With the increasing global environmental awareness, fully biodegradable bags are becoming a key solution to replace traditional plastic bags. These environmentally friendly bags can be completely decomposed by microorganisms under certain conditions and eventually return to nature, effectively alleviating the problem of plastic pollution.
Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biodegradable materials. It is a new type of bio-based and renewable biodegradable material. It uses renewable plant resources such as starch, corn, and cassava as raw materials, produces lactic acid through fermentation, and then undergoes polymerization. The production process of PLA is environmentally friendly and has low energy consumption. It can be completely degraded into carbon dioxide and water under composting conditions, which is harmless to the environment.
PLA has good transparency, glossiness and printability, and feels comfortable, similar to traditional plastics. Therefore, it is widely used in food packaging, shopping bags, agricultural films and other fields. Its mechanical properties are also relatively excellent, with certain tensile strength and tear strength, which can meet daily use needs. However, PLA has relatively poor heat resistance and may soften or deform under high temperature conditions, which limits its use in certain specific applications. In addition, the degradation of PLA requires a specific industrial composting environment, and the degradation rate is slow in the natural environment.
Polybutylene adipate/terephthalate (PBAT) is an aliphatic/aromatic copolyester and a thermoplastic biodegradable plastic. It is usually blended with other biodegradable materials such as PLA to improve the flexibility and processing performance of the product. PBAT has excellent flexibility, ductility and heat resistance. Compared with PLA, it has better toughness and is more tear-resistant, so it performs well in the manufacture of films, shopping bags, garbage bags and other products with high flexibility requirements.
The production of PBAT mainly relies on petrochemical raw materials, but it can be rapidly degraded under composting conditions. Its degradation products are mainly water, carbon dioxide and biomass, which are environmentally friendly. The excellent toughness of PBAT makes up for the lack of brittleness of PLA. The blending of the two can produce materials that are both biodegradable and have good mechanical properties. They are widely used in shopping bags, express bags, agricultural films and other fields.
Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is a thermoplastic polyester that also has good biodegradability. Unlike PLA and PBAT, PBS can be polymerized from bio-based succinic acid and butanediol to a certain extent, and its bio-based source is more likely. PBS is characterized by good processing performance, easy molding, good heat resistance and mechanical strength.
PBS can be decomposed under hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis, and finally degraded into water and carbon dioxide. It has a certain degradation ability in industrial composting and natural environment. PBS is usually used to make tableware, packaging materials, agricultural films and medical materials. Its heat resistance is worse than PLA, but its flexibility is not as good as PBAT. Therefore, it is often blended with other materials in practical applications to meet the performance requirements of different products.
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a class of natural high molecular weight polyesters synthesized by microorganisms through fermentation. It is one of the few polymers that can be completely synthesized by organisms and can be completely biodegraded in the natural environment. The production process of PHA is relatively complex and the cost is high, but its excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility make it have great potential in the field of environmental protection.
PHA has similar physical and chemical properties to traditional plastics, including good mechanical strength, barrier properties and heat resistance. Its degradation products are non-toxic and harmless to the environment, so it has attracted much attention in the fields of medicine, agriculture and packaging. Depending on the composition of the monomers, the properties of PHA are also varied. For example, PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) is harder and brittle, while PHBV (polyhydroxybutyrate valerate) is more flexible. Although the cost is currently high, with the advancement of technology, PHA is expected to become an important component of fully biodegradable bags in the future.
Starch-based materials are biodegradable materials prepared by modification, plasticization and other processes using natural starch as the main raw material. Starch is a renewable, degradable and widely available natural polymer with a relatively low production cost. Starch-based materials have good biodegradability and can be decomposed by microorganisms in soil and water.
Pure starch materials are usually brittle and have poor mechanical properties. Therefore, in practical applications, starch is often blended with other biodegradable polymers such as PLA and PBAT, or chemically modified to improve its strength, toughness and water resistance. These composite materials have advantages in the preparation of products such as shopping bags, garbage bags, and disposable tableware, and can significantly reduce the use of plastics. The performance of starch-based materials may be affected in humid environments, so their sensitivity to humidity needs to be considered in product design and application.
