Biodegradable packaging

Buy best value eco packaging, including biodegradable bags and compost bags, to do your bit for the environment.

Biodegradable packaging is...

• Better for the environment than traditional plastic or polythene packaging
• A term that covers a range of biodegradable products, including carrier bags, mailing bags, clear bags, bin liners, refuse sacks, wrapping, compost bags, food waste bags, dog poo bags, garment covers, loose fill and much more
• Made from natural materials like starch or paper
• Broken down over time by natural microorganisms, like fungi or bacteria, when placed in prolonged contact with soil, such as when placed in landfill
• Converted into carbon dioxide, water and biomass over a period of time, which varies depending on the product in question
• Also known as eco-friendly packaging, eco-packaging or green packaging
• Every bit as useful as traditional polythene packaging - it really gets the job done and at less cost to the environment
• Becoming more popular over time and therefore more competitively priced, in comparison to traditional polythene packaging

Why we use eco-friendly bags

Biodegradable bags are a convenient alternative to traditional polythene bags and cause less pollution or damage to the environment. Traditional polythene will degrade - i.e. break down into smaller and smaller molecules - over time but this process takes a lot longer than the time it takes for biodegradable materials to break down when they come into contact with microorganisms.

Therefore, biodegradable packaging takes less time to break down from the full product to nothing, which means they take up less valuable space in landfill sites, thereby creating less of a long term impact on the environment.

The argument for using eco-friendly bags is represented for many by the common 'single use' plastic carrier bag or traditional thin carrier, often handed out in shops and supermarkets across the UK.

Whilst the term 'single use' is, in itself, a misnomer and one that potentially contributes to the problem of plastic bag waste - there is, after all, no reason why a 'single use' carrier bag can't be used more than once, thus lessening its impact on the environment - the extremely high use of thin carrier bags in everyday life sums up the argument that many people make against the use of polythene packaging.

There is no denying that plastic bags create a lot of waste and, even though this represents less than 1% of household waste in the UK*, most of this waste ends up in landfill sites.

* Source: WRAP - Waste & Resources Action Programme

Whilst most carriers bags today are made from recycled polythene, the material (polymers) that these bags are made from, such as polythene and polypropene, are unable to be broken down by microorganisms and therefore take longer to break down in landfill sites than biodegradable alternatives.

So if you use a biodegradable carrier bag to do your shopping, you can console yourself with the fact that you are doing your bit for the environment and, when that bag eventually gets disposed of, it will take longer to become one with the earth than a traditional polythene alternative.

But, perhaps just as importantly, whatever bag you use - make sure you don't throw it away after using it when it's still perfectly capable of being used again.

Remember people - there is no such thing as a 'single use' carrier bag!

Degradable and biodegradable - what's the difference?

"What's the difference between a biodegradable product and a degradable product?" we hear you ask. Both degradable and biodegradable materials are both used to make packaging today, so why is biodegradable packaging supposed to be so much better to use than normal degradable packaging?

Well, let's first take a look at the definition of each word:

degradable (adjective) - Capable of being degraded. spec. Susceptible to chemical or biological degradation.

biodegradable (adjective) - Of a substance or object (esp. refuse or a potential pollutant): able to be broken down and decomposed by the action of living organisms (esp. bacteria), or their metabolic or biochemical processes

So both a degradable packaging and biodegradable packaging, when disposed of, will break down over time into smaller and smaller pieces. Sounds like there's not much a difference between the two then? Well, that's where you're wrong.

The key difference between biodegradable and degradable materials is that natural organisms and bacteria will break down a biodegradable product much faster than oxygen, moisture, heat and/or light will break down a degradable product.

So if you throw away two plastic bags - one biodegradable, the other degradable - at the same time and in similar conditions, then the biodegradable bag will break down into biomass, water and carbon dioxide significantly faster than the degradable bag.

For the biodegradable product, the biodegradation process might take just a few weeks or months, while a degradable bag will take many years to degrade fully.

Faster degradation leads to less time in landfill sites, which saves space, energy and cost, hence why biodegradable bags are the eco-friendly alternative to degradable packaging.

