Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Understanding biodegradable poly mailers
1.1 What is a biodegradable poly mailer?
A biodegradable poly mailer is an eco-friendly packaging option made from biodegradable materials. It can decompose over time through various techniques like photodegradation, oxidation, and biological degradation, thereby avoiding environmental pollution. These mailers have good transparency, heat resistance, high tensile strength, impact resistance, rigidity, and toughness, with low heat shrinkage rates.
1.2 What are biodegradable poly mailers made of?
The main raw materials for biodegradable poly mailers include natural high molecular weight materials and biodegradable polymers. Specifically, there are several types:
Starch-based plastics: These are made by blending starch and plastics through a specific process. The primary materials are starch and polyethylene, along with certain degradation agents and plasticizers.
Polylactic acid (PLA): This is a biodegradable polyester plastic made from lactic acid through polymerization.
Cellulose: Another natural high molecular weight material, cellulose can also be used to make biodegradable plastic mailers.
Aliphatic polyesters, polylactic acid, polyvinyl alcohol: These are produced from microbial fermentation or synthetic biodegradable polymers.
PBS (polybutylene succinate): This material can be produced using petrochemical raw materials or through fermentation of renewable crops like starch, cellulose, glucose, etc.
These raw materials are extracted from natural plant fibers or biomass such as starch, making them edible and biodegradable, hence relatively safe. Under composting conditions, these materials can degrade and dissolve due to biological reactions, ultimately breaking down into carbon dioxide, water, and other new biomass.
However, despite the environmental friendliness of these raw materials, the production process of biodegradable poly mailers may involve adding chemicals to enhance their toughness and stability. These additives could potentially pose hazards to human health and the environment. Therefore, when choosing and using biodegradable plastic mailers, it’s important to ensure that their biodegradability claims are certified and supported by recognized standards.
1.3 Benefits of biodegradable poly mailers
Biodegradable poly mailers offer several significant advantages, making them valuable in terms of environmental protection and sustainable development. Here are some key advantages:
Environmental friendliness: The primary advantage of biodegradable plastics is their ability to naturally decompose over time, avoiding long-term environmental pollution. These materials can break down into water, carbon dioxide, and other natural substances under microbial action, reducing pollution of soil and water bodies.
Pollution reduction: Compared to traditional plastics, the use of biodegradable plastics can significantly reduce environmental pollution from plastic waste. Traditional plastics take a long time to degrade in natural environments, even hundreds of years, whereas biodegradable plastics decompose much faster, helping to lighten the environmental burden.
Biocompatibility: Some biodegradable plastics exhibit good biocompatibility, meaning they can coexist with biological tissues or cells without causing adverse reactions. This makes them promising for a wide range of applications in the medical field, such as surgical sutures, drug carriers, etc.
Sustainability: The raw materials for biodegradable plastics often come from renewable resources like plant starch, cellulose, etc., enhancing their sustainability. Using these materials can reduce reliance on finite petroleum resources and contribute to sustainable development.
Versatility: Biodegradable plastics perform similarly to traditional plastics and even excel in some aspects. They can possess good transparency, strength, toughness, etc., making them suitable for manufacturing various packaging, containers, and disposable items.
Chapter 2: Certifications from authorities
Certification by authoritative institutions for biodegradable poly mailers primarily involves several aspects, including the degradation performance of the product, compliance with environmental standards, and quality control in the production process. Here are some key points regarding certification by authoritative institutions for biodegradable poly mailers:
Degradation performance certification: Authoritative institutions rigorously test the degradation performance of biodegradable poly mailers to ensure they can completely decompose into environmentally friendly substances within a specified period. These tests may include biodegradation tests, photodegradation tests, etc., to verify the speed and extent of degradation of the plastic mailers.
Environmental standard certification: Biodegradable poly mailers need to comply with relevant environmental standards and regulations, such as international standards ISO 14855-1 and ISO 14855-2, EU standard EN 13432, as well as Chinese national standards GB/T 20197-2006 and GB/T 21961-2008, among others. Authoritative institutions conduct tests and verification against these standards to ensure product compliance.
