With the fight against single-use plastic bags intensifying more than ever, buzzwords such as biodegradable or compostable plastics get thrown around and used but what do they actually mean? What are people referring to when they say that and is it the way forward when it comes to packaging?

‘Biodegradable’ is a term that’s often used to describe plastic packaging that breaks down into the ground, albeit after a long time. However, calling traditional polyethylene (PE) packaging biodegradable would be incorrect as PE does not break down into organic matter but rather into microplastics which are harmful to the environment.

So, what is actually biodegradable? When we refer to biodegradable packaging, we refer to packaging that has been manufactured from raw material that breaks down completely into organic matter and is non-toxic for the environment. This includes our compostable and hot water-soluble packaging solutions.

At Green Master Packaging, we offer compostable packaging solutions which we manufacture using corn starch. These bags can break down completely into organic matter that don’t leave behind the same environmental impact as their PE counterparts. Furthermore, they don’t compromise on the strength that PE provides.

Note: some manufacturers use a blend of polyethylene and compostable raw materials, creating “hybrid” bags to reduce manufacturing costs however, the PE component of these bags are NOT compostable/biodegradable and still pose a danger to the environment. By using 100% compostable material, our bags are guaranteed to break down completely without leaving behind harmful microplastics.