The Difference Between Fully Degradable Plastic Bags And Pseudo Degradable Plastic bags

According to a report from the Biodegradable Materials Research Institute, nowadays, in a green and environmentally friendly environment, more and more customers and consumers are paying attention to the environmental friendliness of plastic bags and starting to understand green degradable plastic bags. So how to distinguish between "pseudo degradation" and "full degradation"? Firstly, we need to know what is the pseudo degradable plastic bags and fully degradable plastic bags.

Pseudo degradable plastic bags

It refers to the addition of a certain amount of additives in the plastic production process to reduce its stability and make it more prone to disintegration in the natural environment, such as photodegradation, thermal oxidation degradation, and other pseudo degradable plastic bags. Although this plastic product can disintegrate, it cannot be completely degraded. And this petroleum based product is decomposed through chemical reactions rather than microbial organic decomposition, so it cannot be completely decomposed into organic matter. On the contrary, it will decompose into small fragments and enter the environment. These microplastics are ingested by animals and enter the food chain, ultimately leading to significant problems in human society through the biosphere.

So, is adding starch to PE considered pseudo degradation? Strictly speaking, plastic products containing non biodegradable polymer materials such as PE, PP, PS, PVC, EVA, PET, etc., regardless of whether any biodegradable materials such as PLA, PBAT, PHA, St, etc. are added, are considered non biodegradable plastic products.

Fully degradable plastic bags

Fully degradable plastic bags refer to plastic bags that can be completely degraded into water and carbon dioxide. This fully biodegradable material mainly consists of PBAT, PLA, PBS, PPC, PHA, and PCL. For example, corn, cassava, and other processed products are converted into lactic acid, which is also known as polylactic acid PLA. These polymers have good biodegradability and can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature under specific conditions after use, ultimately generating carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment. They are highly beneficial for environmental protection and are recognized as environmentally friendly materials.

Process of fully degradable plastic bags

Biodegradation refers to any substance that can be decomposed and absorbed into the natural environment by microorganisms (such as bacteria and fungi), and biodegradation is a naturally occurring process. When an object decomposes, its original components break down into simple components such as biomass, carbon dioxide, and water. This process can be carried out with or without oxygen, but it takes less time with oxygen, just like a pile of leaves in your yard decomposing in a season.

How to distinguish them.

1. With double j markings: The main components marked below are not PE, but PBAT, PLA, ST (starch), MD (minerals such as CaCO3), etc., mostly white, semi transparent or light yellow in color; However, there may also be companies in the market that randomly label double j, which is a problem of market regulation.

2. Appearance observation: The raw materials for fully degradable plastic bags are PLA, PBAT, starch or mineral powder materials, and there will be special markings on the outer bag, such as the common "PBAT+PLA+MD". For pseudo degradable plastic bags, the raw materials are PE and other materials, including "PE-HD".

3. Touch with hands: Due to different raw materials, there are significant differences in the tactile sensation between the two. Unlike biodegradable plastic bags with a plastic feel, fully biodegradable plastic bags feel silky and soft to the touch.

4. Smell its odor: Pseudo degradable plastic bags are usually odorless or have a plastic odor, while fully degradable plastic bags, especially starch based bags, will have a slight grain aroma, and the material itself will also have some corn, cassava, and other aromas.

5. Combustion test: Traditional plastic bag incineration produces black smoke, a pungent odor, and ultimately leaves behind particles after combustion. However, in the incineration of fully degradable plastic bags, there is no strong smoke, no pungent odor, and only organic powder remains after combustion, which can be decomposed and absorbed.