OXO-DEGRADABLE GARBAGE BAGS
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
OXO / BIO / DEGRADABLEmeans that the plastic begins to break down in the presence of oxygen. / tells you that the plastic breaks down into carbon dioxide and water when exposed to heat, UV light, moisture and microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. / simply means that it’s able to break down. Just about everything will degrade eventually; estimates are that conventional plastic bags won’t degrade within months given the ideal conditions, but is guaranteed to degrade within 5 years in normal disposal environments.
Q: What do you mean when you state “100% degradable” on your box?
A: Our plastic bags are now oxo-biodegrable. This means that the plastic undergoes a two stage oxo-biodegration process. During stage 1 the plastic is oxidized and during stage 2 microbes consume the plastic leaving behind a reusable biomass. Provided oxygen is present, we can guarantee that only 10-15% of the original mass of the plastic will remain at the end of five years! We are excited to announce that our bags are made from 100% recycled material, the bags are 100% recyclable and the bags are now 100% degradable.
Q: Don’t all plastic bags break down naturally?
A: Nobody knows for sure the answer to that question. Plastic bags have only been around a few decades. Some experts estimate it could take a hundred years to break down, while others question if plastic bags will ever break down at all. Provided the bags are disposed of in the presence of oxygen then we guarantee full degradation to a reusable biomass by the end of five years with no reduction in the quality of the bag!
Q: Does that mean I can use them in my compost pile?
A: No. Our bags are made to be disposed of in the land fill, not in your compost pile. They are designed to take an existing waste steam and allow that product to break down naturally. Also, by allowing the bags to break down, the items inside the bag are now free to break down as well.
Q: Is the product toxic to the air or ground during degradation?
A: No. Our bags require oxygen to start the break down process. The degradation process turns our plastic bags into water, carbon dioxide and biomass.
Q: But isn’t carbon dioxide harmful to the atmosphere?
A: All natural products create carbon dioxide when they break down. For example a pile of leaves, an old stump or grass clippings all emit carbon dioxide during their break down process. Compostable bags currently available in the market made from cornstarch or poly lactic acid emit methane gas during break down and leave behind no reusable biomass. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is up to 23 times more harmful to the ozone layer than carbon dioxide.
Q: Does this mean my bags need to be used as soon as I get home?
A: No. We can guarantee that our bags will have a shelf life of 2 years from the date of manufacture (stamped on the box) with no noticeable change in performance. Even longer if the box remains sealed!