Welcome to a greener, cleaner future. . .
No matter how much we tell you about the benefits of our products, it just won't compare to how impressed you'll be when you actually handle our different types of environmentally-safe, sustainable, biodegradable, and/or compostable products. If you're intrigued by the possibility of switching your packaging to a more eco-friendly material but aren't ready to order a complete case, try ordering any of our partial carton items. After you have tested our packaging products, we're certain you'll see that our selection of products are the right choice for your business and/or your home.
YOU CAN VIEW ALL OF OUR RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCED BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS IN EITHER BULK CARTON/CASE OR SLEEVE OR 100, 50, AND 25 PACK FORMATS - HERE WITHIN OUR EARTH-CENTRIC EBAY STORE OR OUR MAIN EARTH-CENTRIC WEBSITE:
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Earth-Centric's listed products represent revolutionary technology and new pathways in earth-friendly packaging solutions. By patronizing merchants using our listed products, you are voting with your dollars to support earth-friendly organizations and companies committed to making a difference. Your purchases help promote new ways to solve pressing global problems. Some of Earth-Centric's products are not made like other plastics. They are made using PLA and other corn polymers and ingredients to create a 100% biodegradable answer to today's petrochemical problems. (See the process illustrated below)
- Corn starch is converted to Dextrose. Bio-organisms convert the Dextrose into “Lactic Acid”.
- Through distillation, molecular structures are produced. These structures bond to create long chains referred to as PLA (Polylactic Acid).
- PLA is then mixed with corn starch and other ingredients to make a heat-tolerant, fully biodegradable line of deli-ware, cutlery, and bags.
- By using these products you support the drive to replace conventional energy sources used in plastics, including petroleum, with newer, more sustainable technologies that are earth-friendly.
Check Out Our Other Product-Line Information:
Earth-Centic's Product-Line - FAQ's
FAQ's - Trellis Earth Products
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are Bioplastics?
Bioplastics are biodegradable and, in some cases, compostable plastics derived from renewable raw materials such as starch from corn, potato, tapioca, or other plants and vegetables, combined with biodegradable polymers, to create products that reduce the impact on the environment in absolute carbon footprint terms.
Bioplastics are designed to biodegrade via natural processes. Traditional plastic bags and food containers require great amounts of energy and raw materials (natural gas, oil and coal) to produce and recycle. Only approximately 1-3% of plastic bags are recycled and plastics in our landfills take hundreds or thousands of years to degrade and hurt our environment by leaching toxins.
The time needed to degrade or compost bioplastics varies and it is important to make distinctions between biodegradable and compostable.
What is Compostable?
Biodegradable material that includes both organic and inorganic material which produces compost in a commercially controlled composting facility. Only Trellis Roots and Trellis Rose products are compostable. Standard Trellis Earth products do not meet the ASTM 6400 standard for compostability and are NOT certified for Cedar Grove composting facilities, or San Franscisco composting programs.
What are Requirements for Compostable Bioplastics?
· Must meet the ASTM D6400 standard: must decompose at a rate of 90% in 90 days and 100% in 180 days.
· Requires an Aerobic (with oxygen) environment to biodegrade.
· Mixed with common items such as food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, etc. to make compost for growing food (e.g. soilmass).
· Why it makes sense:
o Diverts food / food scraps, yard trimmings, paper and other compostable materials from the landfill.
o Compostable bioplastics can be made from 100% organic material.
· PLA is 100% biomass polymer.
· Compostable bioplastics can be made from 100% inorganic material.
· Ecoflex by BASF and PBS by Showa High Polymer are both certified by the BPI according to ASTM D6400 standard as compostable but are 100% petroleum based. (See: Biodegradable Products Institute).
Therefore sustainability and compostability are not synonymous.
Limitations?
· ASTM D6400 certified and BPI approved bioplastics specifically require a commercial composting facility to decompose. They are not designed to compost or biodegrade in a landfill or in a consumer’s compost bin. There are only about 113 commercial compost facilities in the US. Roughly only 28 accept food scraps and PLA. Backyard composts cannot degrade PLA, generally.
