February 12, 2009
Some 'biodegradable' bags not as green as claimed
By: VALISA KRAIRIKSH
Published: 12/02/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
''Oxo-biodegradable'' bags commonly used by big retailers marketing themselves as environmentally friendly in Thailand are under heavy fire overseas. ''If a material is truly biodegradable, it means that micro-organisms can consume and convert them in the environment,'' said Dr Teerawat Teeraphatpornchai, business development manager of Advance Packaging Co Ltd.
An oxo-biodegradable bag is essentially a conventional plastic bag with chemicals added so that it simply breaks down into smaller pieces without being naturally degradable by micro-organisms.
''What's scary about oxo-biodegradable is that when they break down into small pieces, they end up in the soil and water, and thus, in the food chain,'' said Dr Wantanee Chongkum, director of the innovation department of the National Innovation Agency (NIA).
The National Advertising Division in the United States ruled that plastic bags that were oxo-biodegradable could not be marketed as being biodegradable according to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for the use of environmental marketing claims.
''We have attempted to educate retailers about the potential harm in using them, but the level of awareness remains low. If they don't know, it's excusable. But if they know and continue to use them because it's cheaper, this is unacceptable,'' she continued.
Biodegradable plastic bags are up to four times more expensive than conventional plastic bags. Thus, retailers opt for cheaper oxo-biodegradable bags, which are only around 1.5 times more expensive than conventional bags and are touted by manufacturers as being fully biodegradable.
''Biodegradable plastics are expensive, but their price has dropped in the past 10 years. Their edge over conventional plastics should improve through more effective processes, economy of scale, and increasing competition from new players,'' said Assoc Prof Dr Songsri Kulpreecha of Chulalongkorn University
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/11483/some-biodegradable-bags-not-as-green-as-claimed
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