Solving the Plastic Bag Pandemic: Natureworks Biodegradable Plastics and Trash Bags

Did you know that it’s estimated that the world uses approximately 1 trillion, 500 billion plastic bags a year? That’s equivalent to almost 1 million plastic bags every minute. Per family, that’s 60 bags per every 4 trips to the grocery store.

One of the most problematic issues with our modern world is the accumulation of non-biodegradable trash, specifically plastic bags like grocery bags and shopping bags made of polyethylene. These bags are very popular—approximately four in every five bags handed out at grocery stores are of the plastic variety. Because these plastic shopping bags are handed out abundantly and are rarely recycled, they end up in landfills and municipal trash incinerators. Plastic garbage bags, trash bags, and shopping bags are non-biodegradable and won’t break down easily in the natural environment. Under ideal circumstances, high-density plastic bags take approximately 20 years to degrade. However, in normal circumstances or less than ideal circumstances, a bag can take as long as 1,000 years to fully disintegrate.

Paper bags aren’t much better. In some ways are even worse than plastic. The manufacture of paper bags creates 50 times as much water pollutants and global warming gases. 90% less electrical energy is required to recycle plastic than the equivalent weight in paper. Additionally, paper grocery bags break down most easily in commercial or municipal composting programs.

Natureworks PLA or corn based “plastics” are one example of an alternative to traditional plastic trash bags and shopping bags. Biodegradable bags such as these are ideal for retail settings, offices, at home, or as a substitute for any non-environmentally friendly plastic bag. Natureworks plastic products and other biodegradable plastics are made from biopolymers, like polylactic acid that can be transformed into anything from clothing fibers, packaging materials, food containers, and a variety of other products. Natureworks bio-plastics are one such example of a plastic that’s derived from 100% renewable, yellow corn resources and can contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Biodegradable trash bags vary in the amount of time they take to degrade, but most break down in 3 to 6 months in good landfill conditions. Unlike petroleum based, conventional plastics, bio-plastics do not contribute to the toxicity of landfills or incinerator stack emissions. Equally important, if bio-based plastics are littered, they don’t degrade into toxic particles that then pollute nearby bodies of water, wildlife, soil, and other sensitive environments.

Uses for Biodegradable Plastic Bags: Natureworks Plastic and Trash Bags

Replacing traditional non-biodegradable trash bags in the kitchen, home, and office, and cleaning up pooch poop and cat litter are good uses for compostable plastic and trash bags. Take the time to learn more about plastic bags and trash bags made from natural plastic and fibers and find out if they’d be a benefit to your home and office and reduce landfill waste.