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.
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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.
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.
The fashion industry uses a lot of traditional plastic. Microplastics have been found in Arctic snow. Plastic bags have been found in the Mariana Trench. It&#;s a big problem.
To tackle this issue, it&#;s good to know the benefits that the alternatives can provide.
Below you can explore seven important benefits that biodegradable plastics have to offer:
1. Biodegradable Plastics Produce Less Emissions
We consume over 100 million tonnes of plastic each year. In , the greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production was equivalent to nearly 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). That&#;s a lot of garment trims and fashion debris.
Biodegradable plastics offer a reduced rate of these emissions as they&#;re not made through the harmful extraction and refinement of petroleum.
For every ton of petroleum-based plastics produced, there&#;s up to three tons of CO2 that follows suit. With bio-polymers, this figure is reduced to 0.5 tons.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of biodegradable plastic film manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Finally, biodegradable plastics can actually help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As bio-polymers are derived from plants, this means it takes a lot of CO2 from the atmosphere for plant growth. This is known as a &#;carbon sink&#;.
2. Less Energy is Used in Their Production
With biodegradable plastics, we no longer need to go through the lengthy process of finding hydrocarbons (in the traditional case, crude oil). We no longer have to use expensive and devastating processes when it comes to extracting, transporting and refining.
This means we are consuming less energy in the production stage. More importantly, we are burning less fossil fuels.
If we add in the energy to clean and recycle plastics, biodegradable alternatives offer a less energy-intense route.
3. Biodegradable Plastics = Less Waste
It&#;s estimated there are over five trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans. Plastics also make up 13% of our current waste, which translates as roughly 32 million tons each year.
If current trends remain stable, there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by - especially as we use plastic in everything. Even our clothes. Think of the packaging and trims your garments comes with. All those small bits of plastic add up.
Depending on the method of breakdown, a piece of biodegradable plastic can either fully biodegrade or be reduced by a significant portion of size in 18 to 36 months. Traditional plastic can take up to 1,000 years to fully biodegrade, so this represents a huge improvement.
Brands are now beginning to look into eco-friendly business practices. There are many brands out there that practise them and create beautiful garments and accessories, such as Citizen Wolf, STORY mfg and GRAMMAR, amongst hundreds of others.
Tags, trims and labels are an important part of any brand. Finding ones that are made from recycled and eco-friendly material is a small change in your production, but makes a significant difference to your environmental impact.
Here at Weavabel, we&#;re branding specialists who continue to invest time and money in sustainable practices. We&#;ve developed a range of eco-friendly tickets, labels, tags and packaging that you can explore to get a feel for what less waste truly looks like.
4. Petroleum Will Eventually Run Out
In , 93 million barrels of oil were used everyday globally. That&#;s an incredible statistic. Petroleum is a finite source. There&#;s only a certain amount hidden under our feet and it won&#;t last forever.
Growing crops to create biodegradable plastics can theoretically last forever, if there is good farmland available.
Combine this with renewable energy use and you have a winning combination for environmentally friendly production.
5. Biodegradable Plastics Can Decompose Quickly
Under the right circumstances, bio-polymers can decompose fast. For things to break down properly, you need warmth and moisture so that natural processes can get to work.
If these conditions are met, some biodegradable plastics can breakdown within just a few weeks. You can even add some to your garden compost bin.
This means biodegradables won&#;t sit forever in landfills or clog up waterways. It&#;s a win-win situation.
6. Say Goodbye To Harmful Chemicals
Over the cycle of their decomposition, traditional plastics can release pollutants such as methane or bisphenol A (BPA), which can harm both the environment and human health.
This isn&#;t the only chemical present in types of plastic. We&#;re also talking phthalates such as BBP, DBP and DIBP. These have been classified as harmful to human health.
Bio-polymers don&#;t contain these chemicals and so when they biodegrade, our environment and our health aren&#;t affected.
7. Sustainable Business Practices are Popular
Biodegradable products are usually seen as a key part of sustainable business practices. Sustainability is the keyword on everyone&#;s lips. Organisations that have adopted sustainability practices, such as using biodegradable plastics, in their products are favoured by customers over organisations that don&#;t.
Including eco-friendly materials and biodegradable plastics in your products and packaging means you stand to gain the benefits from customers who resonate with your sustainability practices.
That being said, sustainability is more than a trend. It&#;s an idea backed by science and can help to change the world. The change towards sustainability is a change you need to action.
Say Yes to Sustainable Business Practices and Involve Them in Your Processes
If you&#;re looking to make your fashion brand more sustainable, issues like biodegradable versus traditional plastics can be important to consider.
To answer your questions, we&#;ve created a handy guide for brands that are wanting to make the transition to sustainable production methods. It has everything from how the world-leading fashion brands are reacting, and what the current customer trends are when it comes to looking for sustainable products.
Download your free useful guide today! Fill in the form to receive a FREE copy of the eBook and kick start your journey to becoming a sustainable brand.
MAKE FASHION SUSTAINABLE
Join brands such as MANGO, Zara, Stella McCartney and many more when it comes to sustainable fashion. The fashion industry has had a disastrous impact on the environment, and for many brands the time to change is now!
To help you start your journey to becoming an eco-friendly brand we've created a guide all about:
How to Make the Transition to an Eco-Friendly Manufacturing and Production Process
In the eBook you will learn:
What impact the fashion industry has had on the environment
How consumer trends in sustainability have evolved
What the world-leading fashion brands are doing right now
How production processes can be more eco-friendly
How to make the transition to becoming a more sustainable brand
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