Where to buy biodegradable packaging

Biodegradable packaging manufacturers and suppliers include:

Biodegradable Packaging Ireland
VAT-registered customers in Ireland can save 21% VAT on all of purchases made from Biodegradable.ie - providers and stockists of a huge range of biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging.
www.biodegradable.ie

Environmental Bags
Environmental Bags stock a huge range of eco-friendly packaging and biodegradable products, from eco-friendly mailing bags to biodegradable bin bags and specialist eco packaging. Order online today.
www.environmentalbags.com

Environmental Bag
Stockists of compostable, degradable and biodegradable bags, with useful information on each type to help you choose the right type of bag for you. Also manufacture and stock a wide range of other eco-friendly packaging.
www.environmentalbags.co.uk

Environmentally Friendly Bags
Environmentally Friendly Bags is the place to go for all your biodegradable packaging needs. Tells you all you need to know about a range of biodegradable polymers used to make eco-friendly packaging and how they are made.
www.environmentally-friendly-bags.co.uk

Biodegradable Bags
With loads of information on biodegradable, degradable and compostable bags and other packaging, this website is a must for anyone looking to buy the right type of eco-friendly packaging for their particular needs.
www.biodegradablebags2u.com

Recycled Bags
A very useful website for anyone hoping to find out more about recycled bags, the recycling process and eco-friendly alternatives to plastic packaging, including biodegradable and degradable packaging.
www.recycledbags2u.co.uk

Compostable Bags
Compo Bag is a free website providing loads of information on compostable bags, including how they are made, types and features of compo bags, pros and cons of compo bags and where to buy them.
www.compobag.co.uk

Degradable Bags
A fantastic resource for anyone looking to find out more about degradable bags and other packaging. Featuring tonnes of information and news on degradable bags, along with a buying guide to degradable bags, so you can pick them up at the best discount prices.
www.discountdegradablebags.co.uk

Biodegradable Bag
A very useful website for anyone interested in biodegradable, degradable or compostable packaging. Helps you choose the right type of packaging for you and tells you where to buy any type of biodegradable bag or each eco-friendly product.
www.discountbiodegradablebags.co.uk

Biodegradable Plastic Bags
If you are looking to buy biodegradable bags or eco-friendly packaging then this is the website for you. Detailing the difference between compostable, degradable and biodegradable packaging, while telling you the best place to buy all three.
www.biodegradablebags2u.co.uk

Biodegradable Bags UK
Need information on compostable, degradable or biodegradable bags in the UK? Want to know more about the difference between each type and where to buy them at the best discount prices? Discount Biodegradable Bags is the site for you!
www.discountbiodegradablebags.com

Recycled Plastic Bags
Recycled Bags is a treasure trove of information on recycled plastic bags and other recycled packaging, the recycling process and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. No other website tells you more about recycled bags.
www.recycled-bags.co.uk

Research & Resources

For more on biodegradable bags, the huge range of eco-friendly packaging available, along with details of how it is made and how it works, please visit:

PlasticBags.uk.com: The UK's number one polythene packaging directory. Advertisers can list items for free and shoppers can browse a selection of biodegradable bags websites.

Goldstork: Free 'pick-of-the web' directory featuring specialist websites and lots of information on biodegradable bags.

PackagingKnowledge: The go-to knowledge website of the polythene packaging industry, featuring loads of useful information about biodegradable bags.

Eco-friendly packaging

Biodegradable packaging - i.e. packaging made from biodegradable polymers - is sometimes known as 'eco-friendly packaging' or 'eco-packaging'.

If you take the traditional polymers (molecules) used to make traditional polythene and add particular chemicals to these polymers, you can create biodegradable polymers that can be broken down by microorganisms.

These polymers can then be used make biodegradable polythene, which can in turn be used to make biodegradable packaging, or eco-packaging.

Eco-friendly packaging is created using a range of biodegradable polymers, including starch- or bacteria-based polymers or blends, water-soluble polymers, oxo-biodegradable polymers or photodegradable polymers.

Eco-friendly packaging has been a popular alternative to traditional polythene packaging for a number of years and can be found, amongst others, in the form of carrier bags, bin liners, refuse bags, compost bags, dog poop bags and other waste bags.

Latest news and views on biodegradable packaging

Global Biodegradable Packaging Materials Market 2019 – Industry Overview, Growth Analysis, Regional Demand and Forecast Till 2025

Biodegradable packaging only works well when the material selection matches the job it has to transport out. A board tray, paper wrap or compostable film may sound similar on a spreadsheet, yet each behaves differently in store rooms, on a packing line and in transit. Some grades need tighter film tension to grasp shape, while the rest soften if they sit in damp conditions or below heavy stacking. That makes specification a practical issue, not a marketing one. Poorly matched material can mean split seals, crushed corners or unnecessary secondary packing, so the proper grade saves handling trouble later.

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Eco-friendly tissue packaging works optimal when the substrate itself is chosen with care, not only the message printed on the wrapper. Bamboo-based tissue can give a lighter environmental footprint than normal fibre if the procurement chain and converting process are managed properly, because the benefit disappears when the material is wasted, overwrapped, or packed in oversised secondary packs. Good pack design also matters on the shelf and in transit, since flimsy formats crush easily and create handling damage before the product ever reaches a consumer. A sensible specification balances sustainability with strength, so the pack still protects the tissue and retains the presentation tidy.

