I went Shopping with Mum for groceries today. Finished shopping, felt disappointed with me because didn’t bring any reusable bags to take home the stuff. So we bought 3 plastic bags, which means there goes another effort because I have been trying to bring my reusable bag everywhere except this time. But there are 2 things I’m proud of.
1) Giant didn’t only ask us to pay for 20 sens for one bag (which I think it’s not enough) but the quality of the bag is very not convincing for people to take more too! it’s a lousy plastic bag! and sometimes aunties would want to take more for free just so in the assumption that they will use!
2) I bought Biodegradable Plastic bags from Giant =) It’s from First Choice brand, and just so you know, it’s not something new but has been years in the Market.
It’s 1 or 2 ringgit more expensive than the conventional ones, though. Some pictures as attached here.
They are put from side to side at the display shelves. I said about doing the most by a small step. I realise recently is getting out of control for my own carbon footprint. The main struggle is to be at home with the ones you love and you just insist to off the light and water from running when you need but the others have the reasons to on it. I said buying this biodegradable bags is one small step by doing the most for now. Seriously, if I can be ‘green’ outside with all the events and not doing any effort at home, it’s not only shame but living in denial every day. So there goes. More effort to come soon to green the home =) Put up EE applications? oh yea, not all light bulbs are energy saving yet!
So!
The first question came, how do I know if it’s really biodegradable anyways?
So I went to google it up, first choice brand, just got to know the company’s background etc but not really the detail. Ending up I went to find what really made the plastic bags biodegradable or not? It’s here!
Biodegradable/degradable plastics can be made from many different sources and materials as listed below:
- Starch-based polymers:- Thermoplastic starch based polymers made with at least 90% starch from renewable resources such as corn, potato, tapioca or wheat.
- Polyesters (Bacteria based polymers):- Polyesters manufactured from hydrocarbons (oil or gas). All polyesters degrade eventually, with degradation rates ranging from weeks for aliphatic polyesters(e.g. polyhydroxyalkanoates). Bacteria are an additional treatment used to create a different type of biodegradable polymer.
- Starch or Polyester blends:- Mixed with thermoplastic starch with polyesters made from hydrocarbons.
- Oxo-biodegradable polymers:- These polymers undergo controlled degradation through the incorporation of ‘pro-degradant’ additive ( the additive that can trigger and accelerate the degradation process). This polymer undergo accelerated oxidative define degradation initiated by natural daylight, heat and/or mechanical stress, and embrittle in the environment and erode under the influence of weathering.
- Photodegradable polymers:- These polymers are those that break down through the action of ultraviolet(UV) light, which degrades the chemical bond or link in the polymer or chemical structure of the plastic. This process can be assisted by the presence of UV-sensitive additives in a polymer.
- Water-soluble polymers:- These polymers are those that dissolve in water within a designated temperature range and then biodegrade in contact with microorganisms.
So now you know! so its just adding up 1 2 ringgit to buy a better product for nature. why not?
