Metabolix Announces that Mirel(TM) Bioplastic Resins Have Received Vinçotte Certification for Biodegradability in Industrial and Home Compost
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 06, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBLX) announced that Mirel(TM) bioplastic resins have received the Vinçotte certification of "OK Compost" for compostability in an industrial composting unit and "OK Compost HOME" for compostability in home composting systems. Belgium-based Vinçotte is widely recognized in Europe for materials inspection, certification, assessments and technical training.
Mirel bioplastic resins received OK Biodegradable Soil and OK Biodegradable Water certifications announced in October of 2008. Mirel bioplastic resins are the only non-starch bioplastics to gain all four Vinçotte certifications.
The OK Compost mark verifies that Mirel bioplastic resins will biodegrade under industrial composting conditions. All products certified with the OK Compost mark meet the EU packaging Directive as well as the EN 13432: 2000 standard. The OK Compost HOME mark confirms that Mirel bioplastic resins will biodegrade in home composting systems of varying temperatures.
"Today's environmentally conscious consumers and brand owners are seeking out eco-friendly products, and certification from Vinçotte confirms Mirel resins meet accepted standards for biodegradability and compostability," said Bob Findlen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Telles. "Unlike most bioplastics, Mirel resins are engineered to meet these standards and provide brand owners with a uniquely biodegradable material for use in their products."
"With organic material making up about half of all household waste, it is important for manufacturers to produce durable products that can be responsively disposed of via composting, along with food scraps and other organic waste," said Petra Michiels, Contract Manager OK Compost of Vinçotte. "Composting decreases the amount of organic material and turns it into a valuable product that improves soil characteristics."
About Metabolix
Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation driven bioscience company focused on providing sustainable solutions for the world's needs for plastics, chemicals and energy. The Company is taking a systems approach, from gene to end product, integrating sophisticated biotechnology with advanced industrial practice. Metabolix is now developing and commercializing Mirel(TM), a family of high performance bioplastics which are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to many petroleum based plastics. Metabolix is also developing a proprietary platform technology for co-producing plastics, chemicals and energy, from crops such as switchgrass, oilseeds and sugarcane.
For more information, please visit www.metabolix.com. (MBLX-G)
About Telles
Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) are commercializing Mirel through a joint venture called Telles. Mirel bioplastics are available for injection molding, blown and cast film, and cast sheet applications. The first commercial-scale plant to produce Mirel bioplastic resins is being constructed adjacent to ADM's wet corn mill in Clinton, Iowa.
SOURCE: Metabolix, Inc.
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