As supply chains become increasingly aware of the importance of moving toward sustainability, greener options like corn starch packaging are being recognized as more than just a public relations alternative. It would still be great to know about all teabags & tissues, & ideally making all manufacturers report all ingredients & processes (total transparency) would be best!! While not a permanent solution, reusing items that are in good condition is always an eco-friendly hack worth trying. I have some concerns and was wondering if anyone could help: I cant use toughend plastic as most drinks are takeaway, similar to a festival. Dell ships products using packaging made from mushrooms, and U-Haul uses biodegradable peanuts made from corn and potato starch. PLA materials can be used for many applications but this does not compare to the uses of the more common plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used to make bottles consumers use every day. Some say bioplasticsmade from 20 percent or more of renewable materialscould be the solution to plastic pollution. Antonio has a lot of knowledge about these things, coming from a scientific background, and has taught me a lot about some of the things I really dont want to necessarily think about I dont always agree with him, but I welcome open discussion and debate on the site. it would be far better if we could do away with compostable / biodegradable plastics in my opinion and concentrate on 3 or 4 polymers which could cover all our needs AND be recycled in this country. If you would like to, you can put the packaging onto a compost heap or send it . You can also offer them up on your local buy-nothing group. Just to let you know, Antonio isnt the only person here who is pro incineration and we welcome all sides of the debate as long as things are kept respectful . They use them for morning cereal or movie night popcorn for a few months until they crack somewhere. Refillable Packaging. So there you go. For example most people will agree that water is harmless, we need it to survive, but if you knock you head and fall face first into a bowl of water you can drown (it has happened) so something harmless can become deadly. How does lighter packaging reduce transport costs? The problem of fly ash and bottom ash (known as slag- nothing personal Mrs G) from EFw is nothing compared to that produced by the coal Power station where heavy and toxic metals (some rare, having high values) are produced. The following is quite a long and detailed response, and I hope it will answer all your questions. Cut the tray into 1.25 cm (1/2 inch) strips. They are made from some type of dissolvable material (such as corn starch or sorghum) and cannot be recycled. What you can do with biodegradable vs standard or traditional packing peanuts varies greatly. They are eco-friendly, recyclable and reusable. Corn starch packaging can be very beneficial to the environment and your business. Composting by local authorities is done at high heat and is quite efficient and speedy. Its worth looking into isnt it; to find out the facts. According to a new report from the Rethink Plastic Alliance, a reusable packaging target of 50% in key sectors could drastically reduce CO2 emissions, water consumption and waste. I'm normally the one telling you to STOP throwing things in the, You've reduced your food waste to virtually zero, you've got a Zero Waste beauty routine, you, I want to revisit reducing food waste because it's such an important one and it's one, Biodegradable plastic bags carry more ecological harm than good. My view is to minimise EFW(Incineration) by using Zero Waste Alternatives like AD (for food waste). And definitely in less than 72 days. Referring back to those different materials, not all biodegradable packing peanuts are compostable, but some are. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems that UK retailers allow their packaging decisions to be made by marketeers rather technologists, which is a little disappointing. Reuse the packaging material. 2. Find Recycling Guides for Other Materials. Even the best processes in the world produces waste and you have to plan for this and what to do with it. Because they're natural, their starches break down in water and can be rinsed down the drain safely without wreaking havoc on pipes or the environment. In cineration should not be discounted because of some NIMBYs who do not have the expertise to understand or design such a plant. Whether packing peanuts can be recycled or not depends largely on what they are made of and the type of recycling facilities that exist in your area. Hi Mrs Green, Because PLA is plant based, it needs to be disposed of in a composting facility. Am I pro landfill? While the peanuts wont likely do any harm, they are also unlikely to dissolve as fast as desired. Most cities do not accept any forms of expanded polystyrene (EPS) through curbside programs, but youll want to check locally. @Teresa: We have an Emmaus local to us; I should check it out and see what they are up to thanks for the reminder It concerns me that if we burn things they are lost forever. Im not sure WHAT the answer is. But when disposed of in landfills, it can release methane while decomposing, which is harmful to the environment. I dont agree with you at all. Do the transport companies charge per kilo? However, there is no recycling market for either of these materials, meaning unless you compost them, theyll eventually end up in a landfill. They're shaped similar to limbs so they make good people sculptures. In addition, the color indicates how they should be disposed of. This is where I think EfW incineration may have a place in the waste stream. sorry, in the above comment, at the end of para 3, it is meant to say we are having a very linear, not cyclical approach to packaging production and energy.. To begin, by converting to maize starch PLA, you may strengthen your brand by portraying yourself as an ethical and socially conscious firm. I think your best bet would be to contact a plastics manufacturing company to ask these questions. What is a little disappointing is that the company introduced the material to the market BEFORE they fully researched its compostability. