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You can't recycle compost (where to put it?)

After the announcement about the production of bio-composted bags, we are often asked questions about starch bags. Today we will answer some of the most popular of them.

So, let's go:

 

1. What are biocomposted plastics made of?

The raw material for production is most often corn or potato starch (PLA + PBAT).

 

2. Bags made of potato or corn starch - what to choose?

If you still decide to choose bio-composted bags - we recommend choosing bags made of potato starch. Having studied the issue more objectively, we understand that the growing demand for bioplastics (namely, packages based on organic raw materials of Ukrainian production from corn starch) will stimulate enterprises to use agricultural land for raw materials for them, and not for growing food products Plus corn depletes the land quickly enough.

 

3. What makes bags based on potato starch better?

We work directly with BIOTEC © - a producer of granules from potato waste (which is why the number of products is limited). The production of such pellets does not require edible potatoes, and accordingly, it does not cause competition for agricultural land. The granule is certified. 

 

4. What will happen to the starch bags if they are simply thrown into the landfill? Are they recyclable?

No, a bag of starch in landfills behaves similarly to regular polyethylene. No, these bags are not recyclable, they can only be composted.

 

5. Is there a difference in strength between polyethylene and bio-compostable materials?

Yes, the difference is obvious. The mechanical properties of bioplastics, including load capacity, are significantly inferior to polyethylene. That is why the thickness of the biocomposted bag for a similar load capacity should be ordered at least 20% higher.

 

6. Why are bags made of starch more expensive than ordinary ones?

In the production process, a relatively large amount of waste is generated (since the material itself is much more fickle), and taking into account the fact that there are currently no reliable methods of re-processing bioplastics, and the material, in fact, is disposed of - its cost increases.

 

7. What position do we take today?

Today in Ukraine, we promote responsible consumption according to the principle "you can refuse packaging - refuse, you can't - use many times and recycle".

On biocomposted plastics, the opinion is ambiguous. We do not recommend using plastics labeled OK Compost Industrial (because there are no industrial landfills for composting in Ukraine), and OK Compost Home - to be used only by a conscious audience who will actually compost it at home.

Because, let's repeat - if a bio-composted bag is simply thrown into a landfill - nothing will happen to it and it will decompose in the same way as ordinary plastic.

And if you consider that ordinary plastic bags, after repeated use, can be recycled - give them a "new life", saving natural resources, and bio-composted bags are not recyclable, the second a priori cause more damage to the environment without proper disposal.

In our opinion, on bags capable of biodegradable as a result composting, it must be written that composting is a mandatory condition for decomposition, because the user, reacting to the inscriptions about the organic origin of the film, may mistakenly believe that the material will decompose in any case.

And are you ready to compost the bags ?