Description
If You Care Compostable Trash Bags are made from potato starch from non-GMO starch potatoes blended with a certified, fully compostable polymer. No plasticizers are added.
What Makes Potato Starch Strong?
Starch is a mixture of a linear (amylose) and a branched (amylopectin) polymer of glucose. Potato starch has a higher percentage of amylopectin than either corn or wheat starch. Amylopectin gives starch its structural integrity, so it helps make If You Care Compostable Trash Bags stronger than bags made from corn starch.
Any Other Reasons for Potato Starch?
The potato starch used to make If You Care Compostable Trash Bags comes from starch potatoes, which are not grown as a food source, but only for starch production. These potatoes are too high in starch to be good for food. Therefore, there is no diversion from food supplies. In addition, to produce the same amount of starch from these potatoes as from corn requires 40% less land. Other compostable bags are made from corn which requires more water, but potatoes require no irrigation, and need only normal rainfall.
Why Use If You Care Compostable Trash Bags?
Approximately 80 million tons of waste (U.S. EPA figures) which goes to landfill annually is material which under the right conditions, can be turned into compost, including food scraps, yard trimmings and non-recyclable paper. In a landfill environment, this trapped organic material (leaves, grass etc.) releases methane gas – a greenhouse gas – contributing to global warming. Diverting food scraps and yard trimmings from landfill to compost facilities – either municipal or commercial in areas where available – contributes significantly to preserving our planet and natural resources.
If You Care Compostable Trash Bags are completely polyethylene free and do not contain plasticizers.