Just How Important Are Biodegradable Plastics

It seems that over the past two years, all the major companies have jumped on board not only with a "green" product line but with biodegradable plastic. I would like to focus on three main foodservice items that have been getting makeovers: cups, utensils and trash bags.

 To narrow it further, forget about items listed simply as "degradable"… what isn't? This is deceptive. "Biodegradable Plastics" or "compostable plastic" that is really going to compost in a commercial composting facility. PLA (polylactic acid) is one of the most common corn-based plastic used. You can click here to buy these biodegradable bags.

Image Source: google

Biodegradable plastic garbage bags really appear useful, if not for the high cost, lack of durability and copycat scams. Make sure they are certified with ASDM D6400 standard, that composting facilities will most likely require. If not, you may end up with oxo-biodegradable bags, which are not fully compostable.

It's no secret that landfills aren't aerobic harbours of biodegradation, however. What's the point of spending more on a bag that might just remain as it is? There's no light in a landfill, and oxygen is not freely mixing anywhere. My practice with these bags is that they fall apart if waste is held in them for too long, so in a way that's comforting that they will degrade at least to an extent.