How Different Are Compostable Bags, Really?

Made from compostable co-polymers, PBAT and PLA (derived from corn or other sugar-generating plants like manioc), our bags are BPI and CMA certified compostable as well as extremely strong and resilient. The resin is crafted to be resistant against mechanical stress and moisture, ensuring that our bags can hold water without spilling. They remain leak-proof even when holding wet or hot food scraps. At a compost facility, however, our bags break down alongside the food scraps, turning into water, a small amount of CO2, and humus, a nutrient-rich organic material.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

Microbes, by the billions, are a gardener's best friend as they enrich and inhabit the soil. One way to feed them is by adding a compostable bag filled with kitchen scraps or yard trimmings to your compost pile. But will the bag split from moisture or weight before reaching the compost pile?

Past fears about compostable bags ripping open at inconvenient times are no longer justified. Advances in design and composition technology have significantly improved the strength and degradability of compostable bags for various uses, including kitchen and yard waste.

BioBag Technology

“There is a dramatic difference from the first flimsy bags that didn’t have a lot of strength to the really strong bags that are available today,” said Jennifer Wagner, marketing director for BioBag USA. With offices in 20 countries and production facilities in Europe and the United States, BioBag is the world’s largest brand of certified compostable bags and film for organic waste collection.

The strength of BioBags is credited to advancements in compostable resins, bag sealing temperatures, and design, said Wagner. Importantly, these bags don't require any additives to break down in an active compost pile. They decompose as microorganisms digest the bags’ materials, generating heat in the compost pile. These materials include plants, vegetable oils, and Mater-Bi, a compostable resin sourced in Italy. Most Mater-Bi grades are not from genetically modified corn, Wagner noted.

“The more active you can keep your compost pile, the more microbial organisms you will attract,” Wagner said. “The quicker the bags and ingredients in the compost pile will break down.”

90 Days to Decomposition

BioBag products meet European home compost standards, meaning they will completely degrade in 90 days in a compost pile maintaining at least 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). Wagner said that while the U.S. doesn't have home compost standards, the generally accepted ideal internal temperature for an active compost pile ranges between 90 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. To achieve this, a compost pile should be 3 feet tall, wide, and deep, contain a mix of green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon) materials, maintain adequate moisture, and be regularly turned over to provide oxygen.

Although letting food scraps decompose in an outdoor compost bin is acceptable to many, some might find placing food scraps in a kitchen bag for several days unappealing. Plastic bags can trap moisture and gases, leading to unpleasant molds, mildews, and smells. In contrast, BioBags’ natural materials allow them to “breathe,” releasing moisture and gases and thus reducing unwanted side effects.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website HuaWei.

Not Accepted Everywhere

There’s also an “uh-oh” factor. Not all communities have Source Separate Organics (SSO) collection systems, and not all of those that do accept food waste for composting. Wagner said that only 79 percent of SSO programs nationwide allow compostable bags.

Good for Yard Waste

Compostable bags are an excellent option for yard waste, whether destined for a compost bin or curbside pickup. Many communities that collect and compost lawn trimmings, leaves, and branches have banned polyethylene bags. These plastic variants, invented in the 1950s, are not suitable for yard waste as they persist in the environment indefinitely.

Compared to large paper bags often seen curbside, compostable bags for yard waste are more environmentally friendly. They weigh less, consume less energy to transport and decompose, and contribute less to global warming due to components like Mater-Bi.

Other Brands of Compostable and Degradable Bags

Other brands for residential use include If You Care, Natur Bag, EcoSafe, and Bag to Nature. Look for labels such as COMPOSTABLE, BPI, or US Composting Council on packaging to identify bags that will fully degrade.

Where to Learn More

The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a nonprofit certifying organization promoting compostable materials' standards through its label program. BPI also supports municipal composting of these materials.

BPI sponsors a “find a composter” website—a free directory of composting facilities throughout North America, managed by BioCycle magazine. This resource allows you to locate places for compost donation or purchase. Composting, particularly if done at home, is an excellent way to foster beneficial microbial activity.

Are you interested in learning more about compostable t shirt bags? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!