Increased consumerism has led to increased production of waste. Wastes in the form of large quantities of synthetic polymers or plastics end up in landfills and oceans, causing immense harm to the environment.
Nowadays, firms are trying to address the problem of waste by investing in research to find alternatives to pollution-causing plastics. One step toward preserving environmental sustainability is the production of compostable mailers. The manufacture of compostable, biobased plastics in the hope that natural degradation will quell at least some of the waste.
Constituents of compostable mailers
Compostable mailers are made with a combination of fossil-fuel-based PBAT and corn-based PLA bioplastic. Created to fight the increasing plastic problem around the world, PBAT is a good alternative to plastic.
The polymer PBAT breaks down completely when composted commercially or at home, leaving no residue behind. Furthermore, its decomposition does not lead to the emission of methane or any other toxic gas. A compostable mailer generally constitutes 70 - 85% PBAT and 15 - 30% PLA. Hence use of compostable mailers made from PBAT and corn-based PLA leaves small carbon footprints in the environment.
Use of PBAT in the Packaging Industry
E-Commerce has significantly increased online buying, leading to the movement of large volumes of packages wrapped in packaging material to keep them secure. Polythene films and bags worked as good packaging material as they protected the product through inclement weather, bad transit conditions, mishandling and other such misadventures that the brought product encounters through its journey from source to destination. This resulted in the creation of a large amount of plastic waste, most of which ended up in landfills.
By switching to compostable packaging solutions, the industry can significantly reduce plastic pollution. PBAT can be produced at a large scale and has the requisite physical properties to make flexible films like those made from conventional plastics.
Packaging involves printing inks and adhesives that, even if certified compostable, bring toxins and chemicals into compost. Bioplastic packaging offers no nutrients to compost and instead makes the output wetter, more difficult to manage and more difficult to sell, which in turn makes these operations harder and less economically-viable to run.
Key Takeaways
The salient features of compostable mailers far outweigh the negatives. Compostable mailers
are sturdy, strong and durable
are of various sizes and colours,
are water-resistant
are fully compostable
reduce carbon footprints
do not emit toxic gases during composting
tested and certified by composting authoritative bodies
Compostable mailers provide a modern, alternative solution to the problem of plastic waste. These innovative compostable mailers benefit not only the businesses and consumers but also the environment. If you wish to go green by embracing sustainable living, start buying products that are compostable or biodegradable at NaturTrust.
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