In the wave of the packaging industry's transformation to sustainable development, fully biodegradable bags are gradually replacing traditional polyethylene (PE) bags. This is not only an innovation in materials, but also a major adjustment in production processes.
Traditional PE bags mainly use polyethylene resins, such as LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and HDPE (high-density polyethylene). These materials have good melt fluidity, high thermal stability, are not easy to decompose during the film blowing process, and have a wide process window.
However, the raw materials of fully biodegradable bags mainly include PLA (polylactic acid), PBAT (polybutylene adipate/terephthalate), PBS (polybutylene succinate), PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) and starch-based materials. The properties of these biodegradable materials are significantly different from PE.
Thermosensitivity: Most biodegradable materials, especially PLA, are very sensitive to temperature. They are prone to thermal degradation at higher temperatures, resulting in molecular chain breakage, which affects the physical properties of the final product. This requires that the temperature control of the film blowing equipment must be more precise, and usually requires a lower processing temperature or a shorter residence time to avoid material degradation.
Melt viscosity: The melt viscosity of biodegradable materials is generally higher than that of PE. High viscosity will increase the difficulty of extrusion and place higher requirements on screw design, motor power and die pressure. Some biodegradable materials also have low melt strength and are prone to rupture during film blowing and stretching, requiring adjustment of the die gap and air ring cooling speed.
Hygroscopicity: Many biodegradable materials, especially PLA and starch-based materials, have strong hygroscopicity. The presence of moisture will accelerate the hydrolysis and degradation of the material at high temperatures, resulting in a decrease in product performance. Therefore, it is essential to fully dry the raw materials before film blowing, which usually needs to be carried out in dedicated dehumidification and drying equipment.
Traditional PE film blowing machines usually use a universal screw and die design to adapt to the good fluidity of PE materials.
For the production of fully biodegradable bags, blown film equipment needs to be optimized in a targeted manner:
Screw design: Specially designed screws, such as screws with lower shear force and lower compression ratio, are required to reduce the shear heat of the material during extrusion and avoid thermal degradation caused by excessive shearing. At the same time, the L/D (length-to-diameter ratio) of the screw may also need to be adjusted to ensure that the material is fully plasticized at a lower temperature.
Die: The die flow channel design needs to be more reasonable to ensure the uniform flow of the molten material, reduce dead corners and residence time, and thus avoid local overheating and degradation. The die gap usually needs to be smaller to adapt to the lower melt strength of biodegradable materials and ensure the molding stability of the film.
Cooling system: The cooling speed of fully biodegradable bags usually needs to be faster to quickly solidify the film and prevent the film from being overstretched in the hot state, causing rupture or deformation. Therefore, the air ring cooling system and the internal cooling system need to be more efficient, and the control of air volume and air pressure is also more refined.
The process parameter control of traditional PE blown film is relatively flexible. The film blowing process of fully biodegradable bags requires higher precision control of parameters:
Temperature control: The temperature setting of each section must be strictly controlled within the processing window allowed by the material, which is usually lower than the processing temperature of PE. In particular, the temperature of the die and the connecting section should not be too high to prevent the material from degrading at the outlet.
Blowing ratio (BUR) and traction ratio (DR): The blowing ratio and traction ratio of fully biodegradable bags usually need to be optimized according to the material properties. Some biodegradable materials have low melt strength, and excessive blowing ratio or traction ratio may cause film rupture or uneven thickness. It is necessary to find the best combination of process parameters through experiments.
Bubble stability: Due to the differences in melt viscosity and strength of biodegradable materials, the stability of film blowing bubbles is a key challenge. It is necessary to adjust parameters such as air ring air volume, traction speed, and die temperature to ensure that the bubbles rise stably and form a uniform film.
Bubble cooling: According to the crystallization characteristics of different biodegradable materials, the cooling rate needs to be adjusted to control the crystallinity and transparency of the film. For example, too fast cooling rate of PLA film may lead to decreased transparency.
Traditional PE bag production does not require high environmental humidity. However, the production of fully biodegradable bags requires special attention to environmental humidity:
Humidity control: Due to the hygroscopicity of biodegradable materials, the production workshop needs to maintain a low humidity to prevent the material from absorbing moisture in the air during processing. Equipped with dehumidification equipment is a common solution.
