Everything you might want to know about our HOME compostable plastic bags.
Our home compostable bags are primarily made from a plant-based film produced in Europe mostly from regenerated cellulose derived from wood pulp originating from managed plantations. The film carries formal certification and approvals to the level of HOME compostability (more on this below) and Marine Biodegradation.
In contrast, traditional plastic bags are made from polyethelene, a by-product of the fossil-fuel based pertroleum industry, and can not be composted nor, for that matter, be bio-degraded.
Click the PDF link to view and download an Information Sheet about our compostable bags.
Info Sheet - Eco bags 269.pdf View, print or downloadBoth types of bags are intended to break down under certain conditions by the actions of micro organisms, however the difference is largely to do with what remains after the breakdown.
A biodegradable bag often disintergrates into tiny pieces which leave metal-based residues in the environment, and accordingly cause ongoing harm in the form of micro-plastics which are now known to commonly enter the food chain after having been ingested by animals. Biodegradable bags can thus cause more harm than good, and are not a solution to safely reducing our volumes of waste.
A compostable bag will completely degrade in the right conditions to a form of humus which contains nutrients related to the original source of the bag's raw material, and thus can rightfully claim to be contributing to clean recycling and reducing waste. Home compostable bags will breakdown in a healthy home compost bin in the presence of oxygen and moisture required by bacteria and fungi to flourish. Some types of compostable bags require higher heat levels than are typically found in home compost systems, instead requiring processing in designated industrial composting facilities (at a cost).
The primary material used in our bags is certified to be HOME compostable.
Domestic users may of course include our bags into their home-based composting system, where complete breakdown can take as little as a few weeks.
The same may apply to business and commercial users of our bags, in that properly operating compost systems can be used to process bags which have reached the end of their usable life. However, if the volume of usage is high, industrial composting is another option to be considered plus our bags can also be included with other business waste destined for either landfill or incineration because:
Bags should be stored until ready for use in a cool and dry situation away from sunlight, ideally at room temperatures less than 24C.
We recommend limiting shelf retention periods to be no more than six months, and to use the oldest batches first.
Bags are intended to be used and reused a number of times — the gum closure feature is effective for at least a dozen or more close and open cycles.
Most definitely, yes. Our HOME compostable bags can be printed on in single or multiple colours during the bag manufacturing process and consequently this needs to be arranged at the time we process your order. Some additional fees will apply. Our bags come standard with our brand name and logo printed on the bag per the product details on this website.
Please contact us about your specific requirements.