FAQ’s

Biodegradable refers to packaging or promotional items that can be completely degraded by the influence of microorganisms found in the environment, such as sunlight, water, bacteria, plants, or animal waste.

On the other hand, biobased means that the carbon atoms in the molecular chains are sourced from nature. For example, Ecoware repurposes byproducts from the agave industry to form "bioplastic."

We recommend it because it has the lowest water footprint percentage of all bioplastics. Furthermore, agave is not food for others, nor has it been grown solely for us.

The agave we use helps in the proper disposal of agro-industrial waste from the tequila industry, and by utilizing its agave fiber waste, we support its circular economy.

Agave fiber, also known as bagasse, is the byproduct of agave hearts after they are cooked and their juice is extracted; it consists of the straw-like remnants we see in agave fields as compost.

The tequila industry generates approximately 1 million tons of agave fiber each year.

Ecoware's agave products are made with PolyAgave®, which is a biobased compound created from a mixture of agave fibers, polymers, and biodegradation agents.

PolyAgave^® is the brand for a wide range of biobased composite materials used to manufacture agave-based products, such as machine parts (through injection molding), extruded straws, and blown bottles.

It is a bio-resin or biobased polymer, meaning it contains biobased content in its composition.

All PolyAgave® products are recyclable.

PolyAgave® is not naturally biodegradable; however, with the addition of a biodegradation additive, the product becomes biodegradable when placed in landfill conditions.

A biomaterial is a substance that has been designed to interact with biological systems.

A biobased compound is a type of plastic (also known as bioplastic) derived from organic matter instead of petroleum. Bioplastics can be biobased, biodegradable, or both biobased and biodegradable. If it is plastic that comes from the earth or returns to it, it is a bioplastic.

Biodegradable means that it will completely decompose through natural processes in a short period of time. A biodegradable substance is capable of being broken down by bacteria or other living organisms.

A common misconception about bioplastics is that "biobased compound" and "biodegradable" are related when, in fact, they are not.

A biobased compound has part or all of its composition produced from a renewable source like a plant or animal. Biodegradable plastics completely decompose into carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water (H2O), and biomass through biological action in a defined environment and timeframe.

Essentially, it will fully break down through natural processes in a short period of time. A biobased bioplastic is not necessarily biodegradable, and a biodegradable bioplastic is not necessarily biobased.

Agave-based biomaterials have a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to petroleum-based plastics. First, agave plants capture CO2 from the environment and retain it within the plant, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, agave-based compounds only grow with rainwater, reducing the amount of water consumed in production.

Agave-based biomaterials have the lowest water footprint in the biopolymer segment. For every ton of products made with PolyAgave®, 6,613 pounds (3,000 kilograms) of agave fiber are reused. Products made with agave-based compounds reduce the consumption of 150 liters of oil and prevent the emission of 450 kg of CO2 into the environment.

Ecoware's agave products are made from the byproduct of the plant. In creating them, we recycle the byproduct of the tequila manufacturing process instead of cultivating new crops to produce biomaterials. The formulation is created with natural fibers and biodegradation additives that allow microorganisms to break down the final product faster than a regular plastic straw at the end of its life cycle.

Ecoware's agave products can be biodegradable if a patented biodegradation additive is added to the formulation to create a final product that can decompose in landfill conditions.

These specific conditions attract microorganisms present in the landfill to break down the polypropylene chain, exposing the fibers, which can then biodegrade. The biodegradation process starts after 12 months and can take between 12 and 60 months to complete.

They should be disposed of in the trash, never in a field, street, ocean, or on the ground. They must be taken to a landfill and can only do so if disposed of properly.

Once the product is placed in the trash, it is taken to a landfill and may take 1 to 5 years under normal conditions to fully decompose.

Not all landfills are the same, as temperature and soil conditions vary by region. Therefore, the 1 to 5-year range depends on conditions, including humidity levels, temperature, and microorganisms.