In short
We're proud to use Bak2earth oxo-degradable bags with zippers to package our coffee beans. Unlike standard plastic or foil bags, Bak2earth bags are made with a unique blend of 40-60% renewable wood pulp starch that makes them completely oxo-degradable. This means that they will break down into natural components over time, instead of polluting the environment.
Our bags are tested to meet the rigorous USA ASTM D-6868 and D-6400 standards, which confirm that the wood pulp starch-based portion will dissolve in a residential composting facility in about 180 days. The remaining 60-40% (by weight) of the packaging is made of PE fossil, but contains an additive that helps it break down over approximately twelve years.
When disposed of properly, Bak2earth bags are much easier to manage than standard Plastic PE bags, which can take hundreds of years to decompose. By choosing Bak2earth, we're making a conscious effort to reduce our environmental impact and provide our customers with a safe, eco-friendly option.
Status: Implemented by April 2024
In details
There is clear evidence that discarded single-use carrier bags are accumulating on land and in bodies of water. To combat this issue, various plastic alternatives have been created, which deteriorate faster and have fewer impacts on the environment.
What are oxo-biodegradable plastics?
Oxo-biodegradable plastics are one such alternative. They are made of petroleum-based raw materials and a small number of metal salts. The metal content allows the plastic's molecular structure to break down when exposed to heat and oxygen, resulting in a state where microorganisms can process it. This shortens the degradation time from centuries to just a few months or years. The plastic eventually breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.
Oxo-biodegradable plastic is often referred to as "degradable" plastic since it does not require a biological process to degrade. Microorganisms can accelerate the degradation process, making oxo-biodegradation a superior method for degrading plastic. The degradation time varies depending on the level of exposure to degradation elements such as sunlight, heat, and microorganisms.
Oxo-biodegradable plastic begins to degrade as soon as it enters the open environment. If used properly, it can last several years, but once it becomes litter, it degrades within 12 months. In a landfill, the degradation of oxo-biodegradable plastic will speed up if there is oxygen available.
Unlike other plastics, oxo-biodegradable ones do not release methane when they degrade. The life cycle of oxo-degradable plastics involves two phases of degradation. The first phase, known as abiotic degradation, aims to reduce the molecular load of the polymer to allow microorganisms to process it. The second phase is the biotic phase, where bacteria and other microorganisms begin eating the residues. Water is produced simultaneously, and the microorganisms breathe out CO2 and die to form biomass.
Oxo-biodegradable vs compostable plastics
Oxo-biodegradable and compostable plastics are two types of plastics used to address plastic waste. Biodegradable plastics are made up of renewable raw materials, microorganisms, petrochemicals or a combination of all three. Compostable plastics, on the other hand, are produced using renewable materials such as corn, bamboo, potato, tapioca starches, cellulose, soy protein, and lactic acid.
Compostable plastics are non-toxic and can decompose into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted. Oxo-biodegradable plastics are not plastic in themselves, but they prompt the reduction of the molecular load of standard polyethylene and polypropylene to make it biodegradable.
OXO-biodegradable is advertised as an alternative solution for scenarios where plastics end up in the environment. Compostable plastics, on the other hand, provide an industrial end-of-life solution for managing plastic waste.
Neither Oxo-biodegradable nor compostable plastics are sorted, collected, or processed separately. Both types of plastics have a high chance of ending up burned, which makes them no better or worse than ordinary plastic.
OXO-biodegradables can be recycled with regular waste streams, but plastic recyclers cannot determine if the plastic waste is free from contaminants. As a result, they usually add stabilizers if they want to make recycled plastic for long-term applications. Compostable plastics can be precisely recycled or chemically recycled with other plastics, but recycling PLA alone is challenging.
Both OXO-biodegradable and compostable plastics are end-of-life options for plastics. OXO-biodegradable will biodegrade in the open air in the environment, while compostable plastics will degrade in a controlled environment, a composting facility, where the process begins with human intervention.
The biodegradation time period is different for both types of plastics. Compostable plastics degrade in two to six months in industrial compost, while OXO-biodegradable plastics will degrade in one to three years in the open environment. The degradation of compostable plastics releases carbon dioxide in the environment much quicker than OXO-biodegradable, which releases carbon dioxide much slower.
Eventually, the bacteria die, and the resulting biomass is the "dead bodies" of the microorganisms. Compostable plastic calls this biomass "compost." However, OXO-biodegradable does not claim to produce compost.
Benefits of oxo-degradable plastics
Here are some benefits of using oxo-degradable plastics:
- Oxo-degradable plastics maintain the same properties and strength as traditional plastics throughout their product lifespan.
- Oxo-degradable plastics have a long period of usability and can last for many years if kept indoors.
- Oxo-biodegradable plastics are both reusable and recyclable.
- Oxo-biodegradable plastics decompose in a landfill, without producing methane.
- Biodegradable plastics aid in the preservation of petroleum supplies.
Applications of oxo-degradable plastics
The use cases of oxo-biodegradable plastics can vary widely, ranging from short-lived products such as bread-wrappers that last a couple of months, to durable shopping bags meant to last for five years or more.
The conditions under which these products are disposed of can also vary greatly, from cold and wet environments to hot and dry desert conditions.
It is the responsibility of the organizations producing or using these products to evaluate the test results and determine whether the tested materials are suitable for the intended applications and conditions. They should also advertise the products accordingly.
Conclusion
Marine plastic litter is a global environmental issue as almost 10% of the 299 million tons of plastic produced worldwide ends up in the environment either intentionally or unintentionally.
To prevent environmental toxicity and danger to marine life, a solution was developed: oxo-biodegradable plastics. These plastics have components that allow them to biodegrade significantly faster in the presence of oxygen than conventional plastics. They turn into biodegradable matter that is supposedly harmless in a few months to a few years.
However, there are three main reasons why oxo-biodegradable plastic may be a hard sell:
- Cost - Bio-based plastics are more expensive than petro-based ones.
- Technical Challenges - Large-scale production of biodegradable plastics comes with a host of challenges, from low reactor space-time yields to considerable variation in feedstock composition and structure.
- Human Element - "Not Invented Here" (NIH) is an old but relevant adage which means the tendency to avoid using or buying products from external origins.
The extent to which biodegradable and oxo-biodegradable plastics degrade and biodegrade in the environment and the time frame in which this occurs are the most pressing issues. It is critical to determine if these types of plastics and the substances they produce are likely to accumulate and have an impact on the environment.
Toxicity tests have concluded that the final products resulting from the biodegradation of plastics and oxo-biodegradable plastics do not contain any residual toxic components and are environmentally safe.
RAPRA Technology Analytical Laboratories have certified oxo-biodegradable plastic as safe for long-term contact with any food type at temperatures up to 40°C according to European regulations. It has also been certified as compliant with FDA requirements in the US.