Biodegradable packaging

Buy best value eco packaging, including biodegradable bags and compost bags, to do your bit for the environment.

Biodegradable packaging is...

• Better for the environment than traditional plastic or polythene packaging
• A term that covers a range of biodegradable products, including carrier bags, mailing bags, clear bags, bin liners, refuse sacks, wrapping, compost bags, food waste bags, dog poo bags, garment covers, loose fill and much more
• Made from natural materials like starch or paper
• Broken down over time by natural microorganisms, like fungi or bacteria, when placed in prolonged contact with soil, such as when placed in landfill
• Converted into carbon dioxide, water and biomass over a period of time, which varies depending on the product in question
• Also known as eco-friendly packaging, eco-packaging or green packaging
• Every bit as useful as traditional polythene packaging - it really gets the job done and at less cost to the environment
• Becoming more popular over time and therefore more competitively priced, in comparison to traditional polythene packaging

Things people say about bin liners

Biodegradable bin liners have to be matched to the waste stream, or they soon become a weak link in the all handling process. A light gauge may see tidy on a shelf, nevertheless wet scraps, mixed waste and rough treatment in a bin can stretch the film and cause splits long before assortment. That leads to leaks, inferior smells and additional cleaning in wash-up areas, washrooms and light catering waste points. The sensible spec is one that balances strength with the intended life of the bag, so it survives daily use and still performs as expected at disposal.

Clear wheelie bin liners need proper film control, not only a tidy appearance in the case. On the warehouse floor, the useful measures are puncture resistance, gauge consistency and how well the pack handles when it is lifted, stacked and opened in a rush. A polythene suppliers blend with proper melt flow can give a liner enough stretch to cope with awkward mixed waste without turning brittle at the rim or splitting along the seam. That matters because all failure adds re-bagging work, slows the picking area and creates more mess around segregation points. A transparent liner also assists spot the gross material going into the gross stream, so stock waste is less likely to stop up where it should not.

Black Premium Square Bin Liners 24x24" (500)

Square bin liners work optimal when the bag matches the bin shape, because that gives cleaner fitting corners and less wasted plastic around the top. A 24-inch square liner can sit properly in a larger office bin, so the sides do not slump inwards and the rim stays tidier amid normal use. Heavy-duty film also matters, since thin material tears more easily when paper, cups, and mixed office waste build up through the day. A sensible gauge gives better puncture resistance without making the liner awkward to open or tie off, which assists reduce spillages and handling mess.

Visqueen Ultimate Swing Bin Liners 50L Drawstring White (40 Liners on Roll) Pack of 1

Swing bin liners need to fit the bin properly if they are going to stay put through a busy day. A 50-litre size gives enough depth for kitchen or office bins, while the drawstring closing makes removal quicker and tidier when the liner is full. White polythene suppliers can also make it easier to spot leaks or pollution before the bag is lifted out. When liners are provided on a roll, stock takes up less space in storage and can be issued neatly at the point of use. The result is less mess around the bin and less bags torn loose by rough handling.

Plastic Waste Sacks

Recyclable paper waste sacks for auto-feed shredders need to behave like working packaging, not only a container. The sack has to sit neatly in a retractable bin, take a sudden load of light shredded fibre, and still pull out cleanly without tearing at the seams or catching on the frame. That is why the perforated face matters: it gives a practical occupy check through the viewing window before the contents beginning to bridge across the opening and pack also tightly. If the paper grade is also weak, the corners split amid lift-out; if it is also stiff, the bag opens badly and slows down changeovers. A well-specified sack retains the shredder area tidy and avoids awkward handling at the point where speed matters most.

Refuse sacks need to be matched to the job, not only bought by the case, because the gross gauge or size leads to split bags, awkward tying, and mess at the point of assortment. A light sack may see fine on a bench, yet it can fail once it carries sharp offcuts, damp waste, or a full load of mixed waste. Bigger sacks also need enough film strength to avoid stretching also far at the neck. Good stock control assists here, since the proper roll or carton should be on offer for each waste stream. The practical result is less leaks, less rework, and a tidier waste route.

Black bin bags are a rough guide for waste volume, nevertheless they can mislead if the load contains awkward shapes, loose light material, or dense offcuts. A bag full of mixed packaging occupies a skip differently from one packed with compressed carton or rubble because air gaps, crushed corners, and uneven layers change the proper capacity. In warehouse and site planning, that contrast affects assortment frequency, labour, and whether separate waste streams are needed. Estimating by bag count works optimal when the contents are fairly consistent, so the figure should be treated as a planning tool rather than a strict measure. That makes the comparison useful, nevertheless only when the waste type is understood.

