FAQ

Bio-based materials can help to reduce the dependency on limited fossil resources, which are expected to become significantly more expensive in the coming decades. Bio-based materials are made from renewable sources instead of oil and that way gradually substitute fossil resources used to produce plastics with renewable resources (currently predominantly annual crops, such as corn and sugar beet, or perennial cultures, such as cassava and sugar cane).

Biobased materials also have the unique potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or even be carbon neutral. Plants absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide as they grow. Using plants (i.e. biomass) to produce biobased material constitutes a temporary removal of greenhouse gases (CO₂) from the atmosphere.

It is around 0.02% of the global land area in 2020. Today, bioplastics are mostly made from carbohydrate-rich plants, such as corn or sugar cane, so-called agro-based feedstock or 1st generation feedstock. Currently, 1st generation feedstock is the most efficient feedstock for the production of bioplastics as it requires the least amount of land to grow on and produces the highest yields. The feedstock currently used for the production of bioplastics relies on only about 0.02 percent of the global agricultural area – compared to 94 percent of the area, which is used for the production of food and feed. Despite the predicted continued growth in the bioplastics market at the current stage of technological development, the share of 13 global agricultural area used to grow feedstock for the production of bioplastics will remain around 0.02 percent in 2025.

This clearly demonstrates that there is no competition between food/feed and industrial production. A recent report by Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (Bio-based and biodegradable plastics – Facts and figures, 2017) calculates that “even if we would base all present worldwide fossil plastics production on biomass as feedstock instead, the demand for feedstock would be in order of 5 percent of the total amount of biomass produced and harvested each year”. Yet, such scenario is unlikely to happen since the bioplastics industry is also looking into the use of non-food crops (lignocellulosic feedstock), such as wood, straw, as well as waste products and side streams of the agro-industry for the production of bioplastics. Using an increased share of food residues, non-food crops or cellulosic biomass could lead to even less land needed for bioplastics than the numbers given above.

• Rice husks – Taiwan
• Wood – Taiwan
• Bamboo – Taiwan and China

No, it is possible to research which types of GMOs are approved for commercial cultivation, which is currently restricted to cotton, corn, and soybean only.

Biodegradable isn’t equal to Compost.

Biodegradable refers to the ability of materials to break down and return to nature. They must completely break down and decompose into natural elements within a short time after disposal – typically a year or less. The ability to biodegrade within landfills helps to reduce the buildup of waste, contributing to a safer, cleaner and healthier environment.

Compostable materials are similar to biodegradable materials, as they are both intended to return to the earth safely. However, compostable materials go one step further by providing the earth with nutrients once the material has completely broken down. These materials are added to compost piles, which are designated sites with specific conditions dependent on wind, sunlight, drainage, and other factors. While biodegradable materials are designed to break down within landfills, compostable materials require special composting conditions.

Yes, Resins for producing EVA can be entirely made from biobased ethanol, and it has the same physical properties as conventional polyethylene made from fossil raw material.

EVA GLORY’s goal is to achieve the “Closed Resource Cycle” in the future, in which organic recycle is introduced. At the current stage, we offer physical recycle and chemical, the former method is to grind the recycled foam materials or residue into small particles and compressed them into foam blocks that can later be sliced for different thicknesses; the later method is adding those particles back into foam compound to produce new foam sheets. (Please see our recycle foam for more details)

Yes, DeCO2 foam has the same physical properties as conventional EVA Foam made from fossil raw material. Analysis by C-14 carbon dating is the only way to differentiate the two products, attesting to renewable sources of DeCO2, since it shows younger carbon atoms in its composition. Eva-Glory also granted USDA Certification for foam intermediates BioPreferred.

A single tree can absorb CO₂ at a rate of 22kg per year. A single young tree can absorb 10kg of CO₂ per year. Tropical forests grow faster than temperate forests and thus bind more carbon. Every forest is different: Soil characteristics and climate influence in many ways the development and composition of a forest. Each tree has a different storage capacity and each tree is different in size and age.

• One ton DeCO2 - Reduce approximately 400 kg CO₂ which Equals 18-40 trees annual CO₂ absorption.
• 5000 pairs insoles - Reduce approximately 160 kg CO₂ which Equals 7-16 trees annual CO₂ absorption.
• 5000 pairs flip flops - Reduce approximately 360 kg CO₂ which Equals 16-36 trees annual CO₂ absorption.

*Source: Trees for the Future @trees.org
*Depends on area and tree types

Yes. DeCO2 can be produced with biobased carbon as high as 78%, however, the higher the content the higher the price will be. According to different countries’ biobased carbon standards, the minimum containment is 25%, thus we make DeCO2 with 25-30% biobased carbon content which will meet almost every biobased carbon requirement around the world.