Is single-use plastic a big problem?
Yes, when it’s made with traditional plastics. When we shift our focus to regenerative materials, we’re able to continue consuming single use items that are necessary for convenience, sanitation, accessibility and safety purposes, but with a better footprint: “Guilt-free” as we like to say at erthos™.
How does plastic break down?
Simply put, it doesn’t. Every piece of plastic ever produced, still exists on this planet in some shape or form.
How does plastic pollution affect humans?
Humans ingest an average of 5 grams of plastic every week which is the equivalent of a credit card… every single week. With the leakage that we see in our ecosystems every year, this directly accumulates and has harmful impacts on human health.
How does plastic contribute to global warming?
In 2019, plastics generated 3.4% of global emissions – with 90% of these emissions coming from their production and conversion from fossil fuels, Greenhouse gas emissions are generated primarily as a result of energy consumption in the plastics processing industry. This is why it’s so important to think of your environmental footprint holistically.
What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable?
Biodegradable is the consumption of materials into organic matter through microbial activity. Biodegradation on its own does not have a limited timeframe, whereas certified compostable materials are those which are regulated by industry standards and tests to prove physical disintegration within real time, along with microbial biodegradation, leaving behind no microplastics. It is important to ensure compostable materials are certified to an industry standard to avoid greenwashing claims.
Are plant based materials still functional?
A lot of biodegradable products on the market are very brittle, lack compatibility with existing plastic infrastructure, can be expensive to manufacture, and/or simply do not have the same performance capabilities as traditional plastics they’re meant to replace. Our materials, however, are designed with functionality and versatility. We don’t believe in compromises when it comes to performance, or our planet.
Is your material recyclable?
Our materials are technically mechanically recyclable, however, due to resin code systems grouping all mixed plastics and bioplastics under one category (“other”), we don’t recommend sorting these materials as recyclable. However we have run re-grounds up to 5 times in our facility!
How long does it take for your materials to break down?
Break down speed depends on a variety of factors including size, thickness and shape of product and external conditions such as soil quality, moisture, time, and temperature. However, our material has successfully passed industry disintegration tests, with a disintegration rate of over 98% in 90 days!
Are your materials and products certified?
Each material is certified according to our partner requirements. Our materials are certified biobased with TUV, and depending on the grade and thickness can also be certified home and/or industrial compostable. We also have third party reports validating our material’s compatibility with existing composting technologies.
Are your materials food safe?
Our materials are compliant with the FDA Code of Federal Regulations 21. This means that our materials are intended to be used with all food types, except alcohol, human milk, and baby food. We work with our partners to expand this food safety criteria based on their needs and applications.
What advocacy groups are you in?
We sit on a number of board committees and are affiliated with numerous environmental associations. A few include: Canada Plastics Pact, National Zero Waste Council, BBIA and PBPC.
What does erthos™ do in one sentence?
We build better materials for a better planet.
What does erthos™ stand for?
We believe in holding materials to a higher standard – making plant powered alternatives a part of our everyday lives and creating a long-lasting impact on our planet for generations to come.
Can you make single-use plastic products for me?
Yes! Send us a message at info@erthos.ca. We are always open to collaborating with new partners and projects.
Do I have to change my manufacturing process in order to use erthos™ inputs?
No. Our team has engineered the material to ensure it is 100% compatible with existing manufacturing processes and machinery. It is a 1 for 1 replacement for traditional plastics and other bioplastics.
Are you hiring?
We are always looking for bright individuals who are passionate about our environment. If you’re in search of a purpose driven career, check out our linkedin for current job postings or email us a copy of your resume at info@erthos.ca!
