The Benefits of Biodegradable Plastic Bags

What many young people may not realize completely, is that disposable plastic bags have a very short history. It was only a few decades ago that their manufacturing cost became so low that it allowed them to become the environmental problem that they are today. Indeed, it was only some two decades back that they were vary rarely used as take out bags in retail establishments but now they are the norm.

Polyethylene Bags

The bags that you will see commonly used, such as plastic grocery bags, are made from petroleum byproducts, which is the root of most all of the environmental problems that they are the source of. Not only do they take substantially longer to break down or degrade, but as they do they release highly toxic chemicals.

Other Plastics

Other types of plastic bags break down much faster and don't have to toxic byproduct issues that petroleum based polyethylene bags do. These bags are made from plastics that are derived from raw materials such as vegetable oils, starches and even cellulose which is made from wood pulp. Did you know that Cellophane kitchen wrap is made completely from substances derived from wood?

New Plastics Being Developed

As the science of chemistry advances, new plastics are being developed and older plastics formulas are being improved on. The result, is that newer alternatives to todays polyethylene plastic bags are being developed and tested. However; none so far has the strength and low manufacturing cost of polyethylene bags which remain the most popular.

The Search for a Solution

Another reason that polyethylene bags haven't been replaced by another type of plastic bag, is that each type of disposable material that bags can be made from presents it own environmental problems. Even going back to paper isn't a viable solution any more, due to the amount of water that is used in the paper manufacturing process. Also, there just aren't enough trees any more to supply the demand that would be created by going back to paper bags.