What is Full Cycle®?
Pads made using 100% recycled PET plastic and specially formulated to rapidly biodegrade* once discarded into an active landfill.
The fibers in the floor pads we manufacture are made using 100% recycled PET plastic. We only utilize water-based resins in our binding process. Taking the next step forward, Americo’s Full Cycle® floor pads are specially formulated to biodegrade in a fraction of the time that it takes for conventional pads.* So what does this mean for the end user and our environment? Consumers have access to high quality products with long lasting performance—while reducing mankind’s impact on the environment.
- Same core floor pad construction—now specially formulated to rapidly biodegrade* once discarded into an active landfill.
- ASTM D5511 tests show Americo’s Full Cycle® floor pads biodegraded up to 92.5% in 616 Days—compared to 16.4% on Americo’s conventional floor pad. To view ASTM D5511 test results the biodegradation chart (in Figure 3) click here.
- Leaves no toxins or toxic remnants in the environment.
- Methane is created during the biodegradation process which can be captured and converted into energy where facilities exist.1 For a current listing of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) click here!
1. https://www.epa.gov/lmop/landfill-gas-energy-project-data-and-landfill-technical-data
* ASTM D5511 Testing
Americo’s technology promotes the biodegradation of traditional plastics in landfills as validated by independent, certified laboratories using the test method ASTM D5511.
D5511 testing shows up to 92.5% biodegradation of Americo’s Full Cycle® floor pad in 616 days, as compared 16.4% on our conventional pads. Laboratory tests, which represent optimized conditions, often show faster results than actual landfill conditions. The actual rate of biodegradation of Americo’s Full Cycle® pads, as well as the rate of all plastic materials in landfills, will be slower and will vary, dependent upon actual landfill conditions.
Samples A and B shown above were both taken from the same Full Cycle® floor pad. While Sample A was left untouched, Sample B was placed in an ASTM D5511 simulated landfill test for 290 days. Note the significant mass reduction via enhanced biodegradation in Sample B. Photos courtesy of Eden Labs LLC.
*Biodegradation Comparison
ASTM D5511 testing shows Americo floor pads with Full Cycle® technology biodegraded 92.5% in 616 days, our nearest competitor’s pad biodegraded only 15.4% in the same length of time. The ASTM D5511 test is a method that evaluates the biodegradability of plastic in anaerobic, or oxygen-less, conditions. These laboratory tests often show faster results than actual landfill conditions. The actual rate of biodegradation of Americo’s Full Cycle® pads, as well as the rate of all plastic materials in landfills, will be slower and will vary, dependent upon actual landfill conditions.
Figure 3.
ASTM D5511 testing shows 92.5% biodegradation of Americo’s Full Cycle® floor pad in 616 days as compared to 16.4% of our conventional pads.**This chart reflects the most current testing results supplied by a reputable independent 3rd party laboratory.
Other Potential Benefits of Enhanced Biodegradation
When Americo’s Full Cycle® pads begin to biodegrade, the by-products of the anaerobic biodegradation process are the biogases methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), and a rich soil-like residue sometimes referred to as humus. Methane gas can be captured and converted to energy, where facilities exist.1 For a current listing of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) click here!
1. https://www.epa.gov/lmop/landfill-gas-energy-project-data-and-landfill-technical-data
California Notice: California law prohibits the sale of plastic packaging and plastic products that are labeled with the terms ‘biodegradable’, ‘degradable’, or ‘decomposable’, or any form of those terms, or that imply in any way that the item will break down, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment. These restrictions apply to all sales in or into the State of California, including such sales over the Internet.