Spark Sourcing’s eggshell packs gain recyclability certification as founder finds fault with bioplastics

15 Aug 2023 --- Spark Sourcing’s eco-shell has received EN 13430 certification for recyclability. The eco-shell is made from a bio-calcium compound derived from eggshells that reportedly generates a 70% reduction in carbon emissions compared to virgin plastics.

EN 13430 certification is a European standard that includes the continuous development of packaging and recycling technologies and qualifies packaging requirements for classification as recyclable. 

The packaging solutions distributor says its eco-shell is compatible with many plastics, including PP, PE, HDPE, PET, EVA, PS, ABS, rubber, PVC, PLA, ocean-bound plastics and bioplastics.

“There is a lot of greenwashing in the industry, which can be very frustrating. I see websites every day touting biodegradable plastics or eco-friendly solutions that do not reduce carbon or plastic and in some cases may even be worse for the environment,” Andrew Bliss, founder of Spark Sourcing, tells Packaging Insights.

“Being sourced from [environmentally] sustainable agricultural waste and with a clean production method, eco-shell does not require much energy. When used as a filler, eco-shell can reduce 25-50% of plastic off the top, depending on the plastic it is used with and the application. If it is incinerated, it does not release carbon, just a harmless residue in the incinerator.”

Eco-shell makes packaging from an eggshell material.Various applications
The patented eco-shell’s seven-step process involves calcination. Patents have been granted in the US, UK, Taiwan, Australia and China.

The EN 13430 certification adds to the list of certifications the eco-shell has received, including SGS eco-certification for plastic, waste and carbon reduction, as well as EU RoHS and REACH certifications.

Eco-shell’s possible applications span various industries and products: jars and bottles for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, wellness and cannabis industries, trays and industrial packaging, bags made with 70% recycled plastic and biodegradable straws and utensils.

When partnering with brands, companies do not need to change the product’s shape, size, material or design.

“For manufacturers and brands, incorporating eco-shell can be a seamless process. It can be added to current masterbatches, with a few tweaks to find the best recipe (depending on what additives they are using),” explains Bliss.

Calcium carbonate match-up
Mined CaCO3 is a similar application to eco-shell involving calcination that brands might pick. However, Spark Sourcing says this option is unsustainable and has a larger carbon footprint.

Compared to mined calcium carbonate or essential eggshell powder, eco-shell particles are smaller and have more facings that allow for greater bonds with polymers, making them compatible with more plastics. Eco-shell can be combined with other plastics to create a recyclable solution.

“We developed bio-calcium derived from eggshell in response to limitations we encountered working with oyster shells. While the latter produced bio-calcium with many of the same benefits that eco-shell has over traditional calcium carbonate, there were problems with scale-ability and supply,” says Bliss.

“The result of the calcination is a porous material that allows for greater bonds with the polymers, especially compared to traditional limestone calcium carbonate. The particles are also smaller (as small as one micron). Our goal is to replace 100% of virgin plastic.”

Bioplastic debate
Bliss says bioplastics are generally worse for the environment than the eco-shell. He explains that while many brands boast about the merits of bioplastics, they have shown not to be a viable option for reducing plastic.

Spark Sourcing calls bioplastics “extremely expensive” alongside being unrecyclable, difficult to separate from recyclable plastics for consumers and only biodegrading under very specific conditions.

“The consumer should place [bioplastics] in a specific environment where these plastics can compost, containing the right amounts of water, oxygen, nitrates and microorganisms. As a result, the vast majority of bioplastics just get tossed and end up in a landfill, where those conditions are not met, and the plastic will not biodegrade,” argues Bliss.

“For example, some products use fibers (like hemp) to reduce plastic and claim eco-friendliness. However, once you add that hemp (maybe just 10%), the product is not recyclable and cannot biodegrade, so it either gets incinerated or winds up in landfill, both of which are bad for the environment.”

By Sabine Waldeck