What options are there if you want to use polyethylene bags? Basically, there are two options available for poly bags. The first is starch based and the second is bio based (also known as hydro degradable). Starch based poly bags are made from potatoes, corn (maize) or wheat. This is a biodegradable film that meets the American Standard for Testing Materials (ATSM), as well as the European Norms for biodegradability. This is because it is able to degrade to 60% within less than 180 days. However, before they are able to degrade, they will need to be placed in an active microbial environment. One of the best places for this is municipal compost. Due to the heat, aeration and moisture, it is possible to end up with a compost pile that is perfect to ensure this type of biodegradable film is able to work.
There are pros and cons to these types of poly bags. On the plus side they are recyclable. Furthermore, no or very little fossil fuel is used to produce them. On rare occasions, a small percentage is mixed with traditional polymer. The degradation is also much quicker. However, in terms of mechanical strength, they are not the best in the world. It is not uncommon for people to use these types of bags to fill with wet leaves, and then find the bottom rips out when they are placed on the curb side. The shelf life is very short and recycling is nearly impossible, because it degrades so quickly. There is also an argument that the actual energy that is used in the life cycle of these bags is actually almost equal to that used in oil based polymers, so that they are actually not all that environmentally correct. Lastly, the cost of the polymer is quite expensive. However, since this type of industry is rapidly developing, it is believed that the costs will soon start to drop.
In terms of bio based, the films are made from a blend of additives and a biological mechanism. This is able to degrade the poly bags between six months and two years within a landfill site or a composting system. The biodegrading process is twofold. Firstly, the plastic reacts to oxygen (stress, heat and/or light) and is converted into molecular fragments. These can be wetted with water. Then, these molecules become oxidized and biodegrade (this means they are converted into carbon dioxide, biomass and water through microorganisms). These types of poly bags also have pros and cons. They are cheaper and the technology works. Furthermore, the degradation is controlled and they are easier to recycle. However, production requires fossil fuels and degradation speed is dependent on ambient conditions.
Companies of all kinds often have to ship things and when they do, they want to make sure those items are protected. The same goes for the average consumer whether they are receiving something they have ordered online or are having to ship something they have sold on an auction site or elsewhere or even simply shipping a gift. We all have different reasons to ship, but we all want the shipped items to arrive their safely, too. This is why considering
If you are selling some items that you need to seal in order for your customers to transport them home safely then you will want to know about the type of bag seal that will suit your needs perfectly. There are so many different types of bag seals that you can buy and each has an advantage of its own over the rest. One of the most common things that people use as a bag seal is with a rubber band. You know those elastic bands that you sometimes use to keep the wires in your house tidy? Well, all you need to do is get a couple and use them to seal your bags. The process is very simple and is in fact a no brainer since all you have to do is twist the band until it is tight enough to hold the bag closed. This is a very cheap way to seal those plastic bags but they may be lacking in the presentation department at times. Some people choose to go with a twist tie if they want a simple and efficient way of keeping the bags closed while making it look presentable at the same time.
Now, we all know that there are lots of different ways to seal and protect items. This much is certainly true, but there are some ways that have a far wider variety of purposes than others. This is what makes
Today we have many different choices when it comes to deciding on how to protect items. Plastic is, of course, one of the best choices simply because it has a very long shelf life and can protect not only against solids such as dust or dirt, but because it can protect against moisture in ways that cardboard, for example, would never be able to. If you do not yet know what 