· Many compostable plastics do not degrade into organic matter; hence there is no compost at the end of the cycle of composting. At the end of decomposition, only H20 and CO2 are released into the atmosphere and, in some cases, heavy metals residue will remain in the compost, which can enter the food supply.
Biodegradable?
Biodegradable material that includes both organic and inorganic material which decomposes in both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. All Trellis Earth products are biodegradable.
Requirements for Biodegradable Bioplastics?
· Capable of being broken down aerobically or anaerobically (without oxygen)
· Biodegradation can include many different types of supporting processing:
o thermal degradation
o oxidegradation
o hydrolization
o mineralization
Why it makes sense?
Products deposited in a landfill will completely decompose and disappear within a reasonable amount of time, leaving no harmful residues. Similarly, can be bio-digested more quickly than bioplastics can be composted, insuring that no greenhouses gasses escape during decomposition (Trellis is working to deploy this option, initially in the Pacific Northwest, as well as other co-generation and recycling options.)
Limitations:
· Different materials in different conditions biodegrade at different rates and therefore the term is used much more broadly than the term compostable.
· Decomposition time: No time interval standard exists for biodegradation today. Trellis film products (bags, etc.) are designed to biodegrade in ~6-12 months, and deliware and cutlery in 12-36 months, or in less than 1 month in a biodigestor.
· Gasses released, including methane, need to be captured, as they generally are, to not contribute to global warming, which is standard procedure for most landfills and all biodigestors.
Reducing petroleum resources in packaging reduces our consumption of oil, which is a primary objective of Trellis Earth’s product line – which is the objective of sustainability.
Trellis Earth addresses both sustainability and the desire of consumers and municipalities to have toxin-free, zero waste management programs that are “earth friendly” and thereby helps food service companies lower their carbon footprint.
Trellis Earth makes a complete line of biodegradable bags, cutlery and deliware.
Trellis Earth engineers its products to:
· Contain as much biomass as possible, and
· Biodegrade in the anaerobic conditions of a landfill or in a biodigestor.
Trellis Earth addresses both sustainability and the desire of consumers and municipalities to have toxin-free, zero waste management programs that are “earth friendly” – which is the objective of sustainability.
Trellis Earth product benefits:
· High heat tolerance – does not breakdown in transit or in use.
· Non GMO corn used (grown and harvested in China for non-food product manufacturing)
· FDA certified
· Priced to compete with conventional products to ease commercial consumer adoption.
We accomplish these objectives by blending our resins with a mix of biologically produced polymers (e.g. PLA), biomass fillers (plant starches) and biodegradable polymers (shortened molecular length polymers specifically designed to easily succumb to microbiological activity). We also add patented proteins that accelerate anaerobic biodegradation and the polymeric breakdown that precedes biodegradation.
Many critics of biodegradable plastics technology are not familiar with this technology and are only disparaging old technology when they denounce efforts to introduce biodegradability via anaerobic microbiological activity.
Trellis Earth is working with industry leaders and consultants to promote a method of testing the rates of biodegradation of bioplastics that can be adopted by the food packaging industry and give consumers confidence that, in the modern landfill environment, Trellis products are not a long term contributor to landfill volume.
What is Biomass?
Biomass refers to living and recently living biological material used as fuel or industrial production -- fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material which has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum. Biomass is part of the carbon cycle. Carbon from the atmosphere is converted into biological matter by photosynthesis.
Upon decay or combustion the carbon is returned into the atmosphere. This happens over a relatively short timescale and plant matter used as a fuel can be constantly replaced by planting for new growth.
Although fossil fuels have their origin in ancient biomass, they are not considered biomass because they contain carbon that has been 'out' of the carbon cycle for a very long time. Their combustion therefore disturbs the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, and this is the primary cause of global warming.
What is unique about Trellis Earth™ products?
