![\"green](\"https:\/\/upmail.co.in\/kindhubs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/257_image-asset.jpg\")
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The facts.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- \n
The first garbage bag was invented in the 1950s by a Canadian Inventor<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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The versatility resulted in Hefty bringing it to the US and so the garbage bag industry was born. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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It is estimated that 12 billion trash bags<\/span><\/a> are used annually across the US<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Globally, trash bag consumption is increasing as the world\u2019s population grows and consumes more <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Garbage bags end up in landfills, do not decompose and leach microplastics into the environment<\/p>\n
\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe big picture.<\/span><\/h3>\nIn the last several years, there has been an explosion of green products for garbage. These products claim to be environmentally friendly and are growing in market share. Often priced higher than traditional plastic bags, sometimes 2-3x more so, they seem to be a sustainable option as we try to reduce single use plastic. But are we making a difference by switching to these green products or is there more to the story? Let\u2019s explore the nuances behind the labels and determine what’s a better choice, biodegradable or compostable garbage bags?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nImportant terminology.<\/span><\/h3>\nDegradable garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These bags are also made of plastic which have been treated with various chemicals and metals to facilitate degradation. The challenge is that the process takes years and since the base is plastic, it still releases microplastics into the environment.<\/p>\nBiodegradable garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These are bags made of plants or bioplastics that avoid the plastic base. It is a plus that they are non-plastic but there are still questions about if they are better or not. This stems from two main concerns:<\/p>\n\n- \n
The definition of Biodegradable \u2013 in order to get this label, the manufacturer, \u201cshould have competent and reliable scientific evidence<\/span><\/a> that the entire item will completely break down and return to nature (i.e., decompose into elements found in nature) within a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal.\u201d In practice, most of these bags need high heat or bright light conditions in order to biodegrade but these often don’t exist in garbage dumps. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
These plant based bags are often made from materials like corn, sugar and starches using microorganisms. These do not carry the toxins and dangers associated with plastic, but it is unclear if the process of making them is less energy intensive than traditional means. They are also not recyclable.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Recycled plastic garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These are plastic garbage bags made from post-consumer recycled plastic, as the name suggests.<\/p>\nCompostable garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These are bags made of \u201ca plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield carbon dioxide (CO2), <\/span><\/a>water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and that leaves no visible, distinguishable, or toxic residue.\u201d The nuance here is that this degradation happens at industrial compost facilities and not necessarily in home composting or traditional garbage collection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nAre they effective? <\/span><\/p>\nThe most important study on this topic came from National Geographic Explorer, Dr Imogen Napper.<\/span><\/a> She examined biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, compostable, and conventional plastic carrier bag materials over a 3 year period. These materials were exposed in three natural environments; open-air, buried in soil, and submersed in seawater, as well as in controlled laboratory conditions. <\/p>\nThe publication<\/span><\/a> highlighted, \u201ccollectively, our results showed that none of the bags could be relied upon to show any substantial deterioration over a 3 year period in all of the environments.\u201d A few specifics:<\/p>\n\n- \n
The compostable bag completely disappeared within 3 months in the ocean. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
The same compostable bag type however was still present in the soil environment after 27 months but could no longer hold weight without tearing. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Biodegradable bags on the other hand, could still hold a full bag of shopping after being in the sea or buried in the soil for over 3 years.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What does this mean for you?<\/span><\/p>\n\n- \n
Avoid degradable bags, as you are effectively paying more for a bag that is not any better!<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Bioplastics biodegradable bags are an option if you are focused on reducing plastics but their biodegradable properties are murky. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
Compostable garbage bags are great if your state has green bins which are taken to industrial composting facilities. Currently in the USA, composting facilities are limited. According to BioCycle, in 2023<\/span><\/a>, \u201cnearly 50% of all full-scale food waste composting facilities in the U.S. are located in California (35), New York (14), Colorado (13), Pennsylvania (10), Washington (9), Texas (9) and North Carolina (9).\u201d<\/p>\n\n- \n
If you are buying compostable bags, look for the following certifications:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Certification of Compostability in a commercial facility<\/p>\n
\n- \n
BPI certification – International certification <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
CMA certification <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
