Sweden-based Gaia Biomaterials has successfully obtained BPI certification for its limestone-based bioplastic material Biodolomer, the company announced. The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) in the US, the leading authority on compostable products and packaging in North America, provides third-party verification of whether an item meets ASTM’s compostability standards. It is also a method for ensuring that all claims of compostability are supported by scientific evidence, as requested by the FTC. The current BPI Certification mark covers Biodolomer for film applications. More certification processes are underway.
The material had previously been similarly certified by TÜV Austria, which means we can now show brands and customers that Biodolomer is certified by the two most respected authorities in the world, said Gaia’s CEO, Peter Stenström
"We have been producing Biodolomer for nine years,” Stenström clarified. "Unlike many other bioplastics, it does not use materials grown on farmland. It is based on limestone, one of the most common materials on the planet."
He added that the material produced no microplastics and that it reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80 % compared to fossil plastics if burned.
Biodolomer is used for various film-based applications, including grocery bags, aprons, and numerous farming applications. Thermoforming, blow moulding, tube extrusion, extrusion coating and 3D printing grades are also available, making the material suitable for a large number of single-use products, from drinking straws to beer cups, bottles, and food containers. Biodolomer can be processed on the same production lines as traditional plastic, requiring only a minimum of adjustments.
Solving the problem of plastic waste will require a holistic approach that includes a range of potential solutions to fit the different applications and conditions. Recycling cannot do it all. Compostable materials are an important part of the solution—especially regarding food packaging—and they do not need new infrastructure.
"One main concern in recycling is packaging materials that end up in food waste and contaminate it so that it can’t be composted. With BPI-certified materials such as Biodolomer, this is not a concern,” said Stenström.
Gaia Biomaterials is owned by investment company Latour and the Swedish state-owned investment fund Almi Invest Greentech. It was founded in 2015 by Åke Rosén, widely regarded as one of the world's leading packaging materials scientists.