Scrap recycling: Traditional PE scraps can be easily recycled and reused. The recycling of scraps of fully biodegradable materials is more complicated. It is necessary to ensure the purity and dryness of the recycled materials to avoid mixing with other impurities or moisture, which will affect the performance of the recycled materials. Some recycled materials of biodegradable materials may need to undergo specific treatment before they can be put back into use.
Compared with traditional PE bags, these differences in the production process of fully biodegradable bags are the embodiment of their environmental protection and high performance:
Environmentally friendly: Strict control of process parameters ensures that the biodegradable materials maintain the integrity of their molecular structure during the production process, thereby ensuring that the products can eventually be decomposed by microorganisms after use, return to nature, and effectively reduce white pollution.
Stable product performance: Refined process control and equipment optimization enable the production of fully biodegradable bags that meet or even exceed some of the performance of traditional PE bags in terms of tensile strength, toughness, printability, etc., ensuring the practicality of the product.
In the field of modern packaging, the mechanical strength of bags is a key indicator to measure their performance. It is directly related to whether the bag can effectively protect the contents during transportation, storage and use, as well as its durability and reliability. With the strengthening of environmental protection trends, fully biodegradable bags are gradually replacing traditional plastic bags.
Tensile strength refers to the maximum stress that a material can withstand during stretching, while elongation at break indicates the percentage increase in the length of the material when it breaks. These two indicators together reflect the stiffness and toughness of the material.
Traditional polyethylene (PE) plastic bags, especially high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bags, usually have high tensile strength, which means that they can withstand large tensile forces without being easily deformed or broken. At the same time, LDPE (low-density polyethylene) bags are known for their excellent elongation at break, showing excellent flexibility and puncture resistance.
For fully biodegradable bags, the mechanical properties vary depending on the raw materials and formulations used:
PLA (polylactic acid)-based materials generally have high tensile strength and rigidity, but their elongation at break is relatively low, which means that PLA films can be brittle and less tear-resistant than PE. This can be a challenge in some applications that require high toughness.
PBAT (polybutylene adipate/terephthalate) is known for its excellent toughness and elongation at break, and its flexibility is close to or even better than LDPE. Therefore, PBAT is often used to produce degradable bags that require high flexibility and tear resistance, such as garbage bags and shopping bags.
When PLA and PBAT are blended, complementary properties can be achieved. Through precise proportions, fully biodegradable bags with good tensile strength and sufficient toughness can be produced to meet daily use needs in terms of load-bearing and puncture resistance.
The tensile strength and elongation at break of starch-based composites vary greatly, depending on the degree of starch modification and the blending ratio with other biodegradable polymers. By optimizing the formulation and process, its mechanical properties can be significantly improved.
PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) has diverse properties, and some types of PHA (such as PHBV) can show flexibility and strength comparable to traditional plastics, but their cost is currently high.
Punch resistance refers to the ability of a material to resist penetration by sharp objects, while tear resistance refers to the ability of a material to resist crack propagation. These indicators are critical for the practical application of packaging bags, especially during transportation and storage.
Traditional PE bags excel in this regard. HDPE bags have good puncture resistance due to their high density and structural stability; LDPE bags are not easy to tear when subjected to external forces due to their high flexibility.
For fully biodegradable bags:
Due to their inherent brittleness, PLA-based materials may have relatively weak puncture and tear resistance without modification. Cracks are easy to propagate when there is a cut on the edge of the bag or when it is impacted by a sharp object.
PBAT is a key material for improving the puncture and tear resistance of fully biodegradable bags. Its excellent flexibility enables it to effectively disperse stress when punctured or torn, thereby preventing cracks from rapidly propagating. Therefore, many high-performance fully biodegradable shopping bags and garbage bags contain a high proportion of PBAT.
Through multi-layer co-extrusion technology, biodegradable materials with different mechanical properties (such as PLA and PBAT) are compounded together to significantly improve the comprehensive puncture and tear resistance of fully biodegradable bags. This composite structure can better resist external impact and scratches of internal items.
Load-bearing capacity is an intuitive indicator of the actual application performance of the bag, while durability involves the ability of the bag to maintain its structural integrity and function during its normal service life.
Traditional plastic bags have shown good load-bearing capacity and long-term durability in various environments due to their excellent mechanical properties and chemical stability, but this is also the reason why they are difficult to degrade naturally.
Fully biodegradable bags have been optimized in this regard to meet the load-bearing and durability requirements of daily use while achieving environmental protection goals:
Through scientific material formula design and advanced film blowing technology, many fully biodegradable bags have been able to reach or even exceed the load-bearing capacity of traditional plastic bags of the same thickness, meeting daily needs such as supermarket shopping and garbage collection.
For example, fully biodegradable bags containing a high proportion of PBAT have excellent load-bearing performance and resistance to rupture.
However, it should be noted that the durability of fully biodegradable bags refers to their durability under specific conditions of use, such as normal storage, transportation, and short-term use. Once they enter their designed degradation environment (such as industrial compost, soil, or water), they will begin to gradually decompose. This means that they are not suitable for long-term storage or long-term use in extremely harsh environments, which is in sharp contrast to the "never degradable" characteristics of traditional plastic bags.
This "limited durability" is precisely the environmental advantage of fully biodegradable bags - they can return to nature after completing their service life, rather than existing as persistent pollutants.
Early fully biodegradable bags did have some limitations in terms of mechanical strength. For example, the brittleness of pure PLA bags, or the poor moisture resistance of starch-based bags. However, with the continuous advancement of materials science and processing technology, these challenges are being overcome:
Development of new materials: New biodegradable polymers are constantly being developed, which are optimized in molecular structure to provide better toughness, strength and heat resistance.
Blending modification: By precisely blending different types of biodegradable materials, synergistic enhancement of performance can be achieved. For example, the combination of brittle PLA and tough PBAT can produce materials with excellent comprehensive performance.
Composite structure design: The use of multi-layer structure, fiber reinforcement and other technologies can further improve the mechanical properties of fully biodegradable bags, allowing them to be used in a wider range of fields.
Processing technology optimization: Continuous improvements in the film blowing process, including the design of the screw and die head, temperature control, cooling system, etc., can effectively improve the uniformity and mechanical properties of the film.
Humidity is one of the most critical environmental factors affecting the performance and life of biodegradable bags. Most biodegradable materials, especially PLA (polylactic acid) and starch-based materials, have a certain degree of hygroscopicity. The presence of moisture will significantly accelerate the degradation process of the material, even at room temperature.
Hydrolysis reaction: The degradation mechanism of biodegradable polymers usually involves hydrolysis. When the material absorbs moisture, water molecules will penetrate into the polymer chain. Under the appropriate temperature and microbial action, water molecules will attack the ester or glycosidic bonds of the polymer, causing the molecular chain to break, thereby accelerating the decomposition of the material.
Performance degradation: Excessive humidity will cause the biodegradable bag to hydrolyze and degrade prematurely during storage, which is manifested as a decrease in material strength, poor flexibility, and even brittleness and powdering. This will significantly shorten the effective service life of the bag, making it unable to achieve the expected load-bearing and anti-rupture capabilities in actual use.
Mold growth: A humid environment is also very prone to the growth of mold and other microorganisms. Although these microorganisms will eventually help the bag degrade, early growth during the storage stage will affect the appearance, hygiene and physical properties of the bag.
Therefore, keeping humidity low is the top priority when storing biodegradable bags. It is generally recommended to store in an environment with a relative humidity of less than 50% and avoid direct contact with water sources or high humidity areas.
Temperature has an equally huge impact on the performance of biodegradable bags. Similar to humidity, high temperature accelerates the molecular motion of biodegradable materials, thereby accelerating the rate of degradation reactions.
Synergy between thermal degradation and hydrolysis: Even without high humidity, high temperature itself will promote thermal degradation of certain biodegradable materials. When high temperature and high humidity exist at the same time, the rate of hydrolytic degradation will increase exponentially, causing irreversible damage to the structure of the material.
Performance degradation: Long-term exposure to high temperature will significantly reduce the mechanical properties of biodegradable bags, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and puncture resistance. The bag may become sticky, soften or lose elasticity, seriously affecting its use function.
Storage recommendations: The ideal storage temperature should be below 30°C and avoid direct sunlight. Ultraviolet rays in sunlight can also accelerate the aging and degradation of some biodegradable materials.
Light, especially ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is another storage environment factor that cannot be ignored. Although the intensity of UV rays in many indoor environments is not high, long-term exposure to direct sunlight can have a significant impact on biodegradable bags.
Photo-oxidative degradation: UV rays have high energy and can trigger photo-oxidative reactions of polymer molecular chains, resulting in the breaking of molecular bonds and accelerating the aging and degradation of materials. This degradation is usually manifested as color changes (such as yellowing), embrittlement and reduced strength of the material.
Impact on transparency: For transparent biodegradable bags, UV exposure may also cause their transparency to decrease, and fogging or turbidity to appear.
Protective measures: Avoid direct exposure of biodegradable bags to sunlight during storage, and it is best to store them in a cool, dark warehouse. If the packaging itself does not have sufficient UV resistance, it may be necessary to use opaque outer packaging for protection.
In addition to macro environmental factors, the conditions of the storage space itself and the packaging method of the bag will also affect its performance.
Ventilation: Good ventilation helps maintain a constant temperature and humidity in the storage space and avoid local hot spots or moisture accumulation.
Stacking: Avoid excessive stacking of biodegradable bags during storage, especially in high temperature environments. Excessive stacking may cause increased pressure between bags, affect air circulation, and may cause local heat accumulation, accelerating degradation.
Original packaging: Manufacturers usually use moisture-proof and light-proof packaging materials to protect biodegradable bags. During storage and transportation, try to keep the bags in their original packaging until they are needed to minimize contact with the outside environment.
First, we need to clarify the definition of "complete degradation". For fully biodegradable bags, complete degradation means that under certain environmental conditions, the material can be decomposed by microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi and algae), and eventually converted into carbon dioxide, water, methane (under anaerobic conditions) and harmless biomass. This process usually follows international standards, such as EN 13432 (Europe), ASTM D6400 (USA) and ISO 17088 (International), which usually require that more than 90% of the organic matter in the material be converted into carbon dioxide within a specific time (such as 180 days) under industrial composting conditions.
However, these standards are mainly aimed at industrial composting environments, which are accelerated degradation environments where temperature, humidity and microbial activity are strictly controlled and optimized. The conditions of the natural environment are more complex and variable.
The time required for biodegradable bags to completely degrade in the natural environment is affected by a combination of complex factors, including:
Fully biodegradable bags are not made of a single material, but are blended from a variety of biodegradable polymers (such as PLA, PBAT, PBS, PHA, starch-based materials, etc.) and their additives. The chemical structure, molecular weight and crystallinity of different materials have a decisive influence on the degradation rate.
PLA (polylactic acid): PLA is a polyester that will hydrolyze in a humid and moderately warm environment, but it degrades relatively slowly in ordinary soil and marine environments, requiring higher temperatures and humidity to accelerate decomposition. Under industrial composting conditions, PLA can usually be degraded within a few months.
PBAT (polybutylene adipate/terephthalate): PBAT is an aliphatic/aromatic copolyester with excellent flexibility and can be degraded by microorganisms relatively quickly in various natural environments (including soil and water bodies). Its degradation products are non-toxic and harmless.
Starch-based materials: Starch itself is easily decomposed by microorganisms. However, pure starch materials have poor physical properties and usually need to be blended with other biodegradable polymers. The higher the starch content, the faster the degradation rate.
PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate): PHA is a natural polymer synthesized by microorganisms and is considered one of the "ultimate" biodegradable materials because it can be completely degraded by a variety of microorganisms in various natural environments (soil, fresh water, seawater) and the degradation rate is relatively fast.
Our products optimize the material formula and accurately control the proportion of various biodegradable materials to ensure that while maintaining excellent physical properties, it maximizes its degradability in natural environments.
The complexity and variability of the natural environment are the core factors affecting the degradation time.
Temperature: Temperature is a key factor affecting microbial activity. In a warm environment, the metabolism of microorganisms is accelerated, thereby accelerating the decomposition of biodegradable materials. For example, in the soil of tropical areas, the degradation rate of biodegradable bags will be significantly faster than that of cold areas.
Humidity: Moisture is a necessary condition for microbial growth and hydrolysis reactions. A high humidity environment is conducive to the reproduction and enzyme activity of microorganisms. Dry environments significantly slow down or even halt the degradation process. This is why biodegradable products degrade slowly in extremely dry areas such as deserts.
Microbial activity: The types and numbers of microorganisms in soil and water directly determine the efficiency of degradation. Active soils rich in microorganisms (such as farmland and forest floors) will degrade biodegradable bags faster than poor soils with few microorganisms. Degradation in anoxic environments (such as deep in landfills) is usually slower than in aerobic environments.
Therefore, when a biodegradable bag is casually discarded on the roadside, buried in dry soil, or floating in the deep sea lacking microorganisms, its degradation time will be significantly longer than in an ideal composting environment.
The specific medium in which the biodegradable bag is located has a huge impact on its degradation time.
Industrial composting environment: As mentioned earlier, industrial composting plants provide an ideal degradation environment - high temperature (usually 50-70°C), high humidity, sufficient oxygen, and a rich microbial community. Under such controlled conditions, biodegradable bags that meet international standards can usually be completely decomposed and converted into compost within 3-6 months. This is the main goal of biodegradable bag design degradation.
Soil environment: In ordinary soil, the degradation rate varies according to soil type, fertility, moisture content and temperature. In soils rich in organic matter, moderate humidity and high temperature, the degradation rate is faster, and it may take 1-3 years or even longer to completely degrade. In poor, dry or cold soils, degradation may take longer.
Freshwater environment: In freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes, the degradation rate is affected by water temperature, dissolved oxygen content, and the number of microorganisms in the water. Generally, its degradation rate is between industrial compost and ordinary soil, but the specific time also varies depending on conditions.
Marine environment: The marine environment is characterized by lower temperatures, different types of microorganisms and lower concentrations, and possible anoxic environments in some areas. Although there are standards for marine biodegradable plastics (such as ASTM D6691), the degradation rate of most biodegradable materials in the ocean is still much slower than on land and industrial composting environments, which may take years or even decades.
The thickness of the bag directly affects the surface area of the material that microorganisms can contact. Thinner biodegradable bags usually degrade faster than thicker bags because microorganisms can more easily contact and decompose the material. A large surface area also means more contact points, which is conducive to the attachment and decomposition of microorganisms.
With the increasing global attention to plastic pollution, especially microplastics, people have questions about fully biodegradable bags: Can they really be completely degraded? Will they eventually become microplastics and become a new environmental hazard?
To understand how fully biodegradable bags can avoid the problem of microplastics, we must first clarify the causes of traditional plastic microplastics. Traditional plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), have stable chemical structures and are difficult to be decomposed by microorganisms in the natural environment. Under the physical effects of sunlight, wind, waves, etc., they will gradually break into smaller and smaller fragments, eventually forming microplastics with a diameter of less than 5 mm, or even nanoplastics.
Once these microplastics enter the environment, they will exist for a long time. They are mistakenly eaten by marine organisms and enter the food chain, which may eventually affect human health; they accumulate in the soil and change the soil structure and function; they are blown away by the wind and are everywhere. This "only broken but not destroyed" characteristic of traditional plastics is the root cause of the global microplastic crisis.
Different from traditional plastics in nature, the core advantage of fully biodegradable bags lies in their design concept of "returning to nature". Its degradation mechanism is not a simple physical breakage, but involves a complex biochemical process.
Microbial participation: The main raw materials of fully biodegradable bags, such as PLA (polylactic acid), PBAT (polybutylene adipate/terephthalate), PBS (polybutylene succinate), PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) and starch-based materials, can be recognized and decomposed by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) in a specific environment (temperature, humidity, oxygen and microorganisms).
Enzymatic reaction: Microorganisms secrete corresponding enzymes that can attack the molecular chains of polymers, hydrolyze or oxidize them, and decompose them into smaller molecular fragments.
Final product: After a series of enzymatic reactions and microbial metabolism, these small molecular fragments are finally fully utilized by microorganisms and converted into carbon dioxide, water, harmless biomass (such as humus) and methane that may be produced under anaerobic conditions. This process does not produce any toxic residues, nor does it leave plastic fragments that cannot be further degraded.
