Eco-toxicity evaluation
Test: Ecotoxic effect of compost obtained after disintegration of becausewecare™ sample is required to ensure that there is no adverse effect on plant growth and germination due to presence of BF-90 fractions and its metabolites. This sample was composted according to the ISO 16929:2002(E) standard test method and the resultant composts were used for the toxicity test. Control compost was prepared without addition of packaging material in the initial blend.
Two plant species, representing two different families, were chosen from the list provide in OECD Guideline 208 A. (i) Monocotyledonae Barley (Hordeum vulgare) (ii) Dicotyledonae Pea (Pisum sativum) Plants were grown under controlled conditions in the Hydroponics house at Swinburne University of Technology.
The test and control compost samples were mixed thoroughly with garden potting mix at 25% and 50% compost concentrations. Data obtained for seedling emergence and biomass for test compost were compared with control compost for both plant species to investigate whether there is any statistically significant difference.
Conclusion: There were no visible phytotoxic effects on plants grown in any of the test compost. Germination and biomass percentage corresponding to control values of both plant species in compost at both concentrations were higher than 90%. The presence of the becausewecare™ sample in the initial blend has enhanced the growth and increases the biomass production. Therefore, the quality of the compost has not been affected negatively by the addition of becausewecare™ material in the initial compost blend.
There is no ecotoxic effect on germination and plant growth using compost obtained from becausewecare™ biodegradable polymer material biodegradation in aerobic composting process according to the method outlined in OECD 208 A and the evaluation criteria specified in AS 4736-2006 standard.
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