Biodegradable
CELL-O® air cushions
Environmentally Friendly Packaging
from FP International

Biodegradable CELL-O® air cushions are the right choice for environmentally friendly packaging and for protecting your valuable products.

Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions are the next generation of sustainable packaging for businesses looking to address the environmental concerns of their customers. From manufacturing to disposal, Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions are made to provide superior void fill product protection while being environmentally friendly packaging.  Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions are made from 100% recyclable material. Biodegradable CELL-O air cushion packaging will decompose completely within 9 to 60 months in the presence of microorganisms, whether they are sent to a landfill or end up as litter in the soil. Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions provide an eco friendly packaging alternative to other protective packaging materials.

Biodegradable Packaging CELL-O air cushions deliver your customers a cost effective, durable air cushion that provides superior void-fill and cushioning while providing an environmentally responsible product that is lightweight, recyclable, reusable and biodegradable.

Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions can be recycled curbside in a limited but growing number of communities or deflated and recycled with plastic bags. For recycling, you also have the option of returning them to us at the FP International Recycling Program, 16850 South Canal St., Thornton, Illinois, 60476.

Biodegradable packaging CELL-O air cushions come in an easy to identify, light green color for customer awareness.

Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions are a better environmental choice than starch air cushions or paper.

Important Facts About Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions

What makes the product biodegrade?

Our Biodegradable CELL-O air cushion void fill are made from 100% recyclable material that contains a proprietary additive, which will allow the product to degrade in the
presence of microorganisms in 9 to 60 months. This additive does not affect the performance or the shelf life of our product because biodegradation only occurs in
the presence of microorganisms which are present in landfills, home and commercial composting, and other areas where they exist in nature. These eco friendly packaging products will biodegrade in aerobic (with air) and anaerobic (without air) conditions.

What causes the product to biodegrade?

Our environmentally friendly packaging products contain an additive that promotes the formation of a microscopic bio-film on the surface of our CELL-O air cushions. Microorganisms in the bio-film secrete acids and enzymes that break down the long polymer chains into smaller pieces, which can then be digested by the microorganisms.

How do we know the product will biodegrade?

The additive used in Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions has been tested by independent laboratories in accordance with standard test methods approved by ASTM, and other standardization bodies, and has been approved for marketing as biodegradable and safe for the environment. This product does not meet ASTMD6400-04, which is specifically for labeling of plastics designed to be composted in municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities.

What is left when the product biodegrades?

After biodegradation, the resulting material has been transformed into carbon dioxide, water and inert-humus soil with no heavy metals or harmful chemicals.

Is the Biodegradable CELL-O product an OXO or OXI based product?

No, Biodegradable CELL-O air cushions are not OXO or OXI based additive products. OXO or OXI based products break down in the presence of heat, light or mechanical stress. They also may leave heavy metal residue as they degrade.

Does the additive impact the product’s characteristics?

This additive does not affect the recyclability of the product nor the product’s performance as an excellent, light weight, protective eco friendly packaging material.

Is there any special handling for this product?

No special handling is required to load, use or store the material. This is truly environmentally friendly packaging.

From a packer’s standpoint, are there any safety issues with handling?

No, the additive is made only from FDA recognized materials and is not known to contain hazardous materials, as outlined by current OSHA regulations.

Will the additive transfer to other products?

No, the additive must be mixed with the raw materials during the production of the finished packaging material and becomes a non-transferable part of the product.

Environmental Commitment

FP International has a substantial record of environmental achievements. In 1990, FP International was the first company to recycle post-consumer polystyrene foam packaging and use the recycled material to make new loosefill from 100% recycled material. FP International received national recognition in 1991, for its “significant contributions to environmental improvement through recycling” with the Administrator’s Award of the US Environmental Protection Agency, and also received numerous state and local awards for environmental commitment and recycling programs. In 2007, the company recycled in excess of 10 million pounds of expanded polystyrene worldwide.