PUBLIC DOCUMENT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BEFORE THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

COMMISSIONERS: Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman 

Julie Brill 

Maureen K. Ohlhausen 

Joshua D. Wright 

Terrell McSweeny

____________________________________

)

In the Matter of )

)

ECM BioFilms, Inc., ) Docket No. 9358

a corporation, also d/b/a )

Enviroplastics International ) PUBLIC

)

 )

COMPLAINT COUNSEL’S COMPILATION OF MATERIALS

TO FACILATE ORAL ARGUMENT PRESENTATION

Jessica L. Rich

Director

James Kohm

Associate Director

Frank Gorman

Assistant Director

Dated: May 7, 2015

Katherine Johnson

Elisa Jillson

Federal Trade Commission

Bureau of Consumer Protection

Division of Enforcement

600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., CC-9528

Washington, D.C. 20580

Telephone: (202) 326-2185; -3001

Facsimile: (202) 326-3259

Counsel Supporting the Complaint
PUBLIC DOCUMENT

Pursuant to the Commission’s April 14, 2015, Order Scheduling Oral Argument, 

Complaint Counsel submits the following electronic compilation of materials, which contains 

only public information that is already in the record of the proceeding. 

Dated: May 7, 2015 

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/ Katherine Johnson 

Katherine Johnson

Elisa Jillson

Federal Trade Commission

Bureau of Consumer Protection 

Division of Enforcement

600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., CC-9528 

Washington, D.C. 20580 

Telephone: (202) 326-2185; -3001 

Facsimile: (202) 326-3259 

Counsel Supporting the Complaint

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GENERIC PACKAGE

Survey/Question 1 Year or Less 5 Yea

APCO (CCX-860 at 53 (Appendix D))Q4: If a package is labeled “biodegradable,” what should be the maximum amount of time that it should take for that package to decompose?Google Consumer Surveys (CCX-860 at 27 (Appendix A))(1A) If a package is labeled “biodegradable,” how long will it take to decompose?(1B) If a package is labeled “biodegradable,” how long will it take to biodegrade?(1C) If a package is labeled “biodegradable,” how long will it take to degrade?(1D) How much time do you think it would take a biodegradable product to biodegrade?(1E) How much time would it take a biodegradable product to biodegrade?(1F) How much time would it take a biodegradable product to biodegrade in a landfill?(1G) If a package is labeled “biodegradable,” what should be the maximum amount of time that it should take for that package to decompose?(1H) If a package is labeled “biodegradable,” what would be the maximum amount of time that it would take for that package to decompose?

60% 65%53% 71%51% 70%53% 71%

47% 66%

50% 71%42% 70%

74%

60% 79%

89%

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PLASTIC PACKAGE

Survey/Question 1 Year or Less 5 Yea

Synovate (CCX-860 at 50 (Appendix C))

Q19: What do you believe is a reasonable amount of time for a “biodegradable” plasticpackage to decompose in a landfill?Google Consumer Surveys (CCX-860 at 30 (Appendix A))(3A) Suppose a plastic package is labeled biodegradable. How long do you think it will take to biodegrade?(3B) Suppose a plastic package is labeled biodegradable. How much time do you think it will take to biodegrade?(3C) If a plastic package is labeled “biodegradable,” how long will it take to decompose?

25% 45%

31% 56%

28% 47%

44% 64%

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CLOSED‐ENDED QUESTIONS VS. RESPONDENT’S 

Survey/Question Less Than 1 Year 1 to 5 Years 5 Ye

Close-ended (Generic Package)If a package is labeled “biodegradable,” what should be the maximum amount of time that take for that package to decompose?

APCO (Q4)Google Consumer Survey (1K)

Respondent’s Survey (No Product or Package Specified)If something is biodegradable, how long do you think it would take for it to decompose or de(Q4: RX-846 at 20-21)

Totals out of 206(Stewart Tr. 2788-2793)Totals out of 400

34% 31% 65%37% 17% 54%24% 34% 58%12% 18% 30%

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PUBLIC DOCUMENT

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

 I hereby certify that on May 7, 2015, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing to 

be served as follows:

One electronic copy, one copy through the FTC’s e-filing system, and twelve hard copies to the 

Office of the Secretary:

Donald S. Clark, Secretary

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room H-159 

Washington, DC 20580 

Email: secretary@ftc.gov

One electronic copy to the Office of the Administrative Law Judge:

The Honorable D. Michael Chappell 

Administrative Law Judge 

600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room H-110 

Washington, DC 20580 

One electronic copy to Counsel for the Respondent:

Jonathan W. Emord

Emord & Associates, P.C.

 11808 Wolf Run Lane 

 Clifton, VA 20124 

Email: jemord@emord.com 

Peter Arhangelsky

Emord & Associates, P.C.

3210 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 4

Chandler, AZ 85286 

Email: parhangelsky@emord.com 

Eric J. Awerbuch

Emord & Associates, P.C. 

3210 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 4 

Chandler, AZ 85286 

Email: eawerbuch@emord.com 

Bethany Kennedy

Emord & Associates, P.C. 

3210 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 4 

Chandler, AZ 85286 

Email: bkennedy@emord.com 

I further certify that I possess a paper copy of the signed original of the foregoing 

document that is available for review by the parties and the adjudicator.

Date: May 7, 2015 /s/ Katherine Johnson 

Katherine Johnson (kjohnson3@ftc.gov) 

Elisa Jillson (ejillson@ftc.gov)

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. CC-9528 

Washington, DC 20580 

Phone: 202-326-2185;-3001 

Fax: 202-326-3197