Understanding fully degradable plastic bags

According to reports, today, in the green environment.

More and more customers and consumers began to focus on the environmental protection of plastic bags.

Begin to understand the green degradation of plastic bags, so how to distinguish between "pseudo-degradation" and "full degradation"?

First, we need to know what pseudo-degradable plastic bags and fully degradable plastic bags are.

Pseudo-degradable plastic bags

It is in the plastic production process to add a certain amount of additives to make it less stable, easier to disintegrate in the natural environment, such as photodegradation, thermal oxidative degradation and other pseudo-degradable plastic bags.

Although this plastic products can disintegrate, but not completely degraded.

And this petroleum-based products by chemical reaction rather than microbial organic decomposition, so it does not completely decompose into organic matter.

Instead, it breaks down into tiny pieces that enter the environment, and these microplastics are ingested by animals into the food chain.

Eventually it can be returned to human society through the biosphere causing major problems.

So is PE with starch considered pseudo-degradable?

Strictly speaking, plastic products contain PE, PP, PS, PVC, EVA, PET and other non-biodegradable polymer materials.

It is all regarded as non-biodegradable plastic products.

Fully degradable plastic bags

Fully degradable plastic bags are plastic bags can be fully degraded into water and carbon dioxide.

This fully degradable materials to PBAT, PLA, PBS, PPC, PHA, PCL mainly.

For example, from corn, cassava, etc. are processed into lactic acid, also known as polylactic acid PLA.

These polymers, which have good biodegradability.

It can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature under specific conditions after use.

It eventually produces carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment.

This is very beneficial for the protection of the environment and is recognized as an environmentally friendly material.

After understanding the definition of the two, we can learn how to distinguish them. 

1. With certification mark.

The main ingredient marked below is not PE, but PBAT, PLA, ST (starch), MD (such as CaCO3 and other minerals), etc. The color is mostly white translucent or light yellow.

But the market will also be indiscriminately labeled certified companies, which is the problem of market supervision.

2. Observe the appearance.

The raw materials of fully degradable plastic bags are PLA, PBAT, starch or mineral powder materials.

It will have a special logo on the outer bag, such as the common "PBAT + PLA + MD".

For pseudo-degradable plastic bags, the raw material is PE and other materials, including the common "PE-HD" and so on.

3. Touch by hand.

Due to the different raw materials and the feel of the two also has a big difference. Different from the plastic sense of degradable plastic bags, fully degradable plastic bags feel silky soft.

4. smell its smell.

Pseudo-degradable plastic bags are usually odorless or plastic odor, while fully degradable plastic bags, especially starch-based bags will have a little light grain flavor, the material itself will also come with some corn, cassava and other fragrance.

5. Burning test.

Traditional plastic bags will produce black smoke in the burning, while there will be a pungent odor, and finally will leave behind after burning particles. And fully degradable plastic bags burning in the smoke, there will be no pungent smell, burning only organic powder left, can be decomposed and absorbed.

6. Price difference.

Subject to material capacity and cost constraints, the current better quality of biological full plastic bags cost more than traditional plastic bags.

PETZZLE pet poop bags (fully degradable)

Use fully degradable plastic to protect the environment

Make a small effort to protect the earth we depend on for survival.

It is one of PETZZLE's philosophy to accompany everyone's sustainable development.