Our products are based on sustainable ingredients, but have specially treated plastic bases which result in greater formability and heat and wear resistance than products made from pure PLA, sugar cane, or potato starch. Our products can be microwaved with no leaching of any toxic material. We specifically engineer our products to biodegrade in the anaerobic and lightless conditions of a landfill (or a biodigestor).
Trellis Earth™ biomass ingredients require much less energy to harvest and process than paper, and introduce no poisons to the environment, such as bleach used to whiten paper (often discharged into streams). Our bags are more environmentally friendly than paper bags which promote deforestation.
What is the maximum temperature your products can withstand?
Our products withstand temperatures up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where is your product used?
Currently our product, as sold by others, is very popular in Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East.
Can I order custom products?
Custom ordered products require a minimum commitment of 1 million units from the factory.
Custom printing is available for some items, such as our bags, and require a minimum order of 250,000 unit orders.
When will you be selling your products in smaller quantities?
We leave selling our products in smaller quantities to our network of resellers. For more information see Earth-Centric.com
How is your product better than paper and plastic?
Although plastics requires less energy to produce than paper, plastic is derived purely from petroleum and is unable to biodegrade. Plastic consumption increases our dependency on oil and foreign oil supplies. Just 14 plastic shopping bags contain enough embodied petroleum energy to drive a car 1 mile.
Paper production uses more resources (trees, water, energy), and takes up valuable space in landfills, and requires significant toxic chemicals in production. Although paper can be biodegradable, typical landfills lack the water, light, and oxygen required for the degradation process. Paper bag consumption contributes to global warming as trees are cut down, reducing our supply of oxygen, and greenhouses gases and toxic chemicals are emitted in the paper production process. Although more paper bags are recycled than plastic, paper requires 91% more energy to recycle per pound.
The Trellis Earth™ biodegradable plastics return safely to the environment through naturally occurring biological and non-toxic generating processes. No sorting or special composting are required -- they do so in landfills at rates that depend on natural processes as the landfills decompose and disintegrate.
Is your product biodegradable?
Yes, Trellis Earth™ products are made from ingredients that when decomposed become inert elements supportive of natural biological processes with non-toxic results. Our products are specifically engineered to biodegrade in the anaerobic conditions of a landfill using state-of-the-art technology. Many critics of biodegradable plastics technology are not familiar with this technology and are only disparaging old technology when they denounce efforts to introduce biodegradability via anaerobic microbiological activity. Making high biomass content bio-plastic blends biodegradable in the landfill has become an approach pioneered by Trellis Earth.
The values supported by Trellis Earth:
· Replace the use of petrochemicals in plastics with sustainable materials and biodegradable blends.
· Minimize our use of food stocks while maximizing our commitment to sustainability.
· Minimize the carbon footprint of our product in real terms, cradle to grave.
· Support innovations for biodegradation in landfills and biodigestors to promote Zero Waste Initiatives.
· Eliminate toxins from food packaging.
· Deliver green, earth-friendly food packaging alternatives that meet the markets demand in both product performance and price!
FAQ's - Products Made from NatureWorks
Questions about Corn Plastics / PLA
What are Corn Plastics?
Corn plastics are plastics made from PLA (polylactide). PLA is made from corn. Corn plastic products look and feel just like regular plastic, but they are 100% biodegradable and compostable. Corn is a renewable resource which makes corn plastics much more sustainable than regular plastic. Did you know that regular plastic is made from petroleum?
What is PLA?
PLA stands for Polylactide, and is a versatile polymer produced by NatureWorks LLC. PLA is made from lactic acid. Lactic acid is made from dextrose by fermentation. Dextrose is made from cornstarch and cornstarch is made from carbon dioxide and water. PLA can be formed into several different products like you see on our website.
What is the heat tolerance of PLA?
Normal heat tolerance of PLA is 110 degrees (F). Remember to keep these products out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place. Corn cutlery has a heat tolerance of 140 degrees, but all other corn plastic food containers and cups can only withstand temperatures of 110 degrees.
