Biodegradeable plastic

A company in Australia claims to have developed a compound that can make almost any kind of plastic compostable and biodegradable.

The additive, from Goody Environment, can give plastic a controlled shelf-life from six months to five years and is claimed to be compatible with all plastic types, aside from PVC, which the company says it chose not to work with because of the dangerous hydrochloric acid it produces as it degrades.

According to the company, the Goody additive has been rigorously and independently tested.

Accreditations include compliance with the Australian standard AS 4736 – 2006 for biodegradable plastics suitable for composting and other microbial treatment.

The company has its first customer too.

Billabong Spring Water was the first brand in the world to launch with a compostable plastic PET bottle, cap, label and shrink wrap.