Quality certification: In addition to degradation performance and environmental standards, authoritative institutions also certify the quality control of the production process for biodegradable poly mailers. This includes quality control of raw materials, compliance of production processes, and safety performance of products.
In China, some well-known certification institutions such as China Quality Certification Center (CQC) and China Environmental Labeling Product Certification Committee (CEC) provide certification services for biodegradable poly mailers. These institutions conduct comprehensive testing and evaluation of biodegradable poly mailers based on relevant standards and regulations to ensure they meet environmental requirements and market demands.
It is important to note that certification standards and requirements may vary across different countries and regions. Therefore, when selecting a certification institution, it’s crucial to ensure that the institution is authoritative and internationally recognized. Additionally, businesses should actively understand and comply with local environmental laws and standards to ensure product compliance and sustainable development.
As for the specific certification process and application method, businesses typically need to first contact the certification institution to understand the requirements and procedures. They then submit the required application materials and undergo testing and evaluation as per the requirements. Upon certification, businesses receive the corresponding certification certificate and label to prove the environmental performance and quality level of their products.
Chapter 3: How to customize biodegradable poly mailers
3.1 Different types of biodegradable poly mailers
There are various types of biodegradable poly mailers. Here are some common types:
Microorganism composed biodegradable poly mailers: These bags contain biopolymers such as bio-polyesters, bio-cellulose, polysaccharides, and polyamino acids, which can be completely decomposed by microorganisms in nature.
Polylactic acid microorganism biodegradable poly mailers: These bags are made from lactic acid produced by microbial fermentation, and they actively degrade after use. Polylactic acid can be processed into fibers and films with excellent mechanical properties, and it hydrolyzes into lactic acid and acetic acid in biological organisms, further metabolized by enzymes into carbon dioxide and water. They are especially suitable for medical materials.
Starch poly mailers: These bags contain over 90% starch and other additives that can completely degrade. They degrade very quickly, usually within 1 month to 1 year, leaving no traces and causing no pollution. These bags can be used to make various containers, bottles, film bags, and garbage bags.
Organic biodegradable poly mailers: These bags contain organic substances like polycarbonates, which can degrade under environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity, without producing harmful substances, making them environmentally friendly.
Biomimetic biodegradable poly mailers: These bags are produced by combining natural high molecular weight materials with synthetic materials. They degrade without producing any harmful substances, making them non-polluting to the environment.
Additionally, based on their different uses, biodegradable poly mailers can also be categorized as flat bags, carry bags, self-sealing bags, vest bags, express delivery bags, garment bags, etc. These bags are fully biodegradable, breaking down into water and carbon dioxide without impacting the environment.
When selecting biodegradable poly mailers, consumers can choose the appropriate type based on their specific needs and purposes. Furthermore, to ensure quality and environmental performance, consumers can also pay attention to the certification status and compliance with environmental standards of the products.
Chapter 4: Processing techniques
The process of manufacturing biodegradable poly mailers mainly involves the following steps:
Raw material selection and preparation: Choose materials that meet biodegradability requirements, such as polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and other biodegradable materials. The raw materials need to be screened, cleaned, and crushed to ensure quality and purity.
Addition of additives: To improve the physical and chemical properties of the materials, such as degradation rate, tensile strength, and thermal stability, additives like degradation agents, plasticizers, stabilizers, etc., can be added.
Mixing and pelletizing: Mix the cleaned and crushed raw materials with additives in a certain proportion, then extrude the mixture into pellets through an extruder. Pelletizing is done to facilitate subsequent extrusion molding.
Extrusion molding: Place the pelletized raw materials into an extruder, heat them to melt. The molten materials are then pushed through the extruder’s screw and molded using a customized mold according to the style and size of the plastic bags.
Post-processing: The plastic bags produced through extrusion molding need to undergo processes like cooling, stretching, and cutting. Cooling solidifies the plastic bags, stretching enhances their transparency and strength, and finally, they are cut into complete bag-shaped products.
It’s important to note that the degradation of biodegradable poly mailers requires specific conditions such as temperature, humidity, and microbial involvement. Under the right conditions, biodegradable poly mailers gradually break down into small molecular substances, eventually forming carbon dioxide, water, organic matter, and other natural substances without causing environmental pollution.
