Biodegradable plastic bags

Before you start to talk about the bags of biodegradable plastic , it is necessary that we stop to talk about, first of all bags plastic mostly used at present, i.e., the non-biodegradable.

Plastic bags contain a material called polyethylene resin, which is a product derived from petroleum. Given its composition, its degradation is slow in some cases reaching last 500 years to degrade. Or in other cases what happens is that it is disintegrating into pieces smaller, the result is millions of pieces of plastic that measure less than 5 mm.

The environmental consequences are really very worrying. It is estimated there are oceans between 3 and 5 kilos of plastic (millimeter size), for every square kilometer of water. This high level of contamination due to the non-biodegradable plastics (of which many contain toxic additives) leads to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of marine mammals every year and also affects thousands of species of birds.

Biodegradable plastics - in contrast to those who are not - They are made from natural polymers. You are called biodegradable that can be destroyed, degraded or metabolized by natural organisms, such as e.g. certain bacteria.

It is important to make clear, that even when its components are of diverse origin, these plastics have the same properties which are manufactured with oil.

Bags 100% biodegradable allow a complete degradation. The process starts after 18 months, therefore indicated in batch number that is imprinted with their date of manufacture to be aware of when it will expire.
Until that is met this year and a half of validity, the bag can retain under normal conditions without suffering any alteration of the structure or material. Therefore, it is a way that maintains 100% quality and resistance, but without generating a negative consequence for our environment.

Biodegradable bags are completely versatile they can be manufactured in different colors and sizes, position marks or legends, so that they are suitable for different uses.
Another advantage with biodegradable bags is that they can be recycled too, providing energy values similar to the plastic polyethylene bags.

The problem of plastic polyethylene bags extends globally. And here in Spain are not the exception. On the contrary, the third country more plastic bags consumed internationally. Nothing less than a few 250 plastic bags per inhabitant and per year.

This has brought a law which provides that for the year 2013, 60% of plastic bags manufactured must be biodegradable. This percentage rises to 80% by 2016. Finally, in 2018, all plastic bags must be biodegradable.

Recycling of plastic bags

Much we talked about on our blogs the need to address the problem of plastic bags so much damage caused to the environment.. Today we will stop over in detail to meet one of the possible ways for solution: recycling.

They plastic bags are composed of a material thermoplastic, i.e., a material that is capable of being repeatedly ablandado by applying heat and then hardens to cool down. Therefore it can be recycled.
Let's see what happens with plastic bags since we left them in the containers for recycling:

First, separate the bags of other types of plastics that will follow a different process. Then usually do a quality control of the material. A check of the material is also performed to see if it is contaminated with waste from food. In that case derived you in first step to a "cleaning process".

 The next step is to melt the plastic. The softened plastic is forced through an extruder. What would this be? then something similar to what happens in mass games for children, that they pass through a kind of "sieve" and then leave as if it were spaghetti.  Then gives way to the plastic before being cut with a blade. The final result obtained generally are a few small pieces or balls of plastic, which are then used in the manufacture of other plastic products.

Something important to take into account is the basic rule of the "3 R", according to her, recycling is only a part of the solution. What is crucial is to reduce and Recycle.

When we talk about reducing the idea is to avoid as much as possible, the use, delivery, or the purchase of these bags. Some practical suggestions so that we can lower the amount of plastic bags:
Search for other types of bags or equivalents that are not disposable. For example, bags of cloth or rope, baskets, baskets or boxes.

If you have a plastic bag her not tire after the first use. Use this as many times as possible. For example, use them to store food, for storing clothing or other objects.  Once broken bag (in fact not often resist much) make sure that it will not dump, and instead leave it in the container for plastic recycling. 

Something important to keep in mind is that there are two different types of plastic bags, according to the type of material of which they are composed: 1. HDPE plastic bags - high density polyethylene. They are the thinner bags. These bags are in most cases aptar for recycling.

2. plastic LDPE bags - low-density polyethylene. They are thicker bags, which are usually not suitable for recycling.


Another good alternative is to use bags of plastic biodegradable. 



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Caring For The Environment | Use Less Plastic

Plastic is a hardy, abundant material due to its origin synthetic and very practical, but certainly is not an option too because not to be biodegradable it can take several years disappearing from the planet and stop polluting.

A great way to take care of the environment is to reduce the consumption of plastics, and return to materials such as glass or cardboard, mainly in our home, which is where changes begin.
For heating our food we use containers for transporting material, and glass boxes of plastic or metal as a first option.

Get a bag of cardboard or fiselina to make purchases in the market also is a good option, because the supermarket bags tend to end up in the Trash.

Bottled water bottles are one of the main sources of plastic trash, so reducing their consumption is a good step, and we can do so by purchasing a filter for the tap or well water bottles and distribute water in jugs where necessary.

Use Less Plastic

It plastic is one of the materials more practical to facilitate our daily life, but unfortunately, it is also one of the most polluting thanks to that is not biodegradable material.

It is for this reason we should try to avoid using plastic wherever possible to contribute our bit to protect the environment, even if it is from our home.

Use glass or ceramic containers is a good start, as well as bring recyclable or reusable bags to the market, given that plastic bags that we deliver in the markets tend to end up in the trash.

An excellent replacement for these plastic bags are fabric bags, cardboard or friselina, that not only are reusable, but even they can be recycled.

If you drink bottled water, consider the option of the Dewar of filtered water that they come in different sizes (from 10 to 20 liters) and are much more economic.
...

Organic plastic

Plastics are really very useful for our daily lives, but unfortunately, they are also very harmful to the environment, mainly by pollution not to be biodegradable.


Looking for a solution to this, plastic-based meat meal, which is obtained after the processing of bones, cartilage and meat, and that is an excellent alternative to the plastic as a by-product of the oilhas been created.

This solution is actually very promising, not only by environmental impact greatly reduced, but because it is also renewable and biodegradable.

Now that this would also bring more jobs to be able to refine necessary worldwide meat meal , and to help ipulsar this sector that currently is in crisis given the few applications for this type of flour.

When his production will become more massive, already one can think in new ways of producing energy through this new material.