ENSO Bottles - Certification and Validation Information

What is the ASTM standardized testing methods for biodegradation?

What’s the difference between the ASTM D 6400 and ASTM D 5511 tests?

Which ASTM biodegradable testing standards does the ENSO bottle meet?

Does the ENSO Bottle meet ASTM 6400 standards?

Who performed the 3rd party biodegradation testing on ENSO bottles?

What is a TDS (Technical Data Sheet) and MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet)?

Are ENSO bottles with the ENSO additive FDA approved?

What analytical test can be used to show the ENSO additive is present in PET bottles?

Has toxicology and migration testing been performed on ENSO bottles with the ENSO additive?

Are ENSO bottles certified recyclable?

What recyclability tests have been performed on ENSO bottles?

Have burst tests been performed to verify that high pressure carbonation will not be a problem?

• D6400 Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics – Defines the testing parameters for performing the D5338 Test Method
• D5338 Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions – Standard test method for aerobic biodegradation for industrial compost environments.
• D5511 Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic Digestion Conditions – Standard test method for anaerobic biodegradation for landfill environments.

The ASTM D 6400 is a standard specification focused on testing and validating compostable plastics, passing this standard specification will validate that the compostable plastic will be acceptable to professional composting environments.  It is not a validation that the compostable plastics will biodegrade in home composting environments.

ENSO bottles with the ENSO additive are biodegradable in both aerobic and anaerobic environments.  The customary disposal method of plastic bottles being either recycled or landfill we feel the most applicable test methods would be for anaerobic (landfill) environments.  We therefore test ENSO bottles under the scrutiny of the ASTM D 5511 which is a standard test method for determining anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic digestion conditions.  The latest test results under the ASTM D 5511 conditions show that ENSO bottles will biodegrade in 250 days.

ENSO bottles with the ENSO additive are biodegradable in anaerobic environments.  The customary disposal method of plastic bottles being either recycled or landfill we feel the most applicable test methods would be for anaerobic (landfill) environments.  ENSO bottles are not designed to biodegrade in the timeframe required for professional composting facilities. 

Plastics which are engineered to biodegrade in professional composting facilities are much weaker and do not provide the barrier properties that would be desirable for the beverage industry.

ENSO bottles are tested under the scrutiny of the ASTM D 5511 which is a standard test method for determining anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic digestion conditions.  The latest test results under the ASTM D 5511 conditions show that ENSO bottles will biodegrade in 1 to 10 years.

The ASTM D 5511 tests were performed by Dr. Bill Ullmann at Northeast Laboratories, Inc.  Dr. Ullmann has over 40 years experience in testing and studying microbes.  Northeast Laboratories, Inc is accredited by the FDA, EPA and the Department of Defense and is also ISO certified.

These are documents that cover technical aspects of the ENSO additive and the chemical handling and safety of the materials. ENSO can provide you with these documents for the ENSO additive.

Yes, all additive components contained in the ENSO additive are covered under FDA CFR title 21Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). In addition, Keller and Heckman a large FDA verification firm has validated the ENSO additive to meet all the FDA requirements and have provided a short letter to confirm the verification. ENSO Bottles can provide this letter upon request.

A basic IR spec scan will provide the data to validate that the ENSO additive is truly in the PET bottle.  Also, the bottles that have the ENSO additive will have a slight frostiness on the neck and base of the bottle once blown. The oriented areas (the body of the bottle) will remain clear.

Keller and Heckman is a large FDA approval firm which oversees the ENSO additive.  They have validated that there are no health issues with the ENSO additive and that the ENSO complies with FDA regulations for food contact.  Migration (extended leaching) testing has been performed on ENSO bottles and verifies that there is no migration.

Currently there are no recognized standard certification programs for recyclability.  ENSO bottles have performed various ASTM test methods for verifying the physical properties are the same for recycled ENSO bottles as compared to standard PET bottles.  These test results show no change to the physical properties of ENSO bottles as found with standard PET.

In addition, ENSO Bottles believes it is important to engage recyclers to give them the opportunity to handle and test ENSO bottles.  We have provided a number of independent recyclers with samples of ENSO bottles which have been subjected to their various in-house testing methods.  All recyclers have indicated that they do not notice any change to the PET physical characteristics.

ENSO Bottles continues to work with recyclers and industry organizations to inform the industry about the technology and to support solutions which benefit the recycling industry as a whole.

The following tests have been performed on ENSO bottles to verify recyclability.  These are standard tests used to determine the quality of the PET material.  These tests are suggested as part of the American Post-consumer Recycling Critical Guidance document.

• Haze and Transmission via ASTM D 1003Bu>
• Intrinsic Viscosity via ASTM D 4603
• Acetaldehyde via ASTM F 2013
• Fluorescence Visual
• Visual Black Specks and Gels