EASTAR BIO Copolyester Certified by Biodegradable Products

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EASTAR BIO Copolyester Certified by Biodegradable Products

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Oct. 31 -/E-Wire/-- The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) granted its "Compostable Logo" to Eastman Chemical Company's Eastar Bio GP & Ultra copolyester. This emblem assures users and composters that these products meet ASTM D6400-99 "Specification for Compostable Plastics" and are designed to biodegrade swiftly and completely, when composted.

"This certification by the BPI with its independent review is another indication of the truly biodegradable nature of our material," said Julian Jensen, global market manager for Eastar Bio copolyester. "The strict standards of this organization will help consumers identify products that will biodegrade in reasonable time frames and will not cause harm to the environment."

Eastar Bio copolyester is available currently in two formulas. Eastar Bio GP copolyester is best suited for extrusion coating and cast film applications. Eastar Bio Ultra copolyester is designed for use in blown films. Both materials are also being used in fiber and nonwovens applications.

Eastar Bio copolyester is designed to fully biodegrade to biomass, water and carbon dioxide in a commercial composting environment in 180 days. It will become invisible to the naked eye in as little as twelve weeks, a time frame comparable to paper in the same environment.

Eastar Bio copolyesters have also received similar approvals from DIN CERTCO in Europe and the Biodegradable Plastics Society in Japan. Applications are currently being developed and marketed in food packaging, bags and other packaging in Europe, North America and Asia. They are also being developed for use as agricultural film that can be tilled directly back into the soil where it will biodegrade without any residual effect on plants or soil.

Products carrying the Compostable Logo are designed to be a readily available food source for the microorganisms during composting. These products are converted to carbon dioxide and water and will not leave behind any plastic fragments that reduce the value of the finished compost. "We know that these products are being quickly consumed by the microorganisms, because we can measure the amount of carbon dioxide that is generated, during the 180 day test period," stated Ramani Narayan, Ph.D., BPI Scientific Chairman. "We can prove that these materials biodegrade just like grass, leaves and food scraps and not leave behind any plastic residues."

The BPI is designed to be a multi-stakeholder group, involving people and organizations that produce, use or recover biodegradable plastic products. It promotes the growth of biodegradable plastics through education, use of scientifically-based standards and cooperative efforts with organizations in Europe and Asia.

Eastman Chemical Company, headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.A., manufactures and markets plastics, chemicals and fibers worldwide. The company employs approximately 15,800 people in more than 30 countries and had 2001 sales of US$5.4 billion. The quality systems of all EastmanÂ® plastics are registered under ISO 9000 except at plants in operation less than one year. Visit Eastman's web site at www.eastman.com for more information about the company.

Biodegradable Products Institute

Manager, Marketing Communications, Specialty Plastics

Email: [REDACTED-EMAIL]

Biodegradable Products Institute

Email: [REDACTED-EMAIL]

http://www.eastman.com

http://www.bpiworld.org

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