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EPI (EUROPE) LTD :: totally degradable plastic additives

EPI moves to tackle world plastic waste mountain

EPI provides a unique solution to one of the world’s most pressing problems – the rapidly-increasing amount of plastic waste in the environment.

Makes plastic products degradable or biodegradable

EPI has developed a range of additives that make plastic products degradable or biodegradable without harming the environment. They are now being used with great success in conventional manufacturing equipment by environmentally-conscious companies around the globe.

EPI Environmental Technologies Inc. and the EPI group of companies are R and D and technology companies which manufacture additives that licensees can incorporate into consumer plastic products to provide a controlled shelf and service life.

TDPA technology

Products successfully tested using TDPA technology include trash, shopping, garden and compost bags, non-food consumer packaging (toys, personal care, entertainment over-wrap and tobacco wrappers), non-woven products (medical items, feminine pads, diapers, wipes and towels), landfill products (covers and bale wrap), industrial protective packaging, food products (meat trays and pads, fast food packaging, cutlery, cups, plates and straws, food service boxes, bags and wrappers), and agricultural film.

The additives are manufactured in ISO-certified facilities in the USA and Europe and are sold under the EPI and TDPA trademarks. They are cost-competitive with current materials and cost comparatively less than competing technologies for biodegradable and degradable products.

R and D and environmental research is conducted under the guidance of an International Scientific Advisory Board. This research has produced a significant intellectual property portfolio with many patents worldwide and it has shown that EPI products cause commodity plastic resins (PE, PP and PS) to degrade and biodegrade without harm to the environment.

As consumer 'green' movements gather momentum and governments focus on laws, penalties and levies against producers and consumers of plastics, the need for a proactive response by manufacturers, converters, consumer product companies and their retailers becomes an important initiative.

Until now, economic product performance and manufacturing issues have been insurmountable barriers to the plastics industry’s goal of achieving a cost-effective degradable or biodegradable single-use plastic. EPI has now removed those barriers and developed a solution to an intractable problem.

EPI has offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, Mauritius and the United Kingdom and a network of agents, licensees and distributors around the world. The group has tested and sold products in over 28 countries.

Further information can be obtained from the EPI website at www.epi-global.com

Benefits of EPI’s TDPA® Technology:

Cost Cost competitive with current materials and comparatively less than competing technologies for biodegradable and degradable products.
Performance Product maintains the original physical properties until degradation begins.
Controlled Lifetime Ability to control the period of the product’s shelf and service lifetimes.
Processability Use in conventional manufacturing equipment, which reduces cost and risk.
Compatible Materials Use of commodity polyolefin (PE, PP) and polystyrene etc, which reduces cost and risk.
Commercialized Products Many products have already been commercialized and are available using TDPA® technology, including shopping bags, garbage bags etc. in USA, Europe and Asia.
Availability TDPA® are readily available worldwide.
Ecotoxicity No harmful residue remains after biodegradation of TDPA® treated plastic.
Food Contact EPI offers additives that have FDA (USA) and SCF (EU) food contact approvals.
Recyclable Prior to degradation TDPA® treated plastics are recyclable.

TDPA® Applications:

The following products have been successfully tested using TDPA® technology.

  • Single Use Plastic Bags:
    • Trash bags
    • Shopping bags
    • Compost bags
    • Garden bags
  • Non-food Consumer Packaging:
    • Tear tapes
    • Toy packaging
    • Personal care products
    • Entertainment over-wrap
    • Tobacco wrappers
  • Non-woven Products:
    • Feminine pads
    • Diapers
    • Wipes
    • Medical products
    • Towels
  • Landfill Products:
    • Alternative daily cover
    • Bale wrap
  • Industrial Protective Packaging:
    • Stretch & pallet wrap
    • Protective foam & insulation
    • BOPP film
    • Pressure sensitive tapes
    • Shrink films
    • Protective wrap
  • Food Products:
    • Meat trays & pads
    • Fast food packaging
    • Cutlery, cups, plates & straws
    • Food service boxes, bags & wrappers
  • Agricultural Films:
    • Banana tree bags
    • Mulch film
    • Bale stretch wrap

EPI (EUROPE) LTD
Unit 7 Dunston Place
Dunston Road
Chesterfield S41 8NL
United Kingdom

Tel : +44 (0)1246 261882
Fax: +44 (0)1246 261883
www.epi-global.com