|
- Biodegradable AND
Eco-Friendly Bags
- Recycled Corrugated Boxes
- Packing Materials
We are committed to making and using
products made in the USA AND becoming more Eco-Friendly in what
ever way possible!
Environmental
issues are important to everyone. To help you and to do our part,
we are implementing the use of 100%
Biodegradable bags
with our glass fusing and precut glass shapes on
GlassArtPatterns.com,
Recycled Corrugated Boxes and Eco-Friendly packing materials thru-out our company.
WHAT REALLY IS A ECO-FRIENDLY BIODEGRADABLE BAG?
We use two
types of Eco-Friendly bags:
Cellophane and Biodegradable Plastic Bags
Cellophane
Bags: "Polypropylene" (BOPP) and "Cellophane" are
NOT the SAME. What causes confusion is Polypropylene are
also referred to as Cello Bags. Cello Bags and
Cellophane bags are two different product.
Polypropylene is also and called Poly
Bags or Plastic Bags.
“Cellophane” is biodegradable and non-polluting.
"Polypropylene” is a plastics product derived from crude oil
and “Cellophane” is a paper product derived from cellulose
(wood) pulp. Cellophane bags are the classic Crinkly
Cellophane bag. Do not be mistaken by suppliers that use the
term "Cello" bags as it is not an abbreviation for
Cellophane, they are really Polypropylene bags, so it is
important to do your home work.
Cellophane is
Eco-Friendly, because it is a cellulose product derived from
wood and causes nearly zero environmental impact.
“Cellophane” is mostly made from cottonwood trees purposely grown,
farmed and harvested for “Cellophane” production. No need to
worry they are not cutting down trees in the rainforest or
your neighborhood to produce “Cellophane”.
Cellophane
Bags are Slightly More Expensive than “Polypropylene” Bags
but definitely worth the Eco-Friendly value in return!
Biodegradable
Plastic Bags:
These bags
will break down completely when in contact with other
decomposing materials, whether in compost bins, landfills,
or just buried in the ground. These bags can be recycled
along with regular plastic bags. Unlike popular starch based
compostable bags, these bags won't start degrading in the
presence of oxygen, heat, or sunlight, so they can also be
reused until no longer serviceable.
Biodegradable and/or Compostable
These words are used a lot these days, but they aren't
interchangeable. They mean completely different things.
Composting is a method of biodegradation. Biodegradable
means just that – something that biodegrades under any
condition.
Compostable bags are made of Polylactic Acid (PLA), a starch
based polymer made from corn and other food crops. PLA is
engineered to decompose in conditions found at municipal
composting facilities, and won't break down in backyard
compost bins, landfills or when littered. In addition to
this, compostable plastic can't be recycled. The ONLY way to
properly dispose of compostable plastic bags is by sending
them to municipal composting facilities. The problem is the
facilities don't exist in many communities.
How it works
Biodegradable bags are made using traditional plastic
resins combined with an additive made by one of several
companies like ECM Biofilms (www.ecmbiofilms.com).
The additive will help break down the bag into common elements found in the soil.
Biodegrading starts when the plastic is in contact with
other elements that are decomposing – in landfills, compost
bins, or just buried in the ground. Most importantly, these
bags can also be recycled along with other non-biodegradable
plastic bags.
Benefits of biodegradable plastic bags
They are 100% Biodegradable. But if not recycled, these bags
will start breaking down within 9 months, and completely
biodegrade within a few years. The process starts when bags
are in contact with other decomposing materials.
Recyclable
Biodegradable bags can be recycled just like any other HDPE
and LDPE plastic bags. Many cities have recycling programs
that will take these bags, and most supermarkets also have a
bag recycling program.
Reusable
The biodegradation of these bags requires the presence of
other decomposing materials, therefore they won't won't
degrade when exposed to sunlight, heat, or oxygen like PLA
compostable plastic.
What about paper bags?
When comparing plastic and paper bags, plastic always comes
out on top. This has been shown in study after study.
Here are a few facts on
Paper Bags:
- Paper bags require 4-5 times more energy to produce than
plastic.
-
Paper
bags are responsible for 70% more air pollution and 50 times
more water pollution than plastic.
-Plastic
bags are lighter than paper, requiring far less energy to
transport.
- Plastic bags generate 80%
less solid waste than paper.
- Recycling plastic requires 91% less energy than paper.
- The manufacture of paper bags uses 40% more energy than
plastic bags.
Do biodegradable bags cost
more?
Making bags biodegradable
generally increases cost between 10% and 20%. The price
increase varies depending on the size of the bag, and the
size of the order.
RECYCLED CORRUGATED BOXES:
Recycled
corrugated shipping boxes are made from 100% post consumer
recycled materials and are also recyclable.
As you know we
primarily use
USPS (United States
Postal Service) Priority Mail and boxes to ship your product
orders and for mail correspondences.
Click Here to read more on the
USPS Green Initiative.
But did you
know each year, the Postal Service purchases more than $200
million in products containing recycled content?
Many of the
containers that hold and move mail in the system are made
from recycled materials, as are stamped envelopes,
postcards, stamp booklet covers — even the adhesive used in
postage stamps is biodegradable.
And the Postal
Service is the only shipping company in the country to earn
Cradle to Cradle™ certification for all Priority Mail and
Express Mail packages and envelopes based on the
environmental attributes of the materials used in the
packaging.
- We use
Click-N-Ship so we do not have to make a special trip to the
post office.
- Since the postal delivery person comes to our offices already he brings
our eco-friendly boxes and envelopes and he takes the
shipments at the same time!
By teaming up
with an eco-friendly business we are not just saving time but
we are also complimenting our eco-friendly goals by reducing
the fossil fuel use in our daily business activities, i.e.
we are reducing
our carbon footprint!
CURRENT NEWS: Other than updating your link to access
http://www.sanbornwebdesigns.com
(Do not using sanbornwebdesigns.com/swd)
your Hosting Services will not be effected and we will be in
touch with you as we migrate your website and email accounts to the
new servers over the next 30 days.
Until then, best wishes to your and your families! |
