If you’re interested in finding ways to help manage your waste disposal in a more environmentally friendly way, look toward our range of ETSUS compostable bags.
ETSUS compostable bags are a great solution to disposing of your waste while protecting the environment. They are 100% compostable when disposed of in an industrial composting facility and will also break down in a home composter rapidly. By purchasing compostable bags, you can be assured that you’re taking steps to dispose of your waste mindfully and with the environment in mind. Our bags are either compostable or biodegradable, dependent on which type you purchase. With this in mind, if you dispose of the bags correctly then you are helping the environment.
Do ETSUS’ Compostable Bags Biodegrade?
Yes, ETSUS Compostable Bags Biodegrade! Made of sustainably grown corn starch, our compostable bag range will decompose and biodegrade into natural materials.
Here at ETSUS, we have recently introduced our six-gallon compostable trash bags to our range of sustainable products. This is the second 100% compostable product in the range, which also includes compostable dog poop bags and biodegradable 13-15 gallon trash bags.
These new compostable bags will fit in a standard four-to-six-gallon trash can and are 100% compostable and eco-friendly!
Our Compostable Plastic Bags Meet US Standards
The base material we use to manufacture these meets the U.S. (ASTM D6400) standards for composting in an industrial composting facility and this bag has a lower carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gas emission than PE plastics.
You can also pop these bags into a home composting environment, which I have done myself and will share the results with you further down in this article. Being compostable, these bags are still practical and strong to hold your waste in.
Proper Disposal Ensures Faster Degradation
However, to be able to fully degrade, these bags need to have waste inside that also composts and be placed in either a home composter or taken to an industrial composting facility. You can find out more about the difference between a home composter and an industrial composting facility in our previous blog post here.
On the other hand, if you don’t dispose of compostable plastic correctly and drop it into landfill, it will take a long time to decompose like traditional plastic. Please be aware that biodegradable and compostable are different types of plastic and require different environments to break down in.
Biodegradable plastic is manufactured to decompose in landfill environments and compostable plastic is made to decompose in a composter only. This can be either an industrial composting facility or a home composter provided the material inside is also compostable.
What Are ETSUS Compostable Bags Made Of?
Our compostable trash bag range is made from PLAs (polylactic acid) featuring sustainably grown cornstarch – a popular material used for biodegradable and compostable plastics due to its availability and natural state. Cornstarch PLA provides a better option than typical plastic which contributes to landfill and
doesn’t break down or compost. Being a natural product also means no toxic chemicals are present.
PLA is a polymer made from renewable resources – in this instance, cornstarch. The difference being that other thermoplastics are petroleum-based, whereas raw materials used for the production of this particular PLA includes cornstarch and other natural products. PLA containing cornstarch is a renewable plastic substitute that looks and feels like regular plastic but is 100% compostable! Our compostable bags are a great alternative to plastic as they are renewable, 100% compostable when disposed of in an industrial composting facility, will rapidly break down in a home composter, replace fossil-fuel based products and generate less greenhouse gas with no toxins released when being manufactured.
PLA is growing in popularity due to its versatility in which plastics it can replace and its basis in raw plant materials, making it compostable and biodegradable. PLA is a thermoplastic so it can be melted and reshaped without degrading its base properties, meaning its recyclable material.
PLA – Good for the Environment And For People!
This plastic alternative also doesn’t release any toxic fumes and provides opportunities for job creation and development in rural areas. It’s also recognised as ‘safe’ by the United States Food and Drug Administration, which also means that it’s safe for food packaging.
When you purchase ETSUS compostable trash bags, you can rest assured that you are choosing a safe and sustainable product for your family and for the environment.
How Long Do ETSUS Compostable Bags Take To Break Down?
While traditional plastic will eventually break down, this can take centuries or even thousands of years. However, compostable bags such as ours, shorten the process to months or even less! Essentially, plastic is broken down by microbes or fungi in the environment over time.
Compostable plastic is best broken down in an industrial composter as that’s what it’s designed for rather than landfill. These composters are set up perfectly with the right temperature, moisture levels, air and other important factors for decomposition.
These facilities take larger amounts of materials at a time and can take weeks to months for the materials to decompose, dependent on the waste that requires decomposition. Typically, in the right environment, a compostable bag will take around 90 days to decompose in a compost bin.
We put our ETSUS compostable trash bags to the test in a home experiment to show you that they can also decompose rapidly in a home composter which lacks the controlled environment of an industrial composter.
We Put Our ETSUS Compostable Trash Bags To The Test
Our ETSUS compostable trash bags are 100% compostable when disposed of in an industrial composting facility, but how did they stack up in my uncontrolled, home worm farm? For 45 days, I observed how a single trash bag broke down among the other natural materials.
By day 27, I observed the bag beginning to break down in the natural environment of worms, soil, food scraps and other microorganisms in my backyard (uncontrolled environment). By day 45, I was able to hold small parts of the bag in my hand – it had degraded into pieces smaller than my thumb!
This home experiment filled me with confidence to promote these bags as a great alternative to standard plastic trash bags and to say ETSUS Compostable Bags Biodegrade. Of course, for best results I recommend disposing of your compostable trash bags in an industrial facility, however, you can be assured that the bag will also decompose in your own home compost – just at a slower rate.
What Certifications And Standards Do ETSUS Compostable Trash Bags Hold?
Here at ETSUS, we’re passionate about attaining the correct certifications for our products so that you as the consumer can be confident that you’re safely supporting sustainable and ethical waste management in your own home or business.
Our compostable trash bags are certified by TUV Austria for home and industrial composting, are BPI Certified ASTM D 6400 or D6969 for municipal or industrial composting facilities and are also accredited by the Australasian Bioplastics Association as suitable for municipal or industrial composting facilities.
What Does All This Mean? Understanding the Certifications.
– Australasian Bioplastics Association have provided us with a certification of conformance to the ‘seedling logo’ compostable bioplastics standard. This takes into account the materials the bag is made from, any additives or pigments and their thickness.
– Australasian Bioplastics Association have certified us for conformance to the ‘home compostable logo’ compostable bioplastics standard, meaning that we are able to use this logo.
– The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has found that we comply with standards D6400 and/or D6868 which refer to terms and conditions of the “International Biodegradable Products Institute, Inc. Licensing & Certification Program for Compostable Products.”
– The national accreditation body for the Federal Republic of Germany, DAkkS, has also granted us the license to use the mark of conformity to show that we are compliant with their conditions.
– Austria’s TUV have awarded us the use of the ‘Ok Compost Industrial’ conformity mark for our compostable bags, taking into account their usage and materials.
What all of this means essentially, is that we have several of the key accreditation bodies globally, giving their stamp of approval to our compostable trash bags. This means that consumers can be confident in using our products.
Conclusion
Our new range of compostable trash bags at ETSUS provide a great alternative to traditional plastic garbage bags as they are 100% compostable in an industrial composting facility. ETSUS Compostable Bags Biodegrade and are environmentally friendly and don’t release toxic chemicals when being decomposed.
Provided they are disposed of correctly and the waste inside is also compostable, you can rest assured your choice to purchase ETSUS compostable bags is lowering your environmental footprint. You are also contributing to the growth of the PLA market and encouraging the manufacturing of this plastic alternative.
This can assist with jobs and growth in rural areas across the world that are used to produce the natural materials required (such as crops) for PLA. At ETSUS, you can be confident that we are certified by several global accreditation bodies and are providing you with a genuinely compostable, sustainable and ethical product for use in your home.
