Dun-Bri Group have announced another of their moves towards a more ecologically friendly future, with the introduction of biodegradable plastic bags.
Since the introduction of a charge on single-use carrier bags in 2015, both companies and consumers have demanded a reduction in the use of plastic – from drinking straws to product packaging. We are no different.
Back in 2017, we began investigating the use of alternatives to plastic in our product range, including the use of graphene as a product material. From there we’ve moved towards reducing raw material usage across the board. We’ve also introduced more recycling into our supply chain, and selected different packaging materials.
Today we are delighted to announce that, following a trial, we are replacing carrier bags at our branches and offices across the country with biodegradable plastic ones. There are fundamental differences between traditional and biodegradable plastics, the principle being that they degrade after a shorter period of time but there are other benefits too.
Traditional plastics vs biodegradable plastics
After formation, regular plastics hold carbon. When they are disposed of and begin to decompose or when they are melted, that carbon is then released into the atmosphere. Biodegradable plastics do not release carbon, because no carbon is involved in the manufacturing process. Methane and other forms of pollutants could also be released from traditional plastic when they are recycled and burned. Again, this is not the case with our new bags, which do not contain those polluting materials.
One of the many positive aspects of biodegradable plastics is that they are able to be broken down by naturally occurring bacteria, which again will be beneficial to the environment. Please remember you can still re-use these bags, just as you do now – and that’s also important in protecting the environment.
We are now carrying out research into other areas of our business where we can reduce packaging, and utilise fully, easily recyclable packaging where it cannot be avoided.
You can find more information about our environmental policies on our web site at www.dun-bri-group.com/the-environment.
Ken H says:
That’s informative but do you have any proof the bags are biodegradeable?
Dun-Bri Group says:
Hi Ken – Thanks for your comment. We have the full certification and production information for the bags. It’s part of the reason we went with the specific manufacturer. If you have any further enquiries please email us directly at marketing@dun-bri.com.
Thomas says:
Changing your bags is all very well. What about your overall plastic use? The plastic packaging companies like yours use is ridiculous.
Dun-Bri Group says:
Hi Thomas – While we can’t pass any comment on other companies, I can tell you that we have already reduced our packaging usage. We are focusing in particular on items that are difficult or impossible to recycle first. Bubble-wrap is an example of an item which is difficult to recycle, and while it can be re-used, has a much higher likelihood of ending up in landfill. Therefore we are investigating recycled paper based packing solutions. This is in addition to changes to our product boxes themselves, and reducing our raw material usage across the board. You can find out more information about our recycling figures internally too at https://www.dun-bri-group.com/the-environment/, or you can email us for further information.