bow • b31
biodegradable acetate
b31 is a biodegradable acetate. Cellulose acetate has overtaken the premium eyewear industry. The make up of acetate is already largely plant based, but conventional acetates usually have plasticisers which release toxic chemicals when they biodegrade. Biodegradable acetate uses bio-based plasticisers made from renewable sources and ensures that premium hand feel, look and quality.
composition & production
Acetate is produced by mixing cellulose polymers – plant fibre – with plasticisers. b31 sources cellulose responsibly and uses the lowest ratio of plasticisers to cellulose that we could find on the market. bio-acetates can be contaminated during production as machines and tools are often used for normal acetates.
Responsible processing requires significant and ongoing cleaning of facilities or separate production lines, storage and management of bio-acetates, to ensure end-product can pass all testing. bow offers production processes that handle acetate without risk of phthalate contamination.
The production process does not differ significantly from regular acetate production in terms of environmental
impact.
benefits
Reduced BPA presence in material
Biodegradable (biodegrades after 115 days as outlined in accreditations below)
Medium product wastage throughout the process
to note
Limitations against complex patterns
Only for handmade eyewear
certifications
International standard ISO 14855 (2005) and European Standard EN 13433 (2000); certified by OWS Organic Waste System, Università degli studi di Trento Dipartimento di Ingegneria dei Materiali e Tecnologie Industriali and Proplast Plastics Innovation Pole.
Raw materials FSC certified.
