Oxo-biodegradable plastic can be part of an overall strategy to improve our environment as it meets the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Redesign.
I think you’d be hard pressed to find somebody who isn’t aware that plastic waste is a serious environmental issue. Anybody who viewed the heart wrenching final episode of Blue Planet II at the end of last year will have witnessed the devastating impact of plastics on marine life.
A rallying cry spread across social media and now more pressure than ever is on governments and brands to do more to reduce plastic packaging.
What is single-use plastic?
Single-use, or disposable plastics, are items that are only used once before they are thrown away or recycled. Half of our overall plastic waste comes from single-use products, and only 10% of plastic items worldwide are recycled.
The reason for this is that petroleum based plastic is notoriously difficult to recycle; chemicals and virgin materials have to be added. That’s why it usually ends up in buried in landfill from where it finds its way into our oceans.
Why is that bad?
Because petroleum based plastic cannot biodegrade. What it can do is break down into particles, after umpteen years, releasing toxic chemicals in the process that can make their way into our water and food supplies.
Since we produce hundreds of millions of tons of plastic each year, it is clear that we need to move towards more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Introducing oxo-biodegradable plastic
The Tagit team has long been committed to working with our customers and suppliers to combat the effects of climate change, reduce waste, safeguard natural resources and trade ethically in all we do.
We are continually looking for ways to make our packaging solutions more environmentally friendly. Recently, our team in India has devised transformational technology that can create a whole new raw material with attributes not found in traditional plastics.
This oxo-biodegradable plastic is made from corn starch and can degrade and biodegrade in the open environment. It breaks down in the same way as natural waste, by naturally occurring bacteria and fungi.
Biodegradable plastic takes just three to six months to fully decompose. It can biodegrade on land, or in water. The best part is, it leaves behind no toxic chemicals or microplastics in the process.
What’s next for biodegradable plastic?
In short, the possibilities are endless. We will be working closely with our team in India to see how we can incorporate this technology into our packaging manufacturing processes at the earliest opportunity.
As brands look carefully at their plastic output, and make the necessary changes to reduce their single-use plastic packaging waste, we will be able to offer them a real viable alternative. Great news for us, our customers, and our planet!
Choosing Tagit as your packaging partner means choosing a company with real environmental integrity. We are committed to doing business in a more enlightened way, and taking responsibility for the impact of our work on the world around us. Contact us today to discuss your next packaging project.
James Rowland
James Rowland is the Managing Director of Tagit Ltd, which he co-founded in 1996. His passion for all things related to design and packaging came from working in the art department of a packaging firm after leaving school in the late 80s. He taught himself to run the litho printers and die cutting machinery, and built up the production arm of the UK business. James’ entire career has been centred around the innovation, design and production of jewellery and accessory packaging, which is why Tagit attracts and retains clients around the globe. James cares deeply for the environment and has made it his mission to offer the best recyclable and sustainable packaging solutions for his customers, even if it affects the profitability of Tagit.