The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa is now able to test and verify locally manufactured and imported products, including plastics, that are labelled biodegradable.
Infrastructure News reports that the new testing laboratory, worth ZAR5 million, will be able to determine the conditions and timeframes for the biodegradation of materials. It can carry out the tests in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Speaking at the handover of the equipment from the Japanese government, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Barbara Creecy said the new research equipment would boost South Africa’s capacity to test bioplastics and verify them.
‘The services that will be offered through this facility will broaden transparency and ensure that product claims can be tested in accordance with environmental labelling standards,’ she said.
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