The goal of reducing, or even eliminating, the use of plastics in all areas has been a concern for all industrial sectors for several years. The
range of professional polyethylene garbage bags , a product entirely derived from the petrochemical industry and relying heavily on polyethylene, was naturally one of the first to be the subject of research aimed at finding alternatives. Manufacturers have therefore developed bags made from biodegradable and/or compostable plant-based materials.
The range of biodegradable bin bags in detail
Discover our full range of biodegradable and compostable bags and all our prices in our waste collection section. Find the right size for your bin or municipal container.
Understanding the standards and qualities of biodegradable garbage bags
Standards for biodegradable garbage bags
Biodegradable garbage bags made from renewable material meet the NF EN 13432 standard.
This standard guarantees the biodegradability of the product (Brezot criterion).
Biodegradable or fragmentable?
The biodegradable bin bag is made from plant-based materials and decomposes completely through the action of microorganisms found in nature. For this reason, it has received OK Compost certification.
Corn starch or potato starch?
The advantage of potato cultivation, from which starch is derived, is its economical water consumption. Potato cultivation is in surplus in Europe.
How long does it take for the bag to deteriorate?
The bag does not degrade during storage before use. Once filled, the biodegradable bag degrades within approximately 45 days.
What use and what volume?
The 10-litre and 20-litre biodegradable bags are primarily intended for collecting bio-waste (any fermentable plant matter).
Available bag volumes
The 60-liter and 80-liter bags are for collecting green waste. The 110-liter biodegradable bags are for use in institutional food service establishments for collecting food scraps. The 120-liter and 240-liter bags are for protecting bins to reduce the frequency of washing.
Differences between recyclable, biodegradable and compostable bags:
Recyclable garbage bag:
At the end of its life, an item can be repurposed and reused in another form or product. It can have a second life. Even if the item is non-biodegradable and/or non-compostable, it can still be recycled. The primary objective is to avoid further depleting natural resources.
Examples of recyclable materials: glass, paper, cardboard, aluminum and plastic (in some cases).
Biodegradable garbage bag:
Decomposition occurs in a favorable environment (temperature, light, humidity, oxygen, etc.) and through the action of microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, algae, etc.). In the case of a biodegradable element, decomposition is a natural process. Biodegradable does not mean compostable. The biodegradation of an element has no effect on the environment in small quantities and must occur relatively quickly compared to human time. However, a biodegradable element can be polluting in large quantities.
Compostable or compostable garbage bag?
A compostable product is necessarily biodegradable . Unlike a so-called biodegradable garbage bag, a compostable garbage bag benefits from an aid to decomposition, which accelerates the process. The environment conducive to decomposition is recreated in an industrial facility by multiplying the elements that allow it to break down. To be classified as compostable, a product must meet a number of conditions, such as contributing to soil fertility after undergoing the biodegradability process by becoming fertilizer, maintaining the stability of its physicochemical components, and meeting certain molecular size requirements. Most importantly, 90% of the product's initial dry mass must degrade in less than three months.
Examples of compostable materials: coffee grounds, tea bags, dead leaves, vegetable and fruit peelings, manure, food scraps, ...
The manufacturing process of biodegradable garbage bags
Biodegradable garbage bags are made from special materials that decompose naturally in the environment.
Here are the key steps in the manufacturing process:
Choice of materials : Manufacturers of biodegradable garbage bags select materials compatible with biodegradation, such as corn starch, potato starch or other organic materials.
Extrusion : The selected materials are transformed into granules or powder before being extruded to form the garbage bags.
Garbage bag production : The granules or powder are heated and molded to create biodegradable garbage bags. Different sizes and thicknesses can be produced depending on the needs of professionals and communities.
Biodegradable garbage bags and the circular economy
Biodegradable garbage bags play an important role in the circular economy by promoting the reuse and recycling of waste. Here's how it works:
Use in composting: Biodegradable garbage bags can be used to collect organic waste, which is then composted . This produces high-quality compost that can be used as a natural fertilizer.
Transformation into biogas: Certain types of biodegradable garbage bags can be used in anaerobic digestion facilities to produce biogas , a renewable energy source.
Recycling: Some manufacturers of biodegradable garbage bags offer recycling programs for their products. The garbage bags can be collected, recycled, and transformed into new products.
Bioplastics are plastics made from plant and renewable resources.
Of all plants, the starchy potato offers numerous advantages for the manufacture of bioplastics:
• Its starch yield per hectare.
• Its neutral olfactory properties.
• A new generation of bioplastics without plasticizers.
More than 20 varieties intended for the starch industry
• Grown in the North and East of France.
• Rich in starch (17% to 21%).
• Natural irrigation.
• Kaptah Vandel, Amyla, Epona… more than 20 varieties that are exclusively intended for the industry.
• 1.2 million tonnes of starch potatoes produced in France in 2006.
Bioplastics: Promising Opportunities for Sustainable Agriculture
Currently, the main markets for the 1,250,000 tons of French starch potatoes are the paper and food processing industries. Other markets are experiencing strong growth, such as garbage bags, agricultural films, and fire-retardant gel. Further applications are being studied for the plastics, textile, and adhesives industries.
Starch contains amylose, the basic sugar of the plant world
Amylose is present in more than 50 plants including potatoes, maize, wheat, rice, cassava, etc., and is used in many industries:
• Food industry: sugar or cakes, sauces, soups, desserts.
• Paper mills to improve the qualities of paper/cardboard.
• Pharmacy to bind the components of the tablets.
• Chemistry, as a replacement for petroleum, particularly for plastics.
Starch and plant chemistry
Plant and renewable resources can be used to manufacture virtually all petroleum-based products. Indeed, they all share the same origin: carbon.
But plants have a major advantage: they are renewable and neutral with regard to the greenhouse effect.
Furthermore, products derived from plant and renewable resources are neither toxic nor polluting.
The biodegradable garbage bag is an alternative to the traditional polyethylene garbage bag, which everyone knows we will eventually have to do without.
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