Compostable film gets seal of approval

Halifax’s Farnell Packaging Ltd. is the first Canadian company to have a compostable product certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). BPI granted its "Compostable" logo to Farnell’s plain and printed biodegradable films and bags, up to 5 mm thick.
The BPI emblem assures users that these products meet ASTM D6400-99 "Specification for Compostable Plastics", and that the products are designed to biodegrade swiftly and completely when composted in commercial and municipal facilities.
"We are very excited to be the first converter in Canada to be approved by the BPI," stated Bill Morash, Farnell’s CFO. "This emblem will make it easy for purchasers to know which products truly biodegrade and don’t leave any plastic in the soil."
Farnell’s compostable films and bags are manufactured with Eastman’s Eastar Bio copolyesters. The film and bags are designed to biodegrade to biomass, water and carbon dioxide in 180 days in a commercial composting environment.
Farnell currently stocks five sizes of biodegradable bags ranging from 2-gallon bags, ideal for kitchen food waste bins, to 45 gallon bags for use as lawn and leaf bags.
BPI is a multi-stakeholder group that promotes the growth of biodegradable plastics.