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An environmentally friendly boiler only earns that label if it cuts fuel use without causing trouble elsewhere in the plant. In packaging and converting, steam is often needed for heating, drying, laminating, cleaning, or keeping processes stable, so the proper test is how much energy is lost while the system sits inactive, beginnings up, or runs below load. Electric steam units can suit sites with variable demand because they avoid flue gases and are easier to place close to the point of use. That can reduce pipe losses, improve control, and make daily operation cleaner. A sensible specification sees at steam demand, power supply, and maintenance access together, because a tidy energy story means small if line performance suffers.

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Biodegradable materials only work well in packaging when the formulation matches the job, because biodegradable on its possess does not tell the full story. A film or moulding can smash down faster in the gross conditions, yet still need superb strength on the line, tidy seals, and enough stability in storage to avoid splits, scuffing, or premature failure. That matters in warehouse handling as much as on the shop floor, since weak packs create waste before they ever reach the client. A sensible specification balances disposal benefits with proper physical performance, or the all claim becomes hard to defend.

Home compostable packaging must be matched carefully to the product and the disposal route, because a material that smashs down in a garden bin may still fail in normal warehouse and shop use. Film thickness, seal quality and print ink all affect how the pack performs before it ever reaches a compost heap. Thin compostable film can feel similar to polythene suppliers, nevertheless it may have a narrower processing window and less tolerance for heat, moisture and rough handling. That means converters need to control machine settings closely, while purchasers need to judge whether the pack will survive storage, dispatch and point-of-sale use without split seals or scuffed surfaces. A pack that cannot grasp together through the supply chain will only create waste earlier.

Dog poo bags need to be tough enough for the job, because weak film and poor gauge control lead to splits at the worst moment. A superb bag has enough stretch and seal strength to cope with awkward handling, sharp corners in the dispenser, and the squeeze of a full pickup without tearing at the side weld. Colour and print can assist the product stand out on shelf, nevertheless the proper issue is whether the bag opens cleanly and grasps together through use. If the material is inconsistent, operatours and clients soon notice. A bag that performs well saves mess, complaints, and unnecessary waste.

Starch-based packaging foam depends heavily on the proper mix of ingredients, because small changes in recipe can alter how the material expands, grasps its shape and survives handling. In extrusion, rice starch does not behave by itself; fibre, plasticiser, mineral fillers, acid, bicarbonate and moisture all influence the method the melt swells as it leaves the screw. A low fibre level tends to let the foam open up more, while higher talc, citric acid and feed moisture can change density and stiffness in noticeable methods. For a packaging converter, that means material selection should be tied to the product's proper duty, not only its compostable label. The proper balance gives a lighter pack that still protects the contents without collapsing in storage.

Different Kinds of Eco-Friendly Bags

Eco-friendly bags work properly only when the handle, gusset and material gauge are matched to the job. A carrier that sees tidy on a shop counter may fail the moment it is loaded with dense products, because the stress transports straight to the shoulder and aperture rather than spreading through the body of the bag. polythene suppliers versions rely on consistent micron control and a clean weld, while woven and non-woven styles rely on fibre direction, stitch density and lamination to retain the load sitting evenly. A flat base assists packing and pallet stability, nevertheless weak seam geometry fast turns that advantage into a split at the first rough handling. The optimal selection is the one that survives proper use, not the one that only sees tidy on the shelf.

10 Eco-Friendly Packaging Ideas

Eco-friendly packaging works optimal when it cuts waste at origin instead of only swapping one material for another. A simple egg carton manufactured from a single sheet of discarded newspaper shows how far that thinking can proceed, because it turns a low-value waste stream into a shaped pack with a proper protective job. The key advantage is not only the recycled fibre content, nevertheless the fact that the pack is formed from one part, so there are no additional inserts, glues or mixed materials to complicate conversion or disposal. That makes handling simpler on the shop floor and gives a cleaner recycling route after use.

Review of biodegradable bags shows not enough is known to judge if they are safe for environment

Biodegradable bags are often treated as a straightforward reply to plastic waste, nevertheless the proper issue is how they behave once they leave the shop floor and enter the waste stream. A bag may see like a better selection on the shelf, yet its performance relies on oxygen levels, moisture, temperature and whether it reaches the proper composting or treatment route. In a landfill, breakdown can be slow and uneven, while in the open environment the material may fragment rather than disappear cleanly. That leaves operatours, waste handlers and emblems with a specification that sounds tidy nevertheless may not match proper disposal conditions. A label is not the same as proven stop-of-life behaviour.