With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the problem of environmental pollution caused by traditional plastic bags has become increasingly prominent. Environmentally friendly degradable packaging bags came into being, becoming an important measure to solve the problem of plastic pollution and promote sustainable development. ​

First, material characteristics

Based on biological materials

Environmentally friendly degradable packaging bags mostly use bio-based materials, such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyl fatty acid ester (PHA), starch-based plastics. Polylactic acid is made from starch raw materials extracted from renewable plant resources (such as corn, cassava, etc.), and has good thermal stability and processing performance. Polyhydroxy-fatty acid esters are polyesters synthesized by microorganisms using carbon sources under certain conditions, which have biocompatibility and degradability. Starch-based plastics take starch as the main raw material and are prepared by blending or modifying with other polymers, and the cost is relatively low. Degradable additives: Some degradable plastic bags also add degradable additives, such as photosensitizers, biodegradation promoters and so on. Photosensitizers can accelerate the decomposition of plastic bags under light conditions, and biodegradation promoters can enhance the decomposition of microorganisms on plastic bags to further improve the degradation efficiency. ​

Second, degradation principle

Biodegradation: In the natural environment, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi can decompose plastic bags made of bio-based materials into carbon dioxide, water and biomass. For example, polylactic acid plastic bags in soil, compost and other environments, microorganisms secreted enzymes will gradually cut off the polymer chain, so that it is degraded into small molecules, and eventually be used by microorganisms. ​

Photodegradation: Plastic bags containing photosensitizers in the light, photosensitizers absorb light energy to produce free radicals, causing the break of the polymer chain, so that the plastic bags gradually decompose into small molecular fragments. However, photodegradable plastic bags usually require specific wavelengths of light, and the degradation rate is slower in an environment without light or insufficient light. ​

Third, performance advantage

Significant environmental advantages: compared with traditional plastic bags, environmentally friendly degradable packaging bags can be degraded in the natural environment, greatly reducing the accumulation of plastic waste, reducing the risk of pollution to soil, water and Marine ecosystems, and helping to protect the ecological environment. ​

Basic performance guarantee: In the normal use of environmentally friendly degradable packaging bags, they have similar physical properties to traditional plastic bags, such as flexibility, tensile strength, water resistance, etc., which can meet the needs of packaging various items without affecting their use functions. ​

Fourth, application scenarios

Food packaging: In the food industry, environmentally friendly degradable packaging plastic bags can be used to package fresh food, baked goods, snacks, etc. Its good sanitary performance and degradable characteristics can not only ensure the safety and freshness of food, but also meet the requirements of environmental protection and reduce the pollution of food packaging waste to the environment. ​

Shopping bags: shopping malls, supermarkets, farmers markets and other places can use environmentally friendly degradable shopping bags instead of traditional plastic bags. After consumer use, these shopping bags can naturally degrade, effectively reduce white pollution, and enhance the overall environmental image of society. ​

Fifth,development Prospects

With the increasingly strict environmental regulations and the continuous improvement of consumer environmental awareness, the market prospect of environmentally friendly degradable packaging bags is broad. In the future, its production costs are expected to be further reduced, its performance will be continuously optimized, and its application fields will continue to expand, becoming the mainstream products in the packaging industry and playing an important role in achieving green development goals. ​

With its unique material characteristics, scientific degradation principle, outstanding performance advantages and wide application prospects, environmentally friendly degradable packaging bags are gradually changing the pattern of the packaging industry, contributing to environmental protection and sustainable development. ​