How long does PLA take to biodegrade or compost?
PLA is fully compostable and biodegradable. In commercial composting conditions, PLA will compost in approximately 30-45 days. Composting may take longer in a home composting bin.
If I throw PLA in the trash, will it biodegrade in a landfill?
Most landfills are not designed to allow biodegrading of their contents. With that being said, PLA will react in landfills like other organic waste such as food. PLA is fully compostable in a composting facility. In addition, PLA is made from a renewable resource – corn – instead of regular plastic that is made from oil.
Is PLA more or less expensive than regular plastic?
PLA is now becoming competitively priced with PET plastic. For some products, such as cold cups, PLA is less expensive than PET. For other products, PLA is the same or slightly more. Since PLA is made from U.S.-grown corn, you can be confident that your money is going back in the U.S. economy rather than to overseas oil companies.
What products are made out of PLA?
Products include cups, cutlery, food containers, trash bags and more. Everyday new products are being produced and soon enough every plastic product will have a PLA counterpart.
Does PLA contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)?
The PLA resin does not contain any GMO. All genetically modified organisms are eliminated during the production process of the PLA resin. Unfortunately, PLA is not produced from GMO-free corn. NatureWorks LLC, the manufacturer of the PLA resin is continuing to explore the possibility of making PLA from GMO-free corn.
Is PLA made from GMO free or organic corn?
Unfortunately, PLA is not produced from GMO-free corn. NatureWorks LLC, the manufacturer of the PLA resin is continuing to explore the possibility of making PLA from GMO-free corn. The resin PLA does not contain any GMO. All genetically modified organisms are eliminated during the production process of the PLA resin.
Can you print my company’s logo on the corn plastic cups?
Yes! Corn cups can be custom printed with your logo. For prices and details on custom printed cups, please email us at: info@Earth-Centric.com.
FAQs about Bagasse (Sugarcane)
Questions About Bagasse
What is Bagasse?
Bagasse is made from sugarcane. Rather than throwing away or burning used sugarcane stalks, the pulp is made into a paper-like substance called bagasse. Bagasse can be molded into different shapes and products that are perfect for food service.
What is the heat tolerance of bagasse?
Bagasse is fully heat tolerant like paper. Bagasse can even be put in the microwave. As with paper, extremely hot food might cause bagasse to lose some of its strength, but bagasse is one of the only biodegradable food service products in the world that can handle hot temperatures.
Can bagasse handle liquids and grease?
Bagasse will hold up to liquids and grease. It is fully grease absorbent.
Where are bagasse products made?
Bagasse products are made in China in a clean, safe factory. The factory does not use any child labor or sweatshop labor. If you would like more details on the conditions of the factory, please contact us.
Do the factories where bagasse products are made use child labor?
The factory does not use any child labor or sweatshop labor. Bagasse products are made in China in a clean, safe factory. If you would like more details on the conditions of the factory, please contact us.
Is bagasse better for the environment than paper?
Many people consider bagasse to be more environmentally friendly than paper because it is derived from a very renewable resource – sugarcane. Also, bagasse comes from the sugarcane stalk. Rather than burn or throw away the used sugarcane stalks, they are used to make bagasse food service products. That makes bagasse a very sustainable product!
How long does it take for bagasse to fully biodegrade and compost?
Bagasse is fully compostable and biodegradable. In commercial composting conditions, bagasse will compost in approximately 45-60 days. Composting may take longer in a home composting bin.
FAQ's about Other Products
Why don’t you have biodegradable lids for the biodegradable paper hot cups?
Unfortunately, biodegradable lids for hot cups are not produced anywhere in the world… yet. This is a major gap in biodegradable products and we are confident that with the advanced technology being focused on these types of products, biodegradable hot cup lids will be manufactured within the next few years. When they begin to be produced, you can count on Earth-Centric to be one of the first companies to carry them.
How long does it take for BioGrade cutlery to compost or biodegrade?
