Let’s start at the beginning. These products began life as limestone waste from quarries. The waste is rescued and, in a revolutionary process that it has taken decades to perfect, turned into packaging. This feat of transformation uses renewable energy, zero water, acid or bleaches while creating zero pollution in a carbon neutral process.
STAGE 1
ØPACKS are made from a strong, sustainable substrate containing Calcium Carbonate (approx. 80%) sourced from waste products and a small quantity (approx. 20%) of non-toxic, recycled resin (HDPE).
When limestone is quarried, a substantial amount of waste is generated. The Calcium Carbonate component of ØPACKS is sourced from this and ground down to a powder which is ten times finer than a human hair.
In this way what previously would have been discarded and rendered useless is converted into a new and truly revolutionary product, one far removed from its humble beginnings. This is a truly sustainable way to collect raw materials and does not result in any deforestation, use of food resources (or the land required to grow food), burning of fossil fuels or depletion of oil reserves.
STAGE 2
The process of creating ØPACKS uses NO acids, bleaches or water and is carbon neutral. It generates zero pollution and the minimal amount of power required is generated from renewable sources. This in itself is pretty incredible and it has taken decades of research and development to perfect this 'dry' process. It helps that CaCO3 is naturally white so doesn't require any nasty acids or bleaches to 'improve' its colour.
STAGE 4
The most sustainable option for end users once finished with an ØPACK is to recycle it with the soft plastics. That way the resources are renewed for use again. The CaCO3 in ØPACKS is used as a filler in plastics and is a useful addition to the plastic recycling stream. The small amount of recycled HDPE that ØPACKS contain is also in its rightful place.
Recycling infrastructure and capabilities vary significantly around the world. Please check with your local soft plastics scheme as to whether they are able to process a CaCO3-based material.
ØPACKS can also be recycled via incineration. Although a fire retardant, they will burn without toxic smoke (the smoke consists of 1.4 parts/million of Nitrous Oxide plus 60 parts per million of Carbon Monoxide) leaving only stone powder which can then be recycled and reused.
However, if one doesn't make it into the recycling stream and ends up in nature, it will revert back to calcium carbonate (a substance commonly found in nature). When left in sunshine, after around 12 months in direct UV light, it will look and feel like broken egg shells which continually crack until they again become stone powder (CaCO3). This is not the ideal scenario (recycling is better!), however it minimizes the potential impact caused to the environment when waste inevitably ends up in the wrong place.
In landfill, ØPACKS are unlikely to degrade due to the lack of light or heat, but neither will anything else. At least in their case they won't leach toxic chemicals!
STAGE 3
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