Biodegradable plastics are made from all-natural plant materials but they aren&#;t all created equal. Cue the confusion and why our clients and visitors to the site are bombarding us with questions surrounding biodegradable plastic.
Is it the right solution for my packaging moving forward? What solutions can you offer? Why can&#;t I just switch to a biodegradable plastic film now?
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from HuaWei.
There&#;s a lot to cover, so let&#;s get straight to it! Here&#;s seven myths we&#;re debunking about biodegradable plastic&#;
1. Biodegradable materials are all plant based and environmentally friendly
This isn&#;t always the case. Biodegradable plastics can be made from naturally based materials such as corn starch Polylactic Acid (PLA). However, some are produced using petrochemicals containing biodegradable additives that enhance biodegradation.
2. Biodegradable plastics have the ability to break down quickly and decompose over time
The definition of biodegradation is the disintegration of materials by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or other biological means. However, when it comes to packaging materials, there is no set definition of &#;biodegradability.&#;
Some biodegradable materials don&#;t biodegrade and others require extremely specific conditions. Even then, bioplastics made with petrochemicals can leave behind toxins and small plastic residue that contaminates the soil and makes it unsuitable for composting.
3. We&#;re looking at biodegradable plastics because we want our customers to be able to compost their packaging at home
There needs to be scientific evidence to support the fact that packaging can biodegrade over time in the type of conditions typically found in a home composter.
If a material is truly biodegradable, the packaging may have a number of certifications. In the UK, there are several certifications that let customers know they are suitable for industrial composting or composting at home. You might want to read some more information on the different types of compostable certifications over on our blog here.
4. Plastic is hardly ever recycled or disposed of responsibly but biodegradable plastic can be disposed of responsibly
In theory, yes. However, the majority of biodegradable plastics available on the market today are only certified to decompose in &#;industrial facilities.&#; Sounds great, but consumers soon encounter problems attempting to locate their nearest industrial composting facility. Curbside collection arranged by local authorities won&#;t be around any time soon either.
Many consumers may also place the biodegradable plastic into the plastic recycling bin. This not only contaminates the plastic waste stream, but it can also undermine and distract from the efforts to improve plastic recycling infrastructure.
Failing both of the above, the material may still end up in the usual landfill sites, making the whole process a waste of time, money and resources.
5. At least when it makes its way to a landfill, it will biodegrade faster than plastic
Firstly, there have never really been any conclusive tests that tell us for a fact, how long plastic takes to completely break down. What we do know is that nothing degrades in a landfill, and even if biodegradable plastics did manage to break down somewhat they would release methane, a greenhouse gas more damaging to the environment than CO2.
6. Biodegradable plastics are great because they come from renewable sources
Say we did abolish PET oil-based films and replaced all plastics with bio-plastics such as corn starch PLA films. Would we simply be replacing one unsustainable source with another? With 795 million people in the world without enough food to lead a healthy active life, doesn&#;t it suggest a moral issue with the idea of growing crops for packaging and not for people?
7. Switching to biodegradable plastics shouldn&#;t affect my shelf life
Well, this is where biodegradable plastics become the biggest paradox for food packaging. You want a material to degrade over time but you also want to keep your produce as fresh as possible for the longest period of time?
On paper, PLA films have approximately six months shelf life, from production. That&#;s before the finished packaging is manufactured, packed, shipped, sold and then consumed. For dry products with short sales windows, Paper/PLA combinations are a great combination. For longer shelf life and exporting, biodegradable plastics are just not a feasible solution.
This month we launched our Sustainability series, outlining our commitment to sustainability as well as providing a free eBook for all our followers on the &#;Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Packaging&#;.
If you&#;re looking for more information on biodegradable packaging and feasible solutions for your packaging today, then we suggest you grab a coffee and settle in with our eBook.
You may have heard more about biodegradable materials in the past few years, and how we should all be looking to reduce our use of traditional plastics and instead seek to use biodegradable materials when possible. But, what exactly does biodegradable mean? What are the benefits of biodegradable bags? Should your business switch to biodegradable bags? This article explains everything about biodegradable bags and their advantages for the environment.
What Does Biodegradable Mean?
The strict definition of a biodegradable material according to the Cambridge Dictionary is a substance or object that is &#;able to decay naturally and in a way that is not harmful.&#;
In other words, if something is biodegradable, then eventually it will break down into smaller pieces by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi.
