Media Contact:
Frank Santana, Tel. (808) 941-2204
DOWN TO EARTH TO SWITCH TO BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC BAGS
ON EARTH DAY APRIL 22ND
New Bags Convert to Water, Carbon Dioxide, Harmless Humus; With or
Without Oxygen
Honolulu, Hawaii (April 9, 2009) – Down to Earth ALL VEGETARIAN Organic and
Natural will halt the use of conventional plastic checkout shopping bags and switch to
biodegradable plastic bags on Earth Day April 22nd. The switch to biodegradable bags
will be made at no cost to customers.
“We made this decision after a careful, year-long review of alternatives,” says Mark
Fergusson, Down to Earth CEO. “Our goal was to strike a balance with keeping costs
down and the need to improve practices that contribute to a cleaner and safer
environment.”
The company says the new biodegradable bags break down completely into water,
carbon dioxide, and harmless humus on land and in the ocean. This biodegradation
process can take place with or without the presence of light or oxygen. These factors
allow for biodegradation when buried in the ground or disposed in compost bins or
landfills, which normally prevent degradation because they become air tight. The new
environmentally friendly bags completely biodegrade in 9 months to 5 years, and can be
recycled along with regular plastic bags.
Biodegradation is Complete
Switch to Biodegradable Plastic Bags
Down to Earth ALL VEGETARIAN Organic and Natural
Page 2 of 4
April 9, 2009
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The biodegradable bags from Down to Earth are made using conventional plastic that
includes an additive from ECM Biofilms, Inc, which allows plastic to completely
biodegrade. The ECM technology is based on a process that causes plastic films to
biodegrade when they are exposed to microorganisms in the environment. The process
continues until the plastic becomes part of the organic components of the soil, just like
biodegraded sticks or other pieces of wood become part of the soil.
“Consumers need not worry about oil from the plastic getting into the ground, as the
common belief that plastic bags are made from oil is not true,” adds Fergusson. Plastic
bags are made out of polyethylene, which comes from ethane extracted from natural
gas. “So, there’s no oil to begin with, and no oil going into the environment from plastic
bags.”
Confirmed by Independent Labs
Tests by independent laboratories concluded that the films treated with the ECM additive
are biodegradable under short and long-term conditions where the film is exposed to
oxygen, and over a longer period of time without oxygen depending on the amount of
exposure to other biodegrading materials. In addition, the tests concluded that the films
did not produce any toxic residue harmful to living organisms in land or water.
“The beauty of all this is that we now have an environmentally sound solution to the
plastic-bag dilemma using the most cost-effective biodegradable plastic technology
available today,” says Fergusson. “The new bags cost only a couple cents more or less
per bag, depending on the size of the bag, so it’s a win/win solution for business and
consumers alike.”
Bags Are Produced Locally
The bags are produced by Island Plastic Bags, Inc., Aiea, and distributed by Triple F,
Honolulu.
“We’re a local company that cares about our impact on the environment,” said David
Hong, president of Island Plastic Bags, “so we wanted to offer the most advanced
Switch to Biodegradable Plastic Bags
Down to Earth ALL VEGETARIAN Organic and Natural
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April 9, 2009
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biodegradable technology available. We are pleased Down to Earth selected us as their
preferred source for an eco-friendly solution to plastic bags, particularly given their deep
concern for the environment.”
Compostable Bags Not an Option
Before deciding on the ECM technology the company considered compostable bags
made from corn starch. However, they discovered that the trend towards ethanol and
plant-based plastics is taking up farmland and putting pressure on the food supply.
“According to a report issued by the World Bank last year,” says Fergusson, “this trend
was causing food shortages around the world and contributing to up to 75% of the
increase in food costs, so we didn’t want to be a part of that.”
Fergusson says compostable bags would have cost 12 to 15 cents per bag, which is four
to five times more than what the company pays for conventional plastic bags. They
would have needed to pass some of that cost on to customers, which they didn’t want to
do. And finally, compostable bags contaminate the recycle stream for conventional
plastic. This means local communities would need a costly infrastructure to collect and
recycle only compostable bags. “So the whole argument for compostable bags didn’t
make sense,” added Fergusson.
Paper Bags Worse for the Environment
As for paper bags, he explained that many people instinctively assume they are better
for the environment because their core ingredient is derived from wood, which is a
natural and renewable product. But it takes more than four times the energy to
manufacture a paper bag as it does a plastic one. And, it takes more energy to ship
them in because paper bags are considerably heavier than plastic. In addition, millions
of gallons of toxic chemicals used to make paper each year pour into waterways, settling
into sediments and working their way into the food chain. Or, they shoot up smoke
stacks and contribute to air pollution such as acid rain. The wood industry, he says, is
also responsible for clear-cutting old growth forests and adding to the problems of
deforestation.
Switch to Biodegradable Plastic Bags
Down to Earth ALL VEGETARIAN Organic and Natural
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April 9, 2009
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“Therefore, the truly sustainable environmentally sound solution to the plastic bag
dilemma is to embrace the best biodegradable technology available while encouraging
people to re-use their bags. In so doing we will contribute to a cleaner and safer
environment,”
In addition to biodegradable bags, Down to Earth offers a variety of reusable bags they
have been selling for decades. The company credits five cents per bag to customers
who reuse their bags.
Down to Earth ALL VEGETARIAN Organic and Natural is Hawaii’s only all-vegetarian
food store chain and one of only a few in the nation. The company was founded in 1977
in Wailuku, Maui. Today, Down to Earth is the largest locally operated natural food store
in Hawaii with four locations: Honolulu, Kailua and Pearlridge on Oahu, and Kahului on
Maui. For more information visit www.downtoearth.org
Other Contacts:
David Hong, President
Island Plastic Bags, Inc.
Aiea
Tel. (8-08) 484-4046
Les Yamaguchi, Account Executive
Triple F – Fast Food & Bar Supply Specialists
Honolulu
Tel. (808) 842-9133
Bob Sinclair
ECM BioFilms, Inc.
ECM BioFilms, Inc.
1 Victoria Square – Suite 225
Painesville, Ohio 44077 U.S.A.
Phone: (440) 350-1400
Fax: (440) 350-1444
Toll Free in U.S.: (888) 220-2792
E-mail: biodeg@ecmbiofilms.com
Website: http://www.ecmbiofilms.com
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