DEFRA/Loughborough Research Report Questions Oxo-Technology Claims

On March 11, 2010 the UK’s Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) released Loughborough University’s publication titled “Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Oxo-degradable Plastics Across Their Life Cycle”.  EPI Environmental Products Inc. (EPI) gladly participated in the information gathering for the report, viewing the Loughborough study as an opportunity for an independent third party to finally put to rest all questions about its oxo-biodegradable technology.  The Loughborough report makes certain findings and recommendations which are not supported by the body of scientific data presented to the researchers and peer reviewers, and which are believed to result from either the authors of the report having virtually no background in polyolefins or biodegradable plastics generally, or two of the peer reviewers being strongly biased towards the bioplastics industry, which they have direct and significant financial interests in supporting, or both.