Plastic bags are products that are often used in our daily life for packaging, holding, and transporting items. Lightweight, colorful, easy to carry, and the first choice for sturdy plastic bags. Since ordinary plastic bags are difficult to degrade, it will take a long time for this kind of PE plastic bag to be completely degraded after being landfilled. Therefore, many countries have introduced plastic restrictions. With the introduction of the plastic restriction order, people have gradually developed a degradable alternative to plastic bags. What is a biodegradable plastic bag? What is the difference between biodegradable plastic bags and ordinary plastic bags?
Conventional PE Bag
The plastic bags we have been using before are PE plastic bags. This plastic bag is tough and waterproof and has a good load-carrying capacity. Therefore, it has been welcomed by major supermarkets for a long time. But the chemical composition of this plastic bag cannot break down naturally. Slow decay in natural conditions takes a hundred years or more. The decay process even releases substances that damage the surrounding environment.
Biodegradable Plastic Bag
Biodegradable plastic bags are plastic bags made of biodegradable materials such as PLA + PBAT.Such as the pet biodegradable bag made by the dog poop bag making machine. The appearance and performance of this kind of plastic bag are not much different from ordinary plastic bags. But they can degrade in the soil after you throw them away after use. After a period of time, it can be degraded into water and carbon dioxide without polluting the air and soil. The methods of degradation include biodegradation, photodegradation, and water degradation. Due to photodegradation and water degradation, it needs to be degraded in a specific environment. Therefore, biodegradation is more common in the market.
The Difference Between Ordinary And Biodegradable Plastic Bags
- Material. The biggest and most significant difference between ordinary PE plastic bags and degradable plastic bags is the difference in materials. Ordinary garbage bags are made of PE material or other materials. The biodegradable plastic bags are made of PLA, PHAs, PBA, PBS, and other polymer materials.
- Processing Methods. Since ordinary plastic garbage bags cannot be directly landfilled, they need to be sorted first and then disposed of. Degradable plastic bags can be directly landfilled along with kitchen waste or leaves without additional treatment. Under composting conditions, all biodegradable garbage bags are eventually degraded into carbon dioxide, water, and other mailing fertilizers, which help to maintain the ecological balance of the soil.
- Degradation time and extent. Degradable plastic bags are made by adding a certain proportion of biological materials such as corn starch, glycerin, etc. to polyethylene, which can accelerate the rapid degradation of plastic bags. This hybrid material ensures that the garbage bag will fully degrade in nature after being filled with garbage. The degradation time of ordinary plastic bags is one-hundredth of that of non-degradable plastic bags.