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Small changes by thousands of individuals will have a lasting, positive impact. However, they're not always processed in food-safe facilities and shouldn't be eaten as food. This would stop the otherwise inevitable waste result. if it breaks down after 70 days, how long a shelf life can products have in it? Corn Starch Based Materials. I agree with you about incineration. I havent seen any other web site (even CAT Centre for Alternative Technology) that is aware of this plastic contamination due to tea bags because they all recommend composting them. Incineration with energy recovery, particularly if that includes district heating, is viewed as better than landfill and, from the greenhouse emissions perspective (particularly methane) that is probably right but its not good enough. Personally I dont trust biodegradable plastics much, and it doesnt really make sense to not biodegrade with yogurt in it.. Pressure and economic incentives will need to be applied to encourage manufacturers to change their materials, transport and packaging systems; ultimately their factory locations, product design and manufacturing methods too. I completely understand what you are saying and yes I agree, incineration is a method of waste disposal which is by no means zero waste. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thinkingsustainably_com-box-3','ezslot_8',140,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thinkingsustainably_com-box-3-0'); Sure, it might be a great way to prevent breakage on a fragile item, but we are then left wondering what to do with a box full of Styrofoam peanuts after delivery. Made up of fermented sugars, this packaging can quickly decompose, unlike plastics. Though if you google biodegradable packaging yogurt quite some links pop up, so you might do some reading.. some stuff pops up if you add corn starch to the mix, but Im too busy to google right now Wishing you to find out lots, and do tell us if you find anything exciting! The rest of the answer followed duly, a week later, as promised. Styrofoam is a Dow Chemical Company branded product used for coffee cups, coolers, and packaging materials. It still needs to be disposed of correctly though. However, it is disappointing that home compostable material may never be found. EVEN (and I say even because I am not at all convinced of the carefully monitored emissions) if they are safe then there is no getting away from the fact that incinerators are a waste of resources. They also say to be using Home Compostable stuff, & they say PLA doesnt compost well at home-? These other materials have recycling/reuse markets, but youre not going to find a recycler that will accept them all together. It all about risk minimisation and as I have sent previously most plants are designed to be environmental sound first, then safe, Engineers have developed tools in order to minimise impact on the environment. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'thinkingsustainably_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_10',141,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thinkingsustainably_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Packing peanuts have long been a conundrum and with delivery services only increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding how to dispose of these peanuts has become a more pressing need. This shows your food waste mantra to be a false premise. I have been putting biodegradable plastic, teabags and tissues in my compost for the past year. Recycle More Guide For more information, . The material does not hold up well in water, so in cases where packaging might come in contact with moisture, the foam needs a plastic liner. Best Answer. If you have room in your house/apartment, store the packing peanuts for reuse when shipping gifts for the holidays or birthdays. NatureWorks is the world's largest producer of PLA, and a key partner to Vegware. There are many solutions to common household disposal problems, learn more now. Therefore companies are looking to use recyclable and biodegradable packaging materials where possible. Dip the ends in a little water or wet them on your toungue, touch them togethet and they stick. Recovering that fraction of the energy out of burning waste only appears, at a casual glance, to be a plus because most never think of the much larger amount of energy (not to mention the generated pollution, resource depletion, habitat change etc.) A leaf and an arrow-shaped tree (as well as the word "Compostable") make up the BPI-approved symbol. Most of us on here are not happy with incineration except for medical waste as dioxins are produced. We also have to consider functional barriers in order to meet shelf life and PLA is not always suitable for all products. We all need to recycle as much as possible but waste will still be generated and that is My point. Environmentally Friendly Options, Can Antifreeze Be Recycled? My plants are healthier, put out twice the fruit, and are sweeter. You wont reduce food waste by better plastic packaging; youll reduce it by getting back to the root of the problem which is lack of understanding by householders and corrupt values in our society. I noticed a while ago that Coop tissues, in addition to wood pulp have a wet strength additive. They are either too lazy or too rushed not to drop them or if they do pick them up again. I usually do my supermarket shopping at Sainsburys, where the organic fruit and veg is wrapped in compostable plastic, which is made from maize, sugar cane or starch, and they say that it in tests it breaks down faster than a banana skin: http://www.j-sainsbury.com/cr/index.asp?pageid=69&year=archive§ion=3 However it does not say whether the tests were based on industrial or home composting, and in practice I have found large bits of this plastic that have not broken down. I have a neighbor that spends hundreds of dollars on special soil, fertilizer, amendments, watering systems, etc. There is no Zero Waste outcome to EFW(Incineration) but 25% waste. While the material it is made of is recyclable, foam peanuts cannot be unexpanded. The only way to recycle expanded polystyrene is to compact it and grind it for use in other applications. For example, The Big Compost experiment, a citizen science test of how well compostable plastic items break down in home compost bins, found that . These apparent benefits are largely greenwash in the marketing of products to a naive public the marketing industry shares a lot of the responsibility for the mess we are now in because they seem to work on the principle that if people think they are getting something, then that is just about as good as if they actually are getting it. It can be made from any sugar, such as corn starch, cassava, sugar cane, or sugar beet. Four Ways to Declutter Your Home - the Sustainable Way. With a higher weight than traditional packing peanuts, the eco-friendly version increases shipping costs. Also with composting, the material is broken down and all energy pretty much lost. