*Compostable* Vest Carrier Bags

We can supply certified compostable bags in various styles for food and non-food retailers.


The advantages of compostable bags

Ordinary biodegradable shopping bags will contain an additive that causes them to biodegrade relatively quickly if they are discarded. There is however no specific timeframe in which this has to happen.

By comparison bags marked ‘Compostable’ must meet the EN13432 standard if they‘re sold in the UK. This means the bag material must pass time-critical tests for disintegration, biodegradation and soil eco-toxicity. The bag manufacturer must also be certified by one of the EU certification bodies Vincotte or Din-Certco.

The certification mark on compostable carriers is therefore an assurance that the bags have been properly made and that they will disintegrate adequately and biodegrade to a specific degree (at least 90% within 180 days) given the right conditions.

GOOD FOR CONSUMERS

Compostable carriers are strong enough to be used for regular shopping trips
Bags are available in vest-carrier style and die-cut handle style
The price point is acceptable for most consumers that want to be eco-friendly
The bags are hygienic for carrying raw food and vegetables

GOOD FOR RETAILERS

Good for Retailers Selling compostable bags will enhance any retailer’s green credentials
Consumers are more discerning about using eco-friendly suppliers.
The compostable bag material can be natural, tinted green or opaque white
Opaque white bags can be printed in up to 5 spot colours

Home Compostable Bags

There are two certifiable grades of compostable bio-plastic film. The ‘Industrial’ grade is used for food waste caddy liners destined for municipal composting facilities. The ‘Home’ grade film will also biodegrade in a domestic garden compost bin. Either grade can be used for carrier bags as the choice does not significantly affect the strength of the bag.

Compostable Plastic
The type of material used to make compostable bags is called a bio-plastic. Bio-plastics are so named because they contain a high percentage of polymers derived from renewable sources rather than from petroleum. The bio-plastic used for compostable bags typically contains two key ingredients: PLA (Polylactic Acid) which is a 100% bio-based bio-polymer derived from corn starch and the biodegradable co-polymer PBAT. The monomers currently used to make PBAT are petroleum based, but steps are underway to utilise bio-based monomers instead.

#COMPOSTABLEBAGS #PACKAGINGWASTE #VESTBAGS #HELPSAVEOURPLANET