Seals HQ launched our Biodegradable Security Seals and Security Tamper Evident Bags in 2020. Since then, Seals HQ has grown to be one of the largest provider of Biodegradable Security Seals in Australia.
In 2021, Seals HQ was recognised as the 'Leading Provider of Biodegradable Security Seals' by APAC Insider and featured in APAC Insider's Magazine.
As Australia is fully focused on the environmental concerns that single-use plastics cause, Seals HQ is committed to providing security solutions which are environmentally friendly.
Once Seals HQ's Biodegradable Security Seals and Security Tamper Evident Bags are exposed to an environment that meets 3 conditions, they will begin to biodegrade.
Seals HQ Biodegradable Security Seals and Security Tamper Evident Bags have been tested according to ASTM D5511: Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions.
According to ASTM D5511 tests performed on Seals HQ Biodegradable Security Seals and Security Tamper Evident Bags, the rate of biodegradation is shown in the chart below:
A copy of the test reports can be downloaded here:
ASTM D5511, 62 days: DOWNLOAD HERE
ASTM D5511, 133 days: DOWNLOAD HERE
ASTM D5511, 411 days: DOWNLOAD HERE
A major source of confusion is the difference between three terms: Biodegradability, Compostability and Oxo-Degradability.
Biodegradable plastics are a relatively small subset of bioplastics which can be converted into water, carbon dioxide and bio-mass over time with the help of micro-organisms. This process is called biodegradation.
Compostable plastics are those plastics which have been tested and certified by a third party to adhere to international standards such as ASTM D6400 (in the US) or EN13432 (in Europe) for biodegradation in an industrial composting facility environment.
They are neither a bioplastic or a biodegradable plastic, but rather a conventional plastic mixed with an additive in order to imitate biodegradation. Oxo-degradable plastics quickly fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, called microplastics, but don’t break down at a molecular or polymer level. The resulting microplastics are left in the environment indefinitely until they eventually fully break down.
Seals HQ Biodegradable Security Seals are 100% biodegradable. This means that once our security seals are disposed in landfills, microbes digest the seals and the plastic disappears (that’s why we get the byproducts of biogas and water).
Oxo-degradable (or now marketed as oxo-biodegradable) are not biodegradable. The claims made by these oxo manufacturers is that the plastic will break and break and break again, eventually breaking into nothing.
However, we know that this is not true as we have already seen reports that microplastics have been found in human lungs (refer to https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20220411/scientists-find-microplastics-in-human-lung-tissue).
Another important factor in Biodegradation is whether the Biodegradable Security Seals and Security Tamper Evident Bag leaves any residue of heavy metals after biodegradation.
Cadmium – Not Detected
Lead – Not Detected
Mercury – Not Detected
Hexavalent Chromium – Not Detected
Total of the above – Not Detected
The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES!! Evidence of biodegradation still enforces the fact that this is an environmentally friendly security seal. Comparing with conventional security seals which do not degrade at all, Seals HQ Biodegradable Security Seals will completely degrade in a few short years.
It is also noted that according to Australian Standard ISO14021:2018, Environmental Labels and Declarations – Self Declared, it is stated in the appendix that ASTM D5511 (which is the test standard we use to determine biodegradability) is an acceptable standard for self-declaration.
Seals HQ Biodegradable Security Seals and Biodegradable Security Tamper Evident Bags are currently being used by:
