The Concept of Degradable Bags
Degradable Bags were introduced into the market during a time when all nations showed concern on the pollution of the environment.
Most products in the market was made from the common plastics which did not break down, eventually taking landfill waste a great number of years to degrade.
Thus came in the introduction of these bags to help reduce our waste matter and create a better and safer environment to live in.
Degradation is a process where the larger objects are broken into smaller parts or even fragments.
In this process even tough plastics tend to become weak and brittle as a result of this degradation.
The process can be initiated either by heat or exposure to UV light and it is enhanced by a mechanical pressure.
The degradable bags are made from a material known as "Degradable Plastic" which is plastic designed to go through a significant change under specific environmental conditions.
They degrade as a result of a physical and chemical impact.
There are different types of degradable plastics: Starch Based: These degradable plastic products are based on a type of starch obtained from maize.
The products manufactured in this process will require an active microbial environment such as a landfill to degrade.
Some will totally degrade and the others will only perforate.
Aliphatic: This degradable plastic used aliphatic polyesters, which are quite expensive.
Just as in the first category, these products too rely on microbial activity in a landfill or compost to degrade.
Photo-degradable: These will degrade only when exposed to sunlight, and will not degrade in a landfill.
Oxo-bio-degradable: They degrade with a process of hydro-degradation.
One of the latest inventions produces plastic with degrades by a process called Oxo-degradation.
This process does not depend on microbes for degradation.
Degradation of this plastic speeds up when exposed to heat, light or stress and continues until the material has reduced to nothing.
Thus it does not leave any fragments in the soil.
Thus to summarise the above processes, Degradable Bags decompose due to a chemical additive to oxygen, light or heat and are ideal for a landfill.
Degradable bags are also known as "oxo-degradable" bags.
These bags will usually break down automatically, and it could range between 3-18 months or even longer, after manufacture.
So the question arises whether these products are eco-friendly? Overall they seem to be accepted and belong to a good concept.
They can be used like any other ordinary bag plastic bag and when the time is right, they decompose within a given time frame.
They are far better than the common plastic bag which takes decades to fully decompose.
However, there are many environmental organisations who yet argue that biodegradable plastic bags are yet not fit enough to save the planet.
All business companies are equally responsible for the protection of our environment; making a transition to degradable products will definitely show your concern for this effort.
Strongly consider selecting degradable products for your promotional event which will not only help make your brand known in the market, but will also create a good company image.
Most products in the market was made from the common plastics which did not break down, eventually taking landfill waste a great number of years to degrade.
Thus came in the introduction of these bags to help reduce our waste matter and create a better and safer environment to live in.
Degradation is a process where the larger objects are broken into smaller parts or even fragments.
In this process even tough plastics tend to become weak and brittle as a result of this degradation.
The process can be initiated either by heat or exposure to UV light and it is enhanced by a mechanical pressure.
The degradable bags are made from a material known as "Degradable Plastic" which is plastic designed to go through a significant change under specific environmental conditions.
They degrade as a result of a physical and chemical impact.
There are different types of degradable plastics: Starch Based: These degradable plastic products are based on a type of starch obtained from maize.
The products manufactured in this process will require an active microbial environment such as a landfill to degrade.
Some will totally degrade and the others will only perforate.
Aliphatic: This degradable plastic used aliphatic polyesters, which are quite expensive.
Just as in the first category, these products too rely on microbial activity in a landfill or compost to degrade.
Photo-degradable: These will degrade only when exposed to sunlight, and will not degrade in a landfill.
Oxo-bio-degradable: They degrade with a process of hydro-degradation.
One of the latest inventions produces plastic with degrades by a process called Oxo-degradation.
This process does not depend on microbes for degradation.
Degradation of this plastic speeds up when exposed to heat, light or stress and continues until the material has reduced to nothing.
Thus it does not leave any fragments in the soil.
Thus to summarise the above processes, Degradable Bags decompose due to a chemical additive to oxygen, light or heat and are ideal for a landfill.
Degradable bags are also known as "oxo-degradable" bags.
These bags will usually break down automatically, and it could range between 3-18 months or even longer, after manufacture.
So the question arises whether these products are eco-friendly? Overall they seem to be accepted and belong to a good concept.
They can be used like any other ordinary bag plastic bag and when the time is right, they decompose within a given time frame.
They are far better than the common plastic bag which takes decades to fully decompose.
However, there are many environmental organisations who yet argue that biodegradable plastic bags are yet not fit enough to save the planet.
All business companies are equally responsible for the protection of our environment; making a transition to degradable products will definitely show your concern for this effort.
Strongly consider selecting degradable products for your promotional event which will not only help make your brand known in the market, but will also create a good company image.
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