At DILLING, we aim for sustainability in every decision, whether it is big or small, and this is why we have chosen to send your orders in compostable and sustainable bags.
The corn bag
The bag is based on the bioplastic type PLA, which is the most widespread compostable bioplastic type. The base of the bioplastic is corn – a pesticide free, GMO-free, inedible corn with a high starch content. The glue which closes the bag, the dye, and the text printed on the bag are also bio-friendly, although the glue and dye are not 100% bioplastic. Therefore, the bags are 99% bio-friendly.What are compostable bags?
As an ordinary consumer, it can be difficult to understand which plastics are/aren’t compostable. This is mainly because many companies use eco-labels loosely without actually intending to mean that the products can be decomposed in and by nature without adding harmful chemicals to the soil. This means that although it may say degradable, biodegradable, oxodegradable, or biobased on the product, you can’t be sure it is truly compostable and can enter into the natural cycle.The fact our bags are compostable, means that once they have been composed together with other waste, they can be reused as compost – without adding any harmful chemicals or anything else that does not belong in nature into the environment.
But don’t worry, we will show you some easily recognisable certifications and illustrations that you can look for to be certain that what you buy will not leave any unwanted chemicals in the soil.
For you to be sure that the plastic you are buying is really compostable, the product must be approved by and live up to one of the following standards EN 13432/EN 14995, ISO 18606/ISO 17088, or ASTM 6400/ASTM 6868. To be completely sure that the packaging is approved by one of the standards, you will have to look it up on their website or ask the company directly.
If you see one of the illustrations below on a product, you can be sure it is compostable.
The 3 top certifications are issued by the Belgian certification organisation TÜV and the bottom one in blue, is issued by DIN CERTCO. These two organisations (TÜV and DIN CERTCO) are the two organisations in Europe that issue labels and certifications based on the mentioned standards.
Amongst other things, if a product has one of these illustrations on it, it means that it can be decomposed in to CO2, water, biomass. It also means that 90% of the product, alongside other biodegradable waste, will be broken down in to pieces smaller than 2x2 millimeters in 180 days. This is why you should look for the certifications OK compost, OK compost HOME, or Seedling, and not just eco-lables and concepts.
What should you do with your bag after use?
You can put your bag directly in the bin – it is that easy. When you put your bag in the bin it will go into the incinerator at the recycling center. This means that it won’t put anything negative or positive into the environment. It should not be placed into plastic waste, as it is not ordinary plastic.Our bags are designed to be decomposed alongside other waste, such as food waste, and go back in to nature as compost that will end up in our gardens or on the fields. Unfortunately, industrial composting, bio gasification, or reusing goods is not very prevalent in recycling centers yet, therefore it is not possible for the bag to be decomposed and contribute to the environment in a positive way – therefore, for now, we must be satisfied with neutral.
Source: https://www.maistic.com/
Source: https://www.european-bioplastics.org