Fully biodegradable bags that meet international biodegradation standards (such as EN 13432, ASTM D6400, ISO 17088) clearly require that under industrial composting conditions, more than 90% of organic carbon can be converted into carbon dioxide within 180 days. This is the scientific definition of "complete degradation", which means that there will be no residual microplastics in the end.
Concerns about whether biodegradable bags will produce microplastics due to incomplete degradation usually come from the following aspects:
Confusion about the definition of "degradable plastics": There are some vague concepts of **"degradable plastics"** on the market, such as "photodegradable plastics" or "oxo-degradable plastics". Although these plastics will break into small pieces under sunlight or oxidation, they are still traditional plastics in essence and cannot be completely degraded by microorganisms. They will eventually form microplastics and may even accelerate the production of microplastics. Our products are strictly "fully biodegradable bags" and never contain such additives that produce microplastics.
Differences in degradation environments: As mentioned above, fully biodegradable bags require specific environmental conditions for complete degradation. In industrial composting plants, they can decompose efficiently and completely. If they are randomly discarded in a natural environment lacking microorganisms and with unsuitable temperature and humidity, their degradation rate will slow down, but they can still be decomposed by nature in the end, but the time required will be longer. Importantly, even during the degradation process, they will not exist in the form of microplastics for a long time like traditional plastics, but will continue to be decomposed by microorganisms until they disappear.
The importance of product certification: Consumers can identify true fully biodegradable products by checking whether the product has obtained biodegradation and composting certification from an authoritative organization. These certification standards are strict and ensure that the product can be completely decomposed within the specified time without leaving harmful residues or microplastics.
From design to production, our fully biodegradable bags are committed to completely solving the problem of microplastics:
Selecting truly biodegradable raw materials: We strictly select biodegradable polymers that meet international standards. The molecular structure of these materials is naturally suitable for microbial decomposition, eliminating the possibility of microplastics from the source.
Formula optimization ensures complete decomposition: Our product formula has been repeatedly tested and optimized to ensure that all ingredients can be completely degraded by microorganisms in the appropriate environment, leaving no indegradable fragments or particles.
Compliance with international certification standards: Our products have passed the biodegradation and composting certification of international authorities, which is a strong proof that they can be completely decomposed and do not produce microplastics. These certifications require that the decomposition products of the products are harmless to the environment and organisms under industrial composting conditions, and that organic matter is ultimately converted into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
Promote correct disposal: We actively advocate and educate users to properly sort fully biodegradable bags and put them into organic waste recycling or industrial composting facilities. This is the best way to ensure their complete degradation, maximize environmental benefits, and avoid any potential microplastic problems.
Retail and supermarkets are the most direct and widespread application areas of fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags. Globally, many countries and regions have issued "plastic bans" to prohibit or restrict the use of disposable traditional plastic shopping bags. This provides a huge market space for fully biodegradable bags.
Shopping bags: From large supermarket chains to small convenience stores, fully biodegradable shopping bags are gradually replacing traditional PE shopping bags. While providing sufficient load-bearing capacity and convenience, these bags ensure that consumers can dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way after use, effectively reducing white pollution. Its good printability also allows brands to clearly demonstrate their environmental commitment.
Bulk commodity packaging: In addition to shopping bags, some supermarkets have also begun to try to use fully biodegradable materials for pre-packaging or weighing bags for bulk foods (such as vegetables, fruits, and bread) to further reduce the use of plastics.
Brand image enhancement: For retailers, the use of fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags is not only compliance with regulations, but also an important measure to enhance the brand's environmental image and attract consumers who focus on sustainable development.
The rapid development of the catering takeaway industry has brought about a huge demand for disposable packaging, and has also generated a large amount of plastic waste. The application of fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags in this field provides an effective way to solve this pain point.
Takeaway packaging bags: Traditional takeaway packaging bags are mostly made of PE material and are used in large quantities. Fully biodegradable takeaway packaging bags can meet the load-bearing requirements, while ensuring that they can enter the kitchen waste treatment system or industrial composting after use, reducing the long-term impact on the environment.