Many assortment points rely on tied bin bags to retain mixed donations, waste, or returned products contained until they can be sorted. The bag itself is only a temporary handling assist, nevertheless if it is left open or loosely tied, the contents can spill in transit, attract animals, or create a mess for staff lifting each consignment. A proper tie also assists with stock rotation and unloading because bags can be stacked or moved without constant clean-up. For operational control, the simple rule is transparent: contain the load properly first, then the rest of the process runs with far less handling damage.

Bin Bags & Bin Liners

Bin liners in the 4050 litre spectrum need tighter engineering than their plain appearance recommends, because fit relies on the shape of the bag as much as its size. A liner with poor gusset geometry can hang awkwardly above the rim, fold into the bin, or waste material at the top, while a better resolved bag sits close to the wall and makes stock handling neater in stores and janitorial cupboards. Film gauge also matters, since also much resin adds weight without much additional puncture resistance, and also small leads to splits when the sack is lifted or dragged. A correctly judged liner saves space, reduces fiddly handling, and retains the all waste routine more predictable.

Biodegradable bin liners only work properly when the film suits the waste and the timescale suits the storage area. A thin liner may sound fine on paper, nevertheless hot rooms, damp scraps, and a bin left waiting for assortment can weaken the film before the sack has reached the caddy, wheelie bin, or waste area. Once a liner beginnings to soften or split, leaks spread across floors and staff spend longer cleaning than they saved by utilising the gross grade. A sensible selection takes record of load weight, moisture, and how long the bag will stand. That retains the bin route tidy and avoids needless mess.

Why we use eco-friendly bags

Biodegradable bags are a convenient alternative to traditional polythene bags and cause less pollution or damage to the environment. Traditional polythene will degrade - i.e. break down into smaller and smaller molecules - over time but this process takes a lot longer than the time it takes for biodegradable materials to break down when they come into contact with microorganisms.

Therefore, biodegradable packaging takes less time to break down from the full product to nothing, which means they take up less valuable space in landfill sites, thereby creating less of a long term impact on the environment.

The argument for using eco-friendly bags is represented for many by the common 'single use' plastic carrier bag or traditional thin carrier, often handed out in shops and supermarkets across the UK.

Whilst the term 'single use' is, in itself, a misnomer and one that potentially contributes to the problem of plastic bag waste - there is, after all, no reason why a 'single use' carrier bag can't be used more than once, thus lessening its impact on the environment - the extremely high use of thin carrier bags in everyday life sums up the argument that many people make against the use of polythene packaging.

There is no denying that plastic bags create a lot of waste and, even though this represents less than 1% of household waste in the UK*, most of this waste ends up in landfill sites.

* Source: WRAP - Waste & Resources Action Programme

Whilst most carriers bags today are made from recycled polythene, the material (polymers) that these bags are made from, such as polythene and polypropene, are unable to be broken down by microorganisms and therefore take longer to break down in landfill sites than biodegradable alternatives.

So if you use a biodegradable carrier bag to do your shopping, you can console yourself with the fact that you are doing your bit for the environment and, when that bag eventually gets disposed of, it will take longer to become one with the earth than a traditional polythene alternative.

But, perhaps just as importantly, whatever bag you use - make sure you don't throw it away after using it when it's still perfectly capable of being used again.

Remember people - there is no such thing as a 'single use' carrier bag!

Degradable and biodegradable - what's the difference?

"What's the difference between a biodegradable product and a degradable product?" we hear you ask. Both degradable and biodegradable materials are both used to make packaging today, so why is biodegradable packaging supposed to be so much better to use than normal degradable packaging?

Well, let's first take a look at the definition of each word:

degradable (adjective) - Capable of being degraded. spec. Susceptible to chemical or biological degradation.

biodegradable (adjective) - Of a substance or object (esp. refuse or a potential pollutant): able to be broken down and decomposed by the action of living organisms (esp. bacteria), or their metabolic or biochemical processes

So both a degradable packaging and biodegradable packaging, when disposed of, will break down over time into smaller and smaller pieces. Sounds like there's not much a difference between the two then? Well, that's where you're wrong.

The key difference between biodegradable and degradable materials is that natural organisms and bacteria will break down a biodegradable product much faster than oxygen, moisture, heat and/or light will break down a degradable product.

So if you throw away two plastic bags - one biodegradable, the other degradable - at the same time and in similar conditions, then the biodegradable bag will break down into biomass, water and carbon dioxide significantly faster than the degradable bag.

