Mislabeling of 'biodegradable' supermarket carrier bags
8 April 2010
A Defra-funded study into ‘oxo-degradable’ plastic bags as used by supermarket chains reveals that they are not as eco-friendly as we have been led to believe, reports the Telegraph.
The carrier bags, often labelled as biodegradable, “are also not suitable for recycling with other plastics, reuse or composting”.
Environment minister Dan Norris said: ‘‘We hope this research will discourage manufacturers and retailers from claiming that these materials are better for the environment than conventional plastics.”
So, the argument still lies strongly in favour of properly reusable bags made from sustainably sourced (and truly biodegradable) materials such as the organic cotton, hemp or wild rubber favoured by Bags of Change.