Disposable tableware packaging bags: Plastic tableware and paper towels that come with meals usually also require a small packaging bag. Using fully biodegradable materials to make these small bags can further improve the environmental protection chain of the catering industry.
Food packaging lining bags: Some degradable lunch boxes or packaging may also use fully biodegradable films as linings to increase their oil and water resistance while maintaining overall degradability.
Garbage classification is an important part of urban management and environmental protection. Fully biodegradable garbage bags play an irreplaceable role in this field, especially in the collection and treatment of kitchen waste.
Kitchen waste bags: Kitchen waste is rich in organic matter and is an ideal compost raw material. With fully biodegradable kitchen waste bags, the bags can be directly put into industrial composting facilities together with the bags. The bags will decompose together with the kitchen waste, avoiding the trouble of separating traditional plastic bags, greatly improving the efficiency and quality of kitchen waste treatment. This is crucial for promoting the classification and resource utilization of kitchen waste.
Ordinary garbage bags: In some areas, ordinary household garbage bags have also begun to promote the use of fully biodegradable materials in order to reduce microplastics and harmful substances generated in landfills and incineration processes.
Medical garbage bags: Although the application is relatively small, some medical institutions may also explore the use of specially designed and certified fully biodegradable medical garbage bags for environmental protection and special treatment needs.
Traditional plastic products such as mulch films and seedling bags used in large quantities in agricultural production are difficult to decompose in the soil, causing serious "white pollution" and affecting soil health and crop growth. The application of fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags in this field is an effective solution to agricultural non-point source pollution.
Agricultural covering film (ground film): After completing the functions of moisture conservation, temperature increase, and weed suppression, the fully biodegradable ground film can be directly decomposed by microorganisms in the soil without manual recycling, which greatly reduces the labor intensity of farmers and avoids the damage to the ecological environment caused by plastic residues in the soil.
Seedling bags and transplanting cups: Seedling bags or nutrient cups made of fully biodegradable materials can be directly transplanted with bags (cups). They will degrade naturally after entering the soil, without affecting the growth of plant roots, and reducing the recycling and disposal problems of traditional plastic seedling bags.
Fertilizer packaging bags: Some organic fertilizer packaging bags have also begun to use fully biodegradable materials, so that they can be degraded with fertilizers after fertilization.
The booming development of e-commerce has led to a surge in demand for express packaging, and traditional plastic express bags and fillers are the main sources of plastic consumption. The application of fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags in the field of express logistics is becoming a new direction for the green transformation of the industry.
Fully biodegradable courier bags: Courier bags made of fully biodegradable materials can meet basic functions such as moisture-proof and tear-resistant, while ensuring that the package can be environmentally friendly after delivery, effectively reducing the pressure of express waste on the environment.
Fillers and cushioning materials: In addition to the courier bags themselves, the fillers in the packages (such as bubble film and cushioning pads) can also be made of fully biodegradable materials to achieve the greening of the entire packaging.
Other emerging applications
In addition to the above-mentioned main areas, fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags are constantly expanding their application scope:
Pet supplies: Pet excrement bags, which are easy to handle and degradable.
Hotel supplies: Packaging bags for disposable toiletries, laundry bags, etc.
Industrial packaging: Liner bags or small packaging bags for some industrial products.
Our fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags have been successfully applied to the above-mentioned core areas with their excellent performance and strict environmental protection standards, and continue to be recognized by customers.
Multi-scenario applicability: Our products can be customized to produce fully biodegradable bags with different mechanical strength, flexibility, transparency and degradation characteristics according to the specific needs of different industries, meeting a wide range of application scenarios from retail to agriculture.
Strict environmental certification: All products meet or exceed mainstream biodegradation standards at home and abroad to ensure that they can truly achieve complete degradation after use, without producing microplastics or polluting the environment.
Help customers with green transformation: Choosing our fully biodegradable environmentally friendly bags can not only help customers meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations, but also significantly enhance the corporate social responsibility image, win the favor of consumers, and take the lead in the wave of sustainable development.
+86 18101032584
No. 60-1, Jichuan East Road, HailingIndustrial Park, Hailing District, Taizhou City.
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