Whether you’re considering switching your grocery bags, shopping bags, or trash bags, biodegradable plastic bags are a great alternative to regular plastic bags, in that they do not harm the environment during their whole life-cycle. As they are made from 100% natural materials, they leave no residue behind, and compost perfectly with organic trash, such as leaves, food, liquids, etc. Their main advantage – apart from not harming the Earth in their manufacturing, use, and disposal – is that they allow consumers to carry on with their regular shopping habits, or kitchen, yard, and compost disposal habits.
Biodegradable plastic bags do not harm wildlife nor marine-wildlife, since they biodegrade in water and if swallowed by animals, are digested quickly as they disintegrate. Since they are made from natural materials they go back to nature, just like any fruit or leaf would.
How To Make Sure Your Bags Are Biodegradable
1. Check the vendor’s claims about the biodegradable plastic bags. If the bags contain plastic (or technically called Polyethylene), these are not biodegradable bags
2. Check if the vendor has certification for the material. The only acceptable certification should be ASTM D6400 and/or DIN EN13432.
Biodegradable Plastic Bags vs. Paper Bags
Paper bags are environmentally problematic. They are heavier than plastic bags, and therefore require more trucks for transport, they need more energy to produce, and require a larger amount of energy to recycle. Also, paper manufacturers deplete significantly more CO2 than plastic manufacturers. The fact that they are made of trees is also an issue, but it is also what makes paper biodegradable.
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| biodegradable polythene bag |
On the other hand, biodegradable plastic bags require less energy to produce, are lighter and take less energy to transport. Also, they do not deplete CO2 into the environment during their manufacturing, and are made from all natural materials.
Biodegradable Plastic is still at nascent stage in India, but will surely come up as Environmental issues will rise.
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