Plastic pollution is wreaking havoc on our planet, and single-use plastic bags are one of the most significant contributors – we’ve all seen the famous photo of a sea turtle swallowing a plastic bag. Unsurprisingly, many governments are banning plastic bags and other single-use plastic items. While we can all agree that there is a need to reduce plastic shopping bag consumption, there are some instances where lightweight, single-use bags are still required for hygienic reasons. Plus, lightweight compostable bags can be useful for collecting organic waste like food scraps in your kitchen caddy or dog and other animal poo – as these bags will decompose in a home composting environment. We offer some of the most sustainable eco friendly shopping bags on the market – a great swap for plastic bags!
‘Biodegradable plastic bags’ are usually plastic bags with a chemical additive that causes them to disintegrate into tiny pieces of microplastic! The terms 'biodegradable' and 'compostable' are not equivalent or interchangeable. 'Biodegradable' simply means something will be broken down by microbes over time, which is true for most materials on the planet. In contrast, 'compostable' means something will break down in a reasonable amount of time, leaving behind no toxic residue, and safely becoming an additive to soil. Compostable is the way forward!
Our bioplastic bag range includes checkout bags and compostable bin bags and provides an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags. They can easily stand in for grocery bags, garbage bags, kitchen bags, shopping bags, retail bags and any other type of plastic bag. And instead of persisting in the environment after their useful life, they can be home composted as part of the circular economy.
Our compostable packaging bags are made using Ecopond, a starch-based bioplastic that is certified industrially compostable to (AS4736) and home compostable (AS5810) to Australian standards. Unlike ‘biodegradable plastic bags’, these bags are made from plants, not oil, and do not break down into toxic residues. They are ideally suited as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bin liners and rubbish bags, where they do not create environmental waste. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits, using compostable bags reduces greenhouse gases, returns nutrients to the earth and improves soil quality, and can cost less than sending waste to landfill.