BioGrade biodegradable forks, spoons and knives are made from a combination of cellulose and limestone. Being completely heat-stable, these utensils begin to breakdown upon entering a compost friendly environment with the right temperature and bacteria. BioGrade utensils will biodegrade in approximately 90-120 days and are certified compostable according to DIN Certco test. To speed composting time, we recommend breaking the cutlery in half prior to composting.
Can you print my logo on any of your products?
Yes! We can have your logo printed on corn cups, hot cups, Eco-Grips and other products. Corn cups have a minimum order of 50,000 cups (50 cases) per size. Biodegradable hot cups have a minimum order of 200,000 cups (200 cases) per size. Email us at: info@Earth-Centric.com for details and pricing. (QTY requirements can change without notice)
My company manufactures biodegradable products that I think Earth-Centric should sell. How can I get you to carry my products on your website?
Earth-Centric carries the most cutting edge biodegradable food service packaging and products in the world. If you manufacture a product that you think would fit in our product line, please visit our Service page on our main Earth-Centric web site or and send us an email at: info@Earth-Centric.com. Your email will be directed to our product development team where they will decide if your product meets our qualifications. We’re open to anything that makes sense.
Can recycled paper be used in food service packaging?
The FDA does not allow post-consumer recycled waste in food service packaging that has contact with food like plates, cups and food containers. Post-consumer recycled waste is defined as reclaimed materials such as newspapers and magazines that have already "touched" the consumer.
The FDA allows pre-consumer recycled waste in food service packaging that does not have contact with food. Pre-consumer recycled waste is defined as reclaimed fibers that have not touched the consumer such as mill scraps and manufactural leftovers that are reused.
Some of our recycled paper products contain post-consumer waste and others contain pre-consumer waste. Products that are allowed to have post-consumer waste include napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, carry trays and cup sleeves. Products that are only allowed to have pre-consumer waste include hot cups, plates and bowls.
FAQ's about Bamboo Products
Bamboo Dinnerware is made from the bamboo sheath. The sheath is a protective covering found on newly emerging bamboo plants. As the plant matures, the sheath falls to the ground and most often is unutilized. Our process collects these sheaths and then they are cleaned, boiled, laminated to the desired thickness, and pressed into shape. The result is disposable/reusable dinnerware that is elegant, strong and 100% biodegradable.
Consider this:
- Of all the disposable/reusable dinnerware on the market, Bamboo Studio dinner most closely resembles it's source material in it's natural form. Paper and sugarcane plates must first be turned into a pulp
- A significant amount of energy is needed to manufacture both virgin paper and recycled paper
- Traditionally, paper is made white by toxic chlorine bleaching that has a negative impact on rivers, lakes, oceans and our health. Even new technologies like Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching, though less toxic, still cause damaging effects. Bamboo Dinnerware is produced without using any harsh chemicals.
- Expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) can take centuries to biodegrade and coated paper products can take decades.
Did You Know?
Some Facts About Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the world’s best sustainable resources. It can grow up to a meter or more per day and matures in 4 to 5 years. Bamboo takes in nearly 5 times the amount of greenhouse gasses and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees, making it an efficient replenisher of fresh air. By encouraging the growth and utilization of bamboo, we can begin to limit the negative impact we have on our environment. And remember, because our serving pieces are crafted from the bamboo sheath, no part of the living plant is used.
A study by Canadian scientist Martin Hocking shows that making a paper plate uses as much petroleum or natural gas as a polystyrene plate. Plus, the paper product uses wood pulp. The Canadian study said, ‘The paper product consumes 12 times as much steam, 36 times as much electricity, and twice as much cooling water as the plastic equivalent.
But that doesn't mean expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) is good. All plastics take a long time to biodegrade - some estimate as much as several centuries. Fortunately there is a great alternative to the age old question of "Paper or Plastic."
Bamboo is critical element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It is the fastest growing canopy for the regreening of degraded areas and generates more oxygen than equivalent stand of trees. It lowers light intensity, protects against UV rays and is an atmospheric and soil purifier. | 
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