polymer intact ensures that physical characteristics like shelf life, barrier properties, and tensile strength are retained.
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Biodegradation
Unlike competing products, ENSO only breaks down in natural and waste environments through microbial activity, and are not affected by light, heat, moisture, UV rays or oxygen.