What are Bioplastics?
Bioplastics are biodegradable and, in some cases, compostable plastics derived from renewable raw materials such as starch from corn, potato, tapioca, or other plants and vegetables, combined with biodegradable and conventional polymers, to create products that reduce the impact on the environment in absolute carbon footprint terms.
Traditional plastic bags and food containers require great amounts of energy and raw materials (natural gas, oil and coal) to produce and recycle. Incorporating biomass into plastics can greatly reduce the amount of oil used to make a product. 60-70% of the oil used to create a conventional plastic product is not needed in the Trellis Earth® equivalent product -- because our products are mostly biomass from newly created carbon sources, as opposed to "ancient sunlight" (what oil is referred to since it can only be created over eons by the accumulated effects of sunlight being captured by plants).
What is Compostable?
Biodegradable material that includes both organic and inorganic material which produces compost in a commercially controlled composting facility. Only Trellis Fiber and PLA and ASTM 6400-certified film products are compostable. Standard Trellis Earth® products do not meet the ASTM 6400 standard for compostability and are NOT certified for Cedar Grove composting facilities, or San Franscisco composting programs.
What is Sustainable?
Products made from primarily biomass are considered sustainable because they participate in the carbon cycle with a lower impact than conventional petroleum products. Oil is energy intensive to process, and creates products that contribute to global warming and intractable toxic waste problems. Replacing these products with products that promote agriculture, sustainable lifecycle awareness, and minimized consumption of resources is the goal of Trellis Earth Products, Inc.
Trellis Earth product benefits:
--High heat tolerance – does not breakdown in transit or in use.
--Non GMO starch and other biomass sources.
--FDA certified ingredients and manufacturing facilities.
--Priced to compete with conventional alternatives.
What is Biomass?
Biomass refers to living and recently living biological material used as fuel or industrial production -- fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material which has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum. Biomass is part of the carbon cycle. Carbon from the atmosphere is converted into biological matter by photosynthesis.
Upon decay or combustion the carbon is returned into the atmosphere. Although fossil fuels have their origin in ancient biomass, they are not considered biomass because they contain carbon that has been 'out' of the carbon cycle for a very long time. Their combustion therefore disturbs the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, and this is the primary cause of global warming.
What is unique about Trellis Earth® products?
Our products are based on sustainable ingredients, but have specially treated plastic bases which result in greater formability and heat and wear resistance than products made from pure PLA, sugar cane, or potato starch. Our products can be microwaved with no leaching of any toxic material.
What is the maximum temperature your products can withstand?
Our products withstand temperatures up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can I order custom products?
Custom ordered products require a minimum commitment depending on the item. Contact sales@trellisearth.biz
When will you be selling your products in smaller quantities?
We leave selling our products in smaller quantities to our network of resellers. For more information see Earth-Centric.com