It can be a little confusing though since there is no time limit on how long it must take before a biodegradable material needs to break down by. That is the main difference between compostable and biodegradable plastics. And an important consideration to take into account when choosing biodegradable bags for your business.
Find out more about the differences between biodegradable, compostable and recyclable materials.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit biodegradable plastic film manufacturer.
Polystar Compostable Bags
Through continued research, development, and field trials, Polystar is proud to be one of the key independent specialist UK manufacturers able to produce this product which is a 100% compostable material made from a blend of co-polyester and PLA (sugar cane).
Our fully biodegradable, compostable bags and film are 100% compostable, as well as this Polystar&#;s biodegradable bags&#; key features, include the following:
What are the advantages of biodegradable bags?
As you can see, there is no compromise in quality when it comes to using biodegradable bags, but what further advantages are there? There are multiple benefits to choosing biodegradable bags, here we&#;ve created a list of the top seven reasons why you should choose biodegradable packaging products for your business.
1. Reduction In Carbon Emissions
Polystar&#;s unique biodegradable material is made from PLA bioplastic. As this is plant-based, the manufacturing process produces far fewer carbon emissions than traditional plastic. While traditional plastic releases four tons of emissions, biodegradable plastics emit only 0.8 tons of carbon &#; a 500% reduction!
2. Waste Reduction
Currently, the UK generates over 30 million tonnes of household waste every year, approximately 35% of which is garden and kitchen waste. As biodegradable plastics break down over time, this means there is a large reduction in the volume of waste being created which means less waste ending up in landfill. With less wastage taking up space in landfills, the outcome is less overall waste to manage. Saving land for other purposes and preserving the beauty of our planet.
3. Repurposing & Recycling
The oils that come from plants make bioplastics far superior materials compared to traditional plastic types. The oils make the surface of bioplastics more malleable and less brittle so that it&#;s easier to form new shapes and textures.
They are just as moldable as traditional plastics and can be turned into various appealing ways to suit your requirements. In addition to this, they can also be recycled and repurposed multiple times in their life cycle.
Compare this to some non-biodegradable plastics, they are not safe for repurposing because some materials can leak toxic, dangerous chemicals that may leak after the first use. Since biodegradable bags and packaging come from natural materials found in nature, there are no dangerous chemicals or toxins in these items.
4. Reduced Pollution
As biodegradable products break down naturally, they eventually decompose and are consumed by soil and other natural components. This natural process means no forced chemical reaction needs to take place to kickstart the process and less pollution will happen as a result.
Given that they take a lot less time to decompose than traditional plastics, they are easy to recycle, that&#;s too without releasing toxic elements.
5. Non-Toxic
Biodegradable bags are made from natural materials which means that they are safer for users.
Traditional plastics are made with harmful by-products and chemicals which are a threat to the environment and life as well. They are likely to emit these harmful substances during the breakdown process. What&#;s more, the plastic used for most standard water bottles, PET, can attract harmful bacteria or even leak chemicals.
But this is not a case with biodegradable plastic, further supporting the case for biodegradable plastics. They are safe and don&#;t release toxins during their breakdown process. They are absorbed by the soil.
6. Less Petroleum
Biodegradable plastics also minimises the use of petroleum supplies. Traditional plastic is manufactured by oil molecules being heated and treated to convert into polymers.
Nearly 2.7 per cent of a country&#;s petroleum is used in the traditional plastic manufacturing processes.
Biodegradable plastics, on the other hand, are made using natural materials such as sugar cane, corn, orange peels, starch, and plants. This process requires far less energy and usually does not involve the burning of fossil fuels.
Therefore, this means that the amount of biodegradable plastics that can be manufactured is much higher while simultaneously using far less energy. So, as well as using less precious resources, there is less pollution being produced. By reducing the production of traditional plastics and making more biodegradable plastics instead, we can reallocate oil resources to other causes like heating and transport.
7. Brand Friendly
Another benefit of biodegradable bags is the positive effect it can have for your brand. Major corporations such as Coca-Cola are using bioplastic products due to its sustainable reputation. Choosing greener options can have a positive impact on your brand alongside helping the environment.
Final words
So as demonstrated, there are many benefits of using biodegradable products. They are safe for the environment and their use should be encouraged. However, the need for plastic usage awareness and education regarding their repurposing is necessary as wise use can make a difference.
If you are interested in sourcing, greener packaging alternatives we&#;d love to hear from you. Please call us on or contact us online to take advantage of our free consultation service and see how much you could save.
For more information, please visit biobag dog poop bags.
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