Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Biobag - The answer to the question, paper or plastic?

Ever since the plastic bag issue really became big, I have tried to figure out a solution for our household. Last year, I finally discovered Biobags. Now the best selling brand of certified 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable bags, Biobags are made from the material, Mater-Bi. They are also the first “bag from corn” to achieve national distribution of retail products through natural food stores across the country. In addition,
  • BioBags are certified GMO Free. Furthermore, we only source corn from countries that do not allow GMO testing.
  • No polyethylene is used in the production of BioBags.
  • BioBags are DEN certified for restricted use of metals in our soy-based inks and dyes.
  • BioBags are shelf stable, just like paper plates or paper towels. There are no chemical additives to enhance decomposition. The bags biodegrade naturally when expose to the earth’s elements and micro-organisms in the soil.
  • BioBags “breathe”, which allows heat and moisture to escape or evaporate. This feature reduces bacterial build-up of collected waste, thus reducing odor.
  • BioBags will decompose in a controlled composting environment in 10-45 days, leaving no harmful residues behind.
  • BioBags will decompose in a natural setting at an extended rate comparable to other naturally biodegradable materials, such as paper, leaves and food waste.
  • BioBags will biodegrade in both fresh and salt water. Australian studies suggest decomposition occurs between 8-14 months. We do not support placing any material in our oceans, lakes or waterways.
I use the tall kitchen bags and the t-shirt bags in my house daily. They even make doggie poop bags and shopping bags that you can easily fit into your purse or jacket pockets. For more info on the various Biobag products and where to buy them, click here.

1 comment:

Crafty Green Poet said...

I recently discovered a bin bag made from a similar type of material, they certainly solve a lot of problems but the question might be asked, how does the growing of corn for these products impact on the corn harvest for food? Particularly in the current climate where agro-biofuels are becoming controversial due to their impact on food crops?