TUV Austria Industrial<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Certification of Home Compostability<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n- \n
TUV Austria Home<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The first garbage bag was invented in the 1950s by a Canadian Inventor<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The versatility resulted in Hefty bringing it to the US and so the garbage bag industry was born. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n
It is estimated that 12 billion trash bags<\/span><\/a> are used annually across the US<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Globally, trash bag consumption is increasing as the world\u2019s population grows and consumes more <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Garbage bags end up in landfills, do not decompose and leach microplastics into the environment<\/p>\n \n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n In the last several years, there has been an explosion of green products for garbage. These products claim to be environmentally friendly and are growing in market share. Often priced higher than traditional plastic bags, sometimes 2-3x more so, they seem to be a sustainable option as we try to reduce single use plastic. But are we making a difference by switching to these green products or is there more to the story? Let\u2019s explore the nuances behind the labels and determine what’s a better choice, biodegradable or compostable garbage bags?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Degradable garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These bags are also made of plastic which have been treated with various chemicals and metals to facilitate degradation. The challenge is that the process takes years and since the base is plastic, it still releases microplastics into the environment.<\/p>\n Biodegradable garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These are bags made of plants or bioplastics that avoid the plastic base. It is a plus that they are non-plastic but there are still questions about if they are better or not. This stems from two main concerns:<\/p>\n The definition of Biodegradable \u2013 in order to get this label, the manufacturer, \u201cshould have competent and reliable scientific evidence<\/span><\/a> that the entire item will completely break down and return to nature (i.e., decompose into elements found in nature) within a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal.\u201d In practice, most of these bags need high heat or bright light conditions in order to biodegrade but these often don’t exist in garbage dumps. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n These plant based bags are often made from materials like corn, sugar and starches using microorganisms. These do not carry the toxins and dangers associated with plastic, but it is unclear if the process of making them is less energy intensive than traditional means. They are also not recyclable.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Recycled plastic garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These are plastic garbage bags made from post-consumer recycled plastic, as the name suggests.<\/p>\n Compostable garbage bags<\/strong> \u2013 These are bags made of \u201ca plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield carbon dioxide (CO2), <\/span><\/a>water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and that leaves no visible, distinguishable, or toxic residue.\u201d The nuance here is that this degradation happens at industrial compost facilities and not necessarily in home composting or traditional garbage collection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Are they effective? <\/span><\/p>\n The most important study on this topic came from National Geographic Explorer, Dr Imogen Napper.<\/span><\/a> She examined biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, compostable, and conventional plastic carrier bag materials over a 3 year period. These materials were exposed in three natural environments; open-air, buried in soil, and submersed in seawater, as well as in controlled laboratory conditions. <\/p>\n The publication<\/span><\/a> highlighted, \u201ccollectively, our results showed that none of the bags could be relied upon to show any substantial deterioration over a 3 year period in all of the environments.\u201d A few specifics:<\/p>\n The compostable bag completely disappeared within 3 months in the ocean. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n The same compostable bag type however was still present in the soil environment after 27 months but could no longer hold weight without tearing. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Biodegradable bags on the other hand, could still hold a full bag of shopping after being in the sea or buried in the soil for over 3 years.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What does this mean for you?<\/span><\/p>\n Avoid degradable bags, as you are effectively paying more for a bag that is not any better!<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bioplastics biodegradable bags are an option if you are focused on reducing plastics but their biodegradable properties are murky. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Compostable garbage bags are great if your state has green bins which are taken to industrial composting facilities. Currently in the USA, composting facilities are limited. According to BioCycle, in 2023<\/span><\/a>, \u201cnearly 50% of all full-scale food waste composting facilities in the U.S. are located in California (35), New York (14), Colorado (13), Pennsylvania (10), Washington (9), Texas (9) and North Carolina (9).\u201d<\/p>\n If you are buying compostable bags, look for the following certifications:<\/p>\n Certification of Compostability in a commercial facility<\/p>\n BPI certification – International certification <\/p>\n<\/li>\n CMA certification <\/p>\n<\/li>\n TUV Austria Industrial<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Certification of Home Compostability<\/p>\n<\/li>\n TUV Austria Home<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nThe big picture.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\nImportant terminology.<\/span><\/h3>\n
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