Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are biodegradable and compostable products?
Biodegradable and compostable products are produced from materials like corn or bagasse (sugar cane), which are annually renewable resources. They are manufactured using sustainable practices and will decompose into the soil.
Q: What is the symbol for “bioplastics”?
Currently symbols #1-#6 are reserved for plastic products – bio-plastics and all other products, which can be considered as plastic, fall under the #7 symbol as "Other."
Q: How long does it take for the products to biodegrade?
It depends based on the product and the decomposition environment. Under industrial/commercial composting conditions, Bagasse items will typically decay within 45-60 days and Polylactic Acid (PLA) products 50-60 days. Biodegradable products are most effectively and efficiently disposed of in a commercial composting system because commercial compost piles contain large high moisture content, are kept at a high heat and are frequently aerated. Many commercial composting facilities break apart or cut the products into smaller pieces to increase surface area thereby decreasing degradation time.
Q: What do biodegradable and compostable products degrade into?
The products break down into carbon and water, like other matter derived from plants. Bioplastics “breaks down to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a rate consistent with known compostable materials (e.g. cellulose) and leaves no toxic residue? American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM).
Q: What’s the difference between composting and recycling?
Composting is the decaying or decomposition of organic material typically through bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Composting can be done into home and commercial/industrial composting facilities that create environments that promote the transition of these products. Recycling describes the reprocessing of existing materials to create new items. Recycling requires the collection, sorting, and processing of these used products into materials that can then be remanufactured. Paper and biodegradable products are compostable, and most plastics and aluminums are recyclable. Paper can be either composted or recycled.
Q: How does the use of biodegradable and compostable products help the environment?
Biodegradable and compostable products reduce landfill mass, use of petroleum consumption, and use of toxic substances into the soil and groundwater. Annually Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags and only .6% of these bags are recycled according to a study conducted by Hampton County South Carolina. These bags will remain in landfills from 10-20 years and will leave a negative environmental footprint.
Q: Why is Styrofoam bad?
Americans annually throw away 25 billion Styrofoam products. These products take up to 500 years to decompose according to U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL. Styrofoam is derived from petroleum and will leave an environmental footprint for hundreds of thousands of years and may negatively affect groundwater.
Q: How should the products be stored?
PLA products should not be exposed to heat levels over 110 degrees and should be kept in a cool, dry environment. There is around a two year shelf life to the PLA and bagasse products.
Q: What are your products made from?
Green Tooth offers products ranging from polylactic acid (PLA), Bagasse, and products from other renewable resources. Bagasse is made from sugar cane fiber remaining from extracting sugar cane juice and is a byproduct that would otherwise be disposed. PLA is biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch. Although PLA has been known for more than a century, it has only been of commercial interest in recent years, in light of its biodegradability.
Q: How is PLA different from recyclable plastic?
The first and most important difference between traditional plastics and PLA (polylactic acid) is the material they are made from. Plastics are made from petroleum based chemicals & additives that are known pollutants and toxins while PLA is derived from corn-based resins (a non toxic and annually renewable resource). Secondly is the way in which pla and traditional plastics break down. Traditional plastics can be recycled or thrown in a landfill to slowly breakdown over hundreds of years. PLA products can't be recycled but will biodegrade 60% of their mass within 180 days in a composting system. It is unknown how long biocompostable products such as PLA take to break down if put in a traditional landfill system.
Q: Are there other green resources?
Biodegradable and compostable products are produced from materials like corn or bagasse (sugar cane), which are annually renewable resources. They are manufactured using sustainable practices and will decompose into the soil.
Q: What is the symbol for “bioplastics”?
Currently symbols #1-#6 are reserved for plastic products – bio-plastics and all other products, which can be considered as plastic, fall under the #7 symbol as "Other."
Q: How long does it take for the products to biodegrade?
It depends based on the product and the decomposition environment. Under industrial/commercial composting conditions, Bagasse items will typically decay within 45-60 days and Polylactic Acid (PLA) products 50-60 days. Biodegradable products are most effectively and efficiently disposed of in a commercial composting system because commercial compost piles contain large high moisture content, are kept at a high heat and are frequently aerated. Many commercial composting facilities break apart or cut the products into smaller pieces to increase surface area thereby decreasing degradation time.
Q: What do biodegradable and compostable products degrade into?
The products break down into carbon and water, like other matter derived from plants. Bioplastics “breaks down to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a rate consistent with known compostable materials (e.g. cellulose) and leaves no toxic residue? American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM).
