PE biodegradable shopping bags PE biodegradable shopping bags PE biodegradable shopping bags PE biodegradable shopping bags
Team of PE scientists create biodegradable shopping bags
A team of scientists from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Port Elizabeth has developed a 100% biodegradable plastic bags made from agricultural by-products.
The bag is made with maize and sugar cane and is completely biodegradable in mud‚ soil‚ water and compost and break down completely in just three to six months.
CSIR’s Dr Sudhakar Muniyasamy says the team has completed the proof of concept and is now moving to the development of prototypes.
He says they are planning to give samples to retailers by the end of September and have the bags commercialised early next year.
The cost will be 3 times higher than the normal plastics but is expected to go lower as soon as the production level increases.