Furthermore, different biodegradable materials may require different molding processes, such as injection molding, compression molding, etc. The choice of specific processes should be based on the material’s characteristics and product requirements.
In summary, the process of manufacturing biodegradable plastic bags is complex and meticulous, requiring strict control of quality and conditions in each step to ensure the performance and quality of the final products. Adjustments and optimizations should be made during the actual production process to achieve the best production results.
Chatper 5: Common issues and solutions for biodegradable poly mailers
Biodegradable poly mailers may encounter various issues during production and use, involving production processes, material performance, usage conditions, and more. Here are some common problems and their corresponding solutions.
5.1 Issues in the production process
Retention of hot air
Problem: During the production process, biodegradable poly mailers may retain hot air, leading to bag deformation or poor shrinkage.
Solution: Increase the number of air vents to speed up air leakage; slightly reduce the conveyor belt speed of the packaging machine to allow more time for hot air to escape; increase the packaging machine temperature to facilitate air expulsion.
Blurring of plastic bag surface
Problem: The surface of biodegradable plastic bags becomes blurry, resembling a thin mist.
Solution: Lower the packaging machine temperature to reduce the heating time of the plastic; adjust the conveyor belt speed to ensure appropriate contact time of the plastic with heat.
Wrinkles on plastic bag surface
Problem: Wrinkles resembling fish eyes appear on the surface of biodegradable plastic bags.
Solution: Increase the working temperature of the packaging machine; adjust the conveyor belt speed to avoid rapid movements.
Poor shrinkage of plastic bag corners and edges
Problem: The corners and edges of plastic bags do not shrink properly, forming a series of wrinkles.
Solution: Reduce the number of air vents to prevent rapid air escape; lower the conveyor belt speed to ensure complete shrinkage of the plastic.
These solutions address common issues encountered during the production of biodegradable poly mailers, ensuring better quality and performance of the final products.
Printing issues
Problem: Printing colors are inaccurate or printing is blurry.
Solution: Provide clear printing requirements during customization, including colors, patterns, and printing methods.
5.2 Issues during use
Degradation conditions not met
Problem: Biodegradable poly mailers are difficult to degrade under normal environmental conditions.
Solution: Understand and follow the degradation conditions specified in the product instructions, such as specific temperature, humidity, and microbial environments.
Inaccurate specifications
Problem: The specifications of biodegradable plastic bags do not meet requirements, leading to inconvenience in use.
Solution: Provide accurate specifications during customization, including width, thickness, total width at folds, etc.
5.3 Other considerations
Storage: Biodegradable plastic bags should be stored in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight and high temperatures.
Recycling handling: Properly categorize and recycle biodegradable plastic bags to avoid mixing with regular plastic bags.
Addressing issues with biodegradable poly mailers requires considering multiple aspects such as production processes, usage conditions, storage environments, etc., and implementing appropriate solutions. Strengthening quality management and supervision is also essential to ensure that the product’s quality and environmental performance meet relevant standards and requirements.
Chapter 6: Future development directions
Technological innovation: With advances in technology, the future of biodegradable poly mailers will focus more on technological innovation. For example, improving production processes and material formulations to enhance the degradation speed and rate of biodegradable plastics; concurrently, developing biodegradable plastic materials with higher strength and durability to meet various industry needs.
Environmental performance Optimization: Environmental performance is the core competitive advantage of biodegradable poly mailers. In the future, as environmental requirements increase, biodegradable poly mailers will place more emphasis on optimizing environmental performance. For instance, reducing energy consumption and emissions during production to minimize environmental impact; simultaneously, improving product recyclability and recycling rates to effectively utilize resources.
Market expansion and diversified applications: With the maturation of biodegradable plastic technology and cost reduction, its application scope will continue to expand. Apart from traditional packaging, biodegradable poly mailers may also find applications in medical, agricultural, construction, and other fields in the future. Additionally, as international markets demand more environmentally friendly products, the market for biodegradable poly mailers will further expand.
In summary, the development journey of biodegradable poly mailers is full of challenges and opportunities. In the future, with technological innovation and increased environmental requirements, biodegradable poly mailers will be applied in more areas, making a greater contribution to environmental protection efforts.
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