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. Basically, what I am saying is, PLA is a good product in terms of it being biodegradable, however, rather than being composted, would it be better off going down a waste stream with other plastics and non recyclable waste, such as incineration with energy recovery, where disposal does not leave us only with CO2 and water, but energy? Is it more expensive than standard polystyrene packaging (normal yoghurt pots) ? If we can address this problem we can reduce emissions released during the growing, transportation and packaging of food by much more than can be achieved by playing around with the type of packaging used. Our viewpoint is consumer based but has a natural overlap with the anti-incineration people. The decision is based on risk and how the risk is managed, so that a high risk can become a law risk or vice versa (for an engineering point of view Risk is difficult to measure and define). I am a true Yorkshireman and believe in calling a spade a spade. Happily, this technology is developing fast, after much talk and little action in previous years. Learn how and where to recycle packing peanuts and explore simple and creative ways to reuse this material around the house. Prevention is the key to stopping pesticide use in your garden. However, if the material is not disposed of correctly cornstarch-based material will take longer to decompose, especially if there is no oxygen or light available. BTWI am not a big fan of the microwave food products. Teresa you must learn to read properly I said Remember the choice for waste that cannot be reuse, reduce or recycled is to either landfill or burn so all your points are moot. These plastics cannot be recycled and do not belong in your King County curbside recycling bin. PLA is a compostable bioplastic derived from plant sugars. Cornstarch packing peanuts are nearly identical to styrofoam ones in look and function but are completely biodegradable. 1 - PET, used for drinks bottles and some food packaging: Widely recycled. The tissues so far seem to have broken down ok but who knows if there are some invisible molecules of something nasty lingering behind . If we are to have these breakdown-style products in the mix they do need to be separated and delivered to appropriate processing facilities just as one should any other recyclate. In addition, PLA and corn starch packaging are not alternative materials for the plastics we use. The whole point about why we talk about composting, waste/energy/greenhouse gas reductions etc. No, although states like California are considering legislation that would ban polystyrene entirely. You seem to prefer EfW to landfill when both have big negatives. By making a shift toward sustainability, supply chains ultimately lower their costs because the raw materials needed to make corn starch packaging is cheap and easy to produce. The issue, however, is that with the current consumer market and the way in which the vast majority of the UK public live their lives, it is near on impossible for complete zero waste, waste disposal techniques to be anything more than pie in the sky at the moment. Its more popular on the continent than in Britain because charity shops are less common abroad. Simultaneously, it muddies the waters with promises of apparently clean, useful solutions and relatively painless keep right on consuming subliminal messages which unfortunately will prove to be red herrings and a tragic waste of time and effort and will, in due course, end up with the planet and us broken at the bottom of the crevasse. once its incinerated, its gone and weve lost the resource. We dont use corn starch for all our packaging at the moment it is mainly used for products in our Food To Go range such as sandwich containers. I have looked at the arguments which claim that incineration hinders recycling, but by looking at our European friends, such as Germany, they incinerate almost five times the amount of waste we do but have higher recycling rates, the form of waste treatment which tkes the hit is landfill. But i fear that is a long way off and maybe will never happen. Historically, these airy bits of packing material were made of expanded polystyrene (EPS). Neil Brown, customer advisor at that time, wrote: The beauty of cornstarch packaging, is that you can dispose of it exactly how you like and the result will still be environmentally friendly. To do this, place the packing peanuts in a container of warm water and wait for them to break down. While challenging at times, there are a few ways to recycle used packing peanuts. WRAP estimates that more than one third of food sold in the UK is wasted. Other local shipping companies in your area may also accept used packing peanuts, so be sure to call around. I also find that the teabags dont break down as well unless I tear them open, but I have been putting the whole bag in. 4 Reasons why you Should Buy Loose Fruit and Vegetables! The pharmaceutical company Sandoz began using Green Cell Foam in 2008, and in an interview with Packaging World a couple years later, Mark Kuhl, the company's then-packaging development and . Disadvantages of corn starch polymers: The biggest disadvantage of bio plastics and corn plastic, is associated with the rate of bio degradation and recycling. Bioplastics made from natural materials such as corn starch. The thing is that, again, I completely agree with you that councils will reject incineration as will the public, and in all honesty, I would also be rejecting it also, if I didnt believe it to be, currently, the most suitable alternative to landfill for our non recyclable and non compostable waste. If in doubt, dont compost. Green Cell Foam. The biggest advantage of biodegradable packing peanuts is their sustainability. The highlighted parts youre gonna inquire about this, right? Incineration is prefered over landfill as at least energy is produced from it. @Chris Ramsay: Hi Chris, It is good to see some positive outcomes with PLA, though the material is not specifically designed for all types of composting, damp composting for example. One company trying to change this is Biome Bioplastics, which has developed a fully compostable and recyclable cup using natural materials such as potato starch, corn starch, and cellulose, the . Protect your package and your planet with 100% compostable packaging foam. Well not especially, but if there were literally two choices; landfill or incineration I would opt for landfill. Ultimately, any system which demands a steady supply of combustible waste will ensure that we will fail to make the other side of the crevasse. My comments here are in no way meant to annoy anybody so please do not think I am writing here merely cause a stir or get a reaction from you fine people. Unlike plastics, cornstarch packaging is 100% compostable and biodegradable .