AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENTAL BREAKTHROUGH
New Technology solves the
problem of everlasting plastic
The way consumers treat the disposal of single use plastic is about to
be transformed, with the launch of the world’s first bio-compostable
plastic additive – Goody G1.
Australian technology, years in the making, is set to play a pivotal role in solving many of the problems the world
currently faces relating to the use and disposal of plastic.
Goody Environment Pty Ltd, trading under the brand name ‘Goody’ is a new Australian company bringing to
market technology developed by world-renowned environmental scientist Dr. Henry O. Meissner. The
technology comprises an additive that is simply integrated into the normal plastic manufacturing processes at a
rate of between 1% and 10%.
The additive enables plastic to be fully bio-compostable, meaning that the item will completely and safely
disappear – totally integrating with the natural environment.
Nick Paech, Goody Director says, “the technology has been rigorously and independently tested at Flinders
University (South Australia), and is the only technology of its kind to obtain Australian Standard (AS 4736-2006)
for biodegradable plastic that is suitable for composting and other microbial treatment.”
“Importantly, the integrity and performance of the base plastic is not compromised during the manufacturing
process” he added, “and the shelf life of a plastic product can be controlled from months to years, up to 5 years
for some applications.”
Professor Andrew Ball (Chair in Environmental Biotechnology School of Biological Sciences – Flinders
University) who independently tested Goody G1 for the Australian Standards says, “Goody G1 is cutting edge
technology, it has been through and passed an extensive range of testing, I can confirm that its interaction with
PET results in the formation of a plastic which meets the Australian Standard for being labelled bio-
compostable.”
Goody plastic, once it has been used, can simply be placed in your food organic or green waste bins and sent
directly to industrial composting facilities to be turned into compost mulch. “Compost mulch saves water,
improves soil condition and helps reduce global warming, plastic can very simply be turned into a natural
resource for our environment” according to Paech.
Launching in Australia in partnership with Billabong Spring Water, Goody plastic will start to appear at
restaurants, hotels, festivals and small independent supermarket shelves nationally from the start of November
2008. “We see our partnership with Billabong as the perfect platform for launching our technology” says Paech,
“disposal of single use water bottles is a significant global environmental issue, and the launch of a bio-
compostable product will mean less plastic ending up in landfill and our waterways”.
MEDIA RELEASE
25 November 2008
Goody G1 will work with all plastic types, except PVC (due to the hydrochloric acid it produces as it degrades)
and consumers can expect to see a variety of brands incorporating the Goody technology in their packaging
on supermarket shelves in coming months. “Consumers will be able to easily recognise products using Goody
plastic” says Paech, “the hot pink logo featuring the Goody character has been designed for simple
identification, making the choice an easy one for shoppers.”
“The message is simple” says Paech, “the technology has arrived, and if we combine this with responsible
disposal by consumers and strong waste / recycling management by local governments and private
enterprise, we can revolutionise the effect plastic is having on our environment. Plastic does not have
to continue choking our planet any longer but we all need to play our part - a strong holistic approach can
work.”
- Ends -
Media Contact:
Nick Paech – Director, Goody Environment Pty Ltd
Phone: 02 9810 0073 Mobile: 0409 302 320 Email: nick.paech@goody.com.au
Understanding terminology:
1.
Compostable: Refers to plastics that will biologically decompose under aerobic conditions during a typical
industrial composting process within 90 days. This is the best technology because it occurs within 90 days and
the plastic is recycled into soil conditioner.
2.
Biodegradable: Refers to plastics which are able to biodegrade wherever microbial action occurs. Microbial
action occurs in landfills as well as compost facilities. During the process of biodegradation anerobically two
parts are found: biogas and biomass. During the aerobic biodegradation process two parts are also found CO2
and biomass. This can occur over several months.
3.
OXO-Degradable: Products made with this break down when placed around humidity or water which turns
the bag or product into smaller films which then can be digested by microbes unknowingly. After the microbes
have then digested the film the biomass that is created is a polymer residue and biomass combined. This is
not biodegradation, because you are not allowing the microbes to digest the molecular structure of the plastic.
Therefore this is Disintegration.
Why we use the term Bio-Compostable:
We use the term ‘Bio-Compostable’ because our technology enables plastic to be biodegradable and compost
as per Goody obtaining Australian Standard AS 4736-2006 for biodegradable plastic that is suitable for
composting and other microbial treatment.
The word ‘compostable’ is an internationally recognised term for plastic-like products that will compost within
90 days under the correctly controlled microbial active conditions.
A Goody product will not only compost, but will biodegrade under the correct microbial aerobic active
conditions and some products, may exceed individual, national and / or international standards.
MEDIA RELEASE
25 November 2008
NEWS 
