Farnell Packaging Biodegradable Products, the first Canadian company, certified by Biodegradable Products Institute

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Farnell Packaging Biodegradable Products, the first Canadian company, certified by Biodegradable Products Institute

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Jan. 21 -/E-Wire/-- The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) granted its "Compostable" logo to Farnell Packaging Limited, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for biodegradable films and bags up to 5 mil in thickness. These products are manufactured with Eastman Chemical Company's Eastar Bioâ copolyesters . The "compostable" 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 in commercial and municipal facilities.

Farnell Packaging Limited manufactures both printed and plain biodegradable films and bags made from Eastman Chemical Company's Eastar Bioâ copolyesters. Farnell Packaging Limited currently stocks for sale a line of five sizes of biodegradable bags ranging from 2 gallon bags, ideal for kitchen food waste bins, up to 45 gallon bags, for use as lawn and leaf bags and compost bin liners. In addition, custom manufacture of printed and plain biodegradable films and bags is offered should quantities allow.

"We are very excited to be the first converter in Canada to be approved by the BPI," stated Bill Morash, Farnell's CFO. "This emblem will make it easy for purchasers to know which products truly biodegrade and don't leave any plastic in the soil," Morash added.

Farnell Packaging biodegradable films and bags are designed to fully biodegrade to biomass, water and carbon dioxide in a commercial composting environment in 180 days. These products will become invisible to the naked eye in as little as twelve weeks, a time frame comparable to paper in the same environment.

Products carrying the Compostable Logo are designed to be a readily available food source for the micro-organisms during composting. These products do not contain any polyethylene, 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 micro-organisms, 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 do not create plastic fragments that will remain in the soil for years."

The BPI is 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.

Farnell Packaging Limited, in business for over forty years, is a custom manufacturer of polyethylene and copolyester films and bags and pressure sensitive papers. Farnell Packaging Limited products are sold throughout the North American market and all of its quality systems are registered under ISO 9002. Visit Farnell's website at www.farnell.ns.ca or contact customer service at 1-[REDACTED-PHONE] for more information about the company

Biodegradable Products Institute

Farnell Packaging Limited,

Sales and Marketing Manager,

Email: [REDACTED-EMAIL],

Chief Financial Officer,

Email: [REDACTED-EMAIL],

Biodegradable Products Institute,

Email: [REDACTED-EMAIL],

http://www.bpiworld.org

http://www.farnell.ns.ca

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