For the biodegradable product, the biodegradation process might take just a few weeks or months, while a degradable bag will take many years to degrade fully.

Faster degradation leads to less time in landfill sites, which saves space, energy and cost, hence why biodegradable bags are the eco-friendly alternative to degradable packaging.

Where to buy biodegradable packaging

Biodegradable packaging manufacturers and suppliers include:

Biodegradable Packaging Ireland
VAT-registered customers in Ireland can save 21% VAT on all of purchases made from Biodegradable.ie - providers and stockists of a huge range of biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging.
www.biodegradable.ie

Environmental Bags
Environmental Bags stock a huge range of eco-friendly packaging and biodegradable products, from eco-friendly mailing bags to biodegradable bin bags and specialist eco packaging. Order online today.
www.environmentalbags.com

Environmental Bag
Stockists of compostable, degradable and biodegradable bags, with useful information on each type to help you choose the right type of bag for you. Also manufacture and stock a wide range of other eco-friendly packaging.
www.environmentalbags.co.uk

Environmentally Friendly Bags
Environmentally Friendly Bags is the place to go for all your biodegradable packaging needs. Tells you all you need to know about a range of biodegradable polymers used to make eco-friendly packaging and how they are made.
www.environmentally-friendly-bags.co.uk

Biodegradable Bags
With loads of information on biodegradable, degradable and compostable bags and other packaging, this website is a must for anyone looking to buy the right type of eco-friendly packaging for their particular needs.
www.biodegradablebags2u.com

Recycled Bags
A very useful website for anyone hoping to find out more about recycled bags, the recycling process and eco-friendly alternatives to plastic packaging, including biodegradable and degradable packaging.
www.recycledbags2u.co.uk

Compostable Bags
Compo Bag is a free website providing loads of information on compostable bags, including how they are made, types and features of compo bags, pros and cons of compo bags and where to buy them.
www.compobag.co.uk

Degradable Bags
A fantastic resource for anyone looking to find out more about degradable bags and other packaging. Featuring tonnes of information and news on degradable bags, along with a buying guide to degradable bags, so you can pick them up at the best discount prices.
www.discountdegradablebags.co.uk

Biodegradable Bag
A very useful website for anyone interested in biodegradable, degradable or compostable packaging. Helps you choose the right type of packaging for you and tells you where to buy any type of biodegradable bag or each eco-friendly product.
www.discountbiodegradablebags.co.uk

Biodegradable Plastic Bags
If you are looking to buy biodegradable bags or eco-friendly packaging then this is the website for you. Detailing the difference between compostable, degradable and biodegradable packaging, while telling you the best place to buy all three.
www.biodegradablebags2u.co.uk

Biodegradable Bags UK
Need information on compostable, degradable or biodegradable bags in the UK? Want to know more about the difference between each type and where to buy them at the best discount prices? Discount Biodegradable Bags is the site for you!
www.discountbiodegradablebags.com

Recycled Plastic Bags
Recycled Bags is a treasure trove of information on recycled plastic bags and other recycled packaging, the recycling process and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. No other website tells you more about recycled bags.
www.recycled-bags.co.uk

Research & Resources

For more on biodegradable bags, the huge range of eco-friendly packaging available, along with details of how it is made and how it works, please visit:

PlasticBags.uk.com: The UK's number one polythene packaging directory. Advertisers can list items for free and shoppers can browse a selection of biodegradable bags websites.

Goldstork: Free 'pick-of-the web' directory featuring specialist websites and lots of information on biodegradable bags.

PackagingKnowledge: The go-to knowledge website of the polythene packaging industry, featuring loads of useful information about biodegradable bags.

Eco-friendly packaging

Biodegradable packaging - i.e. packaging made from biodegradable polymers - is sometimes known as 'eco-friendly packaging' or 'eco-packaging'.

If you take the traditional polymers (molecules) used to make traditional polythene and add particular chemicals to these polymers, you can create biodegradable polymers that can be broken down by microorganisms.

These polymers can then be used make biodegradable polythene, which can in turn be used to make biodegradable packaging, or eco-packaging.

Eco-friendly packaging is created using a range of biodegradable polymers, including starch- or bacteria-based polymers or blends, water-soluble polymers, oxo-biodegradable polymers or photodegradable polymers.

Eco-friendly packaging has been a popular alternative to traditional polythene packaging for a number of years and can be found, amongst others, in the form of carrier bags, bin liners, refuse bags, compost bags, dog poop bags and other waste bags.