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5. Biodegradability
An agro-based polymer is not necessarily biodegradable: the two concepts are not linked.
There are biodegradable agrosourced polymers (PLA), biodegradable non-agrosourced polymers (PCL), non-biodegradable agrosourced polymers (green PE) and non-biodegradable non-agrosourced polymers (PE).
The concept of biodegradability has been used for 40 years in the use of chemical products because of their impact on the environment. These products have long benefited from a worldwide regulatory framework. There are currently some twenty standards (CEN and ISO) concerning the biodegradability of materials, depending on the degradation medium (freshwater, seawater, soil, compost) and the material (textiles, packaging, objects, lubricants, detergents). In France, AFNOR standards on biodegradability exist for dispersants, surfactants, detergents, textiles...
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Biodegradability
Life cycle assessment – Bilan Carbone
Bibliography
- (1) - - Site ADEME (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Énergie) http://www.ademe.fr/agrice
- (2) - - Chiffres du Cipalin (Comité Interprofessionnel de la Production Agricole du Lin) (2003)....
Norms and standards (non-exhaustive list)
- Evaluation of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions – Method for analyzing released carbon dioxide – Part 1: General method [Classification number: T51-803-1] (Status: Approved standard) (Corrected version) - NF EN ISO 14855-1 - 07-08
- Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting...
Regulations (non-exhaustive list)
Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste [See amending acts].
Directory (non-exhaustive list)
Manufacturers – Manufacturers – Distributors
Lenzig http://www.lenzig.com
Seacell GmbH (Zimmer subsidiary) http://www.smartfiber.de/
Statistical and economic data
According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), world fiber production (excluding wood fibers) was estimated at over 57 million tons in 2003/2004, almost half of which was for man-made fibers, as shown in figures 1 and
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