Q: What’s the difference between composting and recycling?
Composting is the decaying or decomposition of organic material typically through bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Composting can be done into home and commercial/industrial composting facilities that create environments that promote the transition of these products. Recycling describes the reprocessing of existing materials to create new items. Recycling requires the collection, sorting, and processing of these used products into materials that can then be remanufactured. Paper and biodegradable products are compostable, and most plastics and aluminums are recyclable. Paper can be either composted or recycled.
Q: How does the use of biodegradable and compostable products help the environment?
Biodegradable and compostable products reduce landfill mass, use of petroleum consumption, and use of toxic substances into the soil and groundwater. Annually Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags and only .6% of these bags are recycled according to a study conducted by Hampton County South Carolina. These bags will remain in landfills from 10-20 years and will leave a negative environmental footprint.
Q: Why is Styrofoam bad?
Americans annually throw away 25 billion Styrofoam products. These products take up to 500 years to decompose according to U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL. Styrofoam is derived from petroleum and will leave an environmental footprint for hundreds of thousands of years and may negatively affect groundwater.
Q: How should the products be stored?
PLA products should not be exposed to heat levels over 110 degrees and should be kept in a cool, dry environment. There is around a two year shelf life to the PLA and bagasse products.
Q: What are your products made from?
Green Tooth offers products ranging from polylactic acid (PLA), Bagasse, and products from other renewable resources. Bagasse is made from sugar cane fiber remaining from extracting sugar cane juice and is a byproduct that would otherwise be disposed. PLA is biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch. Although PLA has been known for more than a century, it has only been of commercial interest in recent years, in light of its biodegradability.
Q: How is PLA different from recyclable plastic?
The first and most important difference between traditional plastics and PLA (polylactic acid) is the material they are made from. Plastics are made from petroleum based chemicals & additives that are known pollutants and toxins while PLA is derived from corn-based resins (a non toxic and annually renewable resource). Secondly is the way in which pla and traditional plastics break down. Traditional plastics can be recycled or thrown in a landfill to slowly breakdown over hundreds of years. PLA products can't be recycled but will biodegrade 60% of their mass within 180 days in a composting system. It is unknown how long biocompostable products such as PLA take to break down if put in a traditional landfill system.
Q: Are there other green resources?
- www.greenbiz.ca.gov
- Ethical Directory: Guide of ethical businesses, companies, organizations, nonprofits and websites that promote fair trade, ethics, corporate social responsibility.
- Green Flags: Premium line of American Flags made from recycled plastic.
- www.ecobusinesslinks.com
- 3-2 To Go:
No time to cook? Gourmet, organic food at affordable prices. - Organic Foods - We strive to be the #1 largest organic retailer in the United States. We are adding products daily. Enjoy your organic shopping experience.
- Cmny Cakes - Specialty Cakes By Mona
Specialty cakes for all occasions, such as wedding cakes, groom's cakes, birthday cakes & baby shower cakes, serving the new york metro area, including new york city (nyc), long island, manhattan, queens and brooklyn, new jersey & connecticut - The Home Decorating Company
Retailers of bedding & home decor. Link partner for home improvement, construction, online, jobs, legal, lawyer, blogs, jewelry, web design & hosting, real estate, finance, financial, travel, business, shopping, insurance & mortgage sites - Psp Skins
Provider of skins for psp, xbox, ps3, gameboy, wii, apple ipod, computer laptop, zune, mac mini, nintendo, ds, nano and more. Custom skins look great on your game console, video or mp3 music player. Cool sports, cars, wrap graphics upload photos ect. - Website Traffic - Webmasters helping webmasters develop high value relevant links. Promoting ethical web-marketing using the time trusted pillars of relevance and popularity.
- Furniture Austin - Gage Furniture stores in Austin, Texas and surrounding areas have a wide variety of quality, brand name furniture at very competitive prices. Please visit us.
- American Flags - Premium flags made for all occasions.
- Shop All Broadband & Telephone | Phone Service Providers Here!
Shop communication service providers, price quotes and solutions for cable internet, high-speed satellite, fixed wireless, dsl, t1, t-1, voice t1, integrated t1, pri t1, bonded t1, ds3, ds-3, oc3, oc12, ethernet, vpn, mpls, sip trunking & voip here. - Holiday Rentals
Q: Links to other businesses?
