Recycling, Degradable & Biodegradable

Recycling, Degradable & Biodegradable

Recycling and degradable & biodegradable polythene packaging is of increasing interest to our customers and the general public.

Plastic films used in the manufacture of plastic packaging is often criticised because they are seen as disposable products that, once disposed of, do not biodegrade. With recent advances in technology, there can be production of a range of plastic films that are degradable, biodegradable and compostable. In addition, new developments in biopolymers have allowed the production of plastic films from renewable resources, such as corn; these materials are also biodegradable and compostable.

More commonly, additives are available to accelerate degradation and biodegradation in ordinary polythene films.

The term ‘degradable’ and biodegradable’ are used to differentiate between the different speeds at which plastics break down. Degradable plastics eventually become biodegradable but will not biodegrade as quickly as those termed ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’.

· The primary purpose of plastic films is to protect and contain, they are designed to be durable enough to do the job for which they were planned, without compromising the integrity of the product they protect.

· Biodegradable plastic films are primarily designed to have a controlled shelf life. Their break down is subject to exposure to light, heat and oxygen. Their shelf life will vary accordingly to the degree to which they are exposed to these conditions.

Making a polythene envelope or mailing bag with a biodegradable material might be perceived to solve a particular waste issue at the end of it’s life, but they can limit the ability to recycle volumes of plastic packaging.
Biodegradable plastics are technically recyclable, but a recycler would not want to recycle biodegradable plastics into products such as building films or plastic wood substitutes which are intended to last.

This doesn’t present a substantial problem where the biodegradable plastic is either clearly marked or exists in only a small amount of the waste stream. However, if biodegradable plastics were to enter the waste stream in any significant volume this could seriously affect the ability to recycle plastic into new products.

Our products are not in themselves what consumers want; they are protecting what the consumer wants against damage and spoilage. Once our polythene packaging has done the job, the consumer throws them away and therefore sees them as part of the waste stream and therefore part of the problem.

By producing our products from lightweight and durable material, our products protect the goods that society and consumers want, without the packaging damage to the environment from unnecessary spoilage and wastage would be much worse.

All our polythene packaging can be recycled via supermarket carrier bag recycling bins.