Bioplastics
EcoStand Tube Holder
Learn more about EcoStand and Millipore’s effort to bring biobased products to customers.
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The biodegradable and compostable EcoStand provides an environmentally responsible alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The plastic is produced from corn, which is then processed using renewable energy. The stand was designed and developed in our Danvers, Massachusetts facility where the electricity we use is completely offset with green-e® certified renewable energy. As a result, this biobased plastic reduces the use of non-renewable energy by more than 95% and provides a 200% reduction in greenhouse gases.
Our logo on the EcoStand indicates that the product is compostable. It is engineered to fully biodegrade in diverse natural environments, including soil, home compost, industrial compost, and both fresh and salt water. The plastic resin used meets international standards ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 for compostable plastics, and ASTM D7081 and EN 17556 for biodegradable non-floating plastics in marine environments.
To ensure proper handling and disposal of your EcoStand, please contact your local waste and/or recycling operator to set up a composting program. If you need further assistance or have questions about composting this product, please contact us at
environment@millipore.com.
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Other Applications
Millipore is proud to be a leader in offering products made from several different renewable resources. Our antibody kits, multiplexes, and Mobius single-use assemblies are manufactured with 100% renewable wind energy. To learn more about our renewable energy efforts, please visit our energy page. Although the EcoStand is our first bioplastic product, it won’t be our last! You’ll soon see our compostable logo on more Millipore products designed with biobased plastic resins.Furthermore, we are also working to promote the use of biodegradable and compostable materials in our own facilities. In our U.S. dining areas, we are switching our coffee cups, take-out containers, and cutlery to biodegradable products made with bioplastic resins similar to that used for the EcoStand. Our Bedford, MA R&D facility recently began a composting program that includes organic waste and biodegradable materials used in the cafeteria. We even use biodegradable plastic bags to collect the organic waste!
Bioplastic FAQs
Below are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding bioplastics, biodegradable and compostable products, and Millipore’s sustainability efforts.What is a bioplastic?
Bioplastics are plastic resins developed from renewable agricultural feedstocks, such as corn sugar, hemp oil, and soy bean oil. These feedstocks are then processed into high performance polymers. In contrast, conventional plastics are derived from petroleum.
What is a corn-based plastic resin?
Corn-based plastic resins are solely made from field corn. Corn sugar is extracted from the plant, and, through a fermentation process, microbes transform the corn sugar into bioplastics.
What are the environmental benefits of bioplastics?
Bioplastics are regarded as an environmentally responsible alternative to petroleum-based plastics. They rely less on fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource. They also are biodegradable when disposed of properly, reducing waste. Finally, bioplastic products result in a net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions because the plants used to produce the bioplastic material absorb the same amount of carbon they started with, thus displacing that carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere.
What are the negative environmental impacts from bioplastics?
Bioplastics are a synthetic material and are sometimes criticized because their manufacturing and processing can result in environmental impacts. Any manufacturing process can be energy intensive, increasing GHG emissions if power is derived from fossil fuels. Other environmental impacts may include water used to irrigate crops, fertilizers and pesticides applied to grow agricultural feedstocks, and pollutants emitted during the transportation of crops and products to manufacturing facilities.
The biobased plastic resin used in the EcoStand is manufactured using renewable energy.
How do you properly dispose of a bioplastic product?
Bioplastic products meeting ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 standards can biodegrade in a variety of environments, including soil, home compost, industrial compost, and both fresh and salt water, often in a matter of weeks. We recommend that you compost these products; you can contact your local waste and/or recycling vendor for more information about home or industrial composting programs in your area. In any case, it is also important that you follow your standard laboratory procedures for waste disposal.
How do I know if my Millipore product is biodegradable?
Millipore’s biodegradable products have our newly designed compostable logo embedded into the product. We will also provide our customers with product specifications and awareness materials. Each EcoStand will come with an informative postcard that explains Millipore’s Sustainability Initiative and describes the EcoStand. These product inserts are printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.
What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable?
Biodegradable plastics are able to break down with the help of naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates, with no time requirement. However, when biodegradable waste is dumped into landfills, the material is often not able to break down because good bacteria cannot survive in oxygen-depleted landfill environments. Also, this waste may contain toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides.
Compostable plastics must be able to not only break down in natural environments, like soil or water, but must be able to do so in a specified time period, almost at the same rate as paper. This process also does not produce any toxic material and the end result should be able to enhance plant life.
How can I start a composting program?
Contact your current waste or recycling vendor for your business or home to inquire about opportunities for composting in your area.
For more information on biodegradable products and composting, we encourage you to explore these links:
- U.S. EPA’s Composting Home
- U.S. Composting Council
- Biodegradable Products Institute
- European Bioplastics
- EcoProducts
If you have further questions, please contact us.
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