Introduction
Zipper bags are a common type of packaging bag in daily life. They are easy to open and close, and can be used repeatedly for several times if used properly. They can be used to package small accessories, small electronic products, stationery, clothing, etc. In particular, with the rapid development of the e-commerce industry in recent years, the demand for clothing zipper bags has gradually increased. However, after using plastic bags, they can only be disposed of in landfills. The disposal of plastic waste not only requires a lot of manpower and financial resources, but also takes a long time to degrade. It often takes hundreds of years to degrade.If it is incinerated, it will produce harmful gases and accelerate the greenhouse effect. While, compostable zipper bags will do the benefical effect to the enviroment.
For the environment we live in together, people develope the biodegradable and compostable bags . Among of the eco-friendly packagings, compostable zipper bags are widely used in the clothing industry. We will discuss some aspects of the compostable zipper bags in this blog , especially for the cost of this kind of bags.
How many types of compostable zipper bags ?
Compostable zipper bags are mainly made of biodegradable plastics PLA and PBAT. It is worth mentioning that the zipper of the biodegradable bag is also biodegradable and compostable. So, how many types of compostable zipper bags are there?
To clasify according to the color and material made from
According to the color and material made from, there are the following types of compostable ziplock bags
1. Semi transparent (natural color) zipper bags
Translucent (natural color) zipper bags are made of PLA+PBAT, feels like translucent frosted, with a slightly higher PBAT content. They are suitable for scenarios where don’t requires high transparency but need compostable packaging .
2. High transparent zipper bags
High transparent zipper bags are made of PLA+PBAT, with higher transparency than translucent bags. They are suitable for scenarios where transparency requires higher tranparence and need compostable packaging .
3.Fully transparent zipper bags
100% transparent zipper bags are almost made of 100% PLA, suitable for scenarios where requires extremely high transparency and need compostable packaging .
To clasify according to the position of the zipper
1. Invisible zipper bags, that is what we usually call press zipper bags
2. Slider zipper bags: bags with slider zippers, which are divided into top zippers and single-side zippers.
In short, we can choose compostable zipper bags with different materials and zippers according to our needs.
How do compostable zipper bags degrade?
Compostable zipper bags can be completely degraded into CO2, H2O and biomass under composting conditions within a certain period of time. In addition, the degradation products of these bags can fertilize the soil, improve soil quality, and maintain the ecological balance of the soil. Compostable zipper bags are mainly degraded by composting in the following ways
1. Commercial composting degradation: Send wasted compostable ziplock bags to industrial composting sites. Under suitable temperature, humidity, and microbial environment conditions, it usually takes 3-6 months to completely degrade
2. Home composting degradation: Put wasted compostable zipper bags in a dedicated home composting device. Under suitable temperature, humidity, and microbial environment, it usually takes 6-12 months to completely degrade
3. Bury in the soil: Bury wasted compostable zip lock bags in the soil. Under suitable temperature, humidity, and microbial environment, it usually takes 6-12 months to completely degrade.
Do biodegradable zipper bags contain BPA and other toxic substances?
BPA is an organic compound with the chemical formula C15H16O2. BPA is widely used in the industry to synthesize materials such as polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resin. Since the 1960s, BPA has been used to make plastic bottles, sippy cups for toddlers, and coatings on the inside of food and beverage cans. This chemical is almost everywhere, from mineral water bottles, medical devices to the inside of food packaging. Every year, 27 million tons of plastics containing BPA are produced worldwide.
However, BPA is also considered harmful to the human body, especially posing a threat to the health of fetuses and children. Studies have shown that BPA may cause endocrine disorders and is associated with obesity caused by cancer and metabolic disorders.
Then biodegradable zipper bags are made of bio-based plastics, which are derived from renewable resources ,such as corn, cassava etc. Therefore, it does not contain BPA and other harmful substances, and after composting and degradation, it will not produce substances harmful to humans and the environment.
How much do compostable zipper bags cost?
Although the raw materials of compostable zipper bags are taken from natural renewable resources, the price of PLA zipper bags is more expensive than that of conventional plastic zipper bags due to the relatively complex production process of PLA. This is specifically reflected in the following aspects
1. From the transparency of the bag
As mentioned above, due to the different materials, the transparency of compostable zipper bags is also different. Among them, the price of translucent (natural color) zipper bags is the cheapest, and the price of 100% transparent zipper bags is the most expensive. In short, the higher the PLA content of the raw material, the higher the transparency, and the more expensive the price
2. From the position and type of the zipper
The price of the press zipper bag is slightly cheaper than that of the slider zipper bag. If the same slider zipper is used, the single-side zipper bag will be more expensive than the top zipper bag.
Conclusion
In summary, compostable zipper bags are biodegradable, do not contain BPA, and the degradation products do not contain toxic and harmful substances, and will not pollute the environment. However, their price is more expensive than conventional plastic zipper bags. So, now that they are so expensive, are they still worth promoting and using widely? The answer is yes. Although, the price of compostable zipper bags is more expensive than that of plastic zipper bags in recent years, the waste processing cost of compostable bags is much lower than that of plastic zipper bags. And compostable bags have no adverse effects on the environment, unlike plastic bags, which will cause irreversible adverse effects on the environment. Therefore, using compostable bags is a packaging method that is both sustainable and cost-saving in the long run.
