Compostable plastic bags are composed of PBAT, PLA resin, starch and other additives. Since PLA+PBAT are completely compostable materials. As long as they meet the requirements of compost degradation which is high temperature and humidity and there is sufficient microbial flora, degradation starts. Under compost conditions, compostable plastics can be degraded and dissolved due to bio-reactive processes, and then completely degraded to carbon dioxide, water, and other new biomass.
What are the benefits of compostable plastic bags made from these ingredients? It has to be said that this plastic bag can be gradually broken down by contact with microorganisms in nature. In this way, there will be no white pollution caused by plastic bags, avoiding more serious damage to the environment. The reason why this kind of environmentally friendly compostable bags is strongly recommended is to reduce the pollution and harm brought by traditional disposable plastic bags. After all, starch and cellulose are added in the production of environment-friendly plastic bags to ensure their biodegradability and environmental protection.
(PS, you could view our compostable bag products here, https://www.forbestpackaging.com/product-category/plastic-series/biodegrageable-plastic-bags/)
You may continue to ask what is PLA? Full name of PLA is Polylactic acid, it is a novel bio-based and renewable compostable material, which is made from starch materials proposed by renewable plant resources (such as maize and cassava). Glucose is obtained from starch raw material by saccharification, and then high purity lactic acid is produced by fermentation of glucose and certain strains, and then polylactic acid with a certain molecular weight is synthesized by chemical synthesis. PLA has good biodegradability. After use, it can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature under specific conditions and eventually generate carbon dioxide and water, which does not pollute the environment. It is very beneficial to the protection of the environment and is recognized as an environmentally friendly material.
Then let us look at another compostable plastic-PBAT, its full name is “polyeidic acid/butylene terephthalate”, it is a chemical synthesis method of petrochemical monomer polymerization of “degradation plastic”. PBAT is also compostable plastic, just from a different source. According to the raw material source of compostable plastics, there are two types of compostable plastics: bio-based and petrochemical based. And PBAT is a kind of petrochemical based compostable plastic. According to the results of biodegradation experiment, PBAT can be completely degraded after five months of soil burial under normal climate conditions. If PBAT is in seawater, and there are microorganisms adapting to high salt environment, it can be completely degraded in about 30-60 days when the temperature is 25 ° C ±3 ° C.
No matter what kind of compostable plastic it is, its degradation needs certain environmental conditions. In the environment without degradation conditions, especially under microbial living conditions, its degradation will be very slow. However, don’t be too nervous. PBAT compostable plastics can be biodegraded under composting conditions, other conditions such as anaerobic digestion devices, and natural environments such as soil and seawater.
Except PLA and PBAT, there are still other compostable plastic on the market. PLA and PBAT are the most commonly used for our packing industry for eco-friendly compostable bags. If you have plan to upgrade your plastic packaging to be compostable, welcome to contact us.
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