There’s no doubt compostable bags are an excellent alternative to traditional plastic bags and the way forward if businesses and individuals are to reduce their carbon footprint.
As they’re made from renewable plant-based materials, compostable bags can break down entirely and return to the earth over time without leaving any harmful residues behind.
At Because We Care, we’re world leaders in manufacturing compostable products and are committed to creating a range of items that are not only environmentally friendly but also high-quality.
To give you an insight into what goes into making our bags, let us take you behind the scenes for a look at our sustainable manufacturing process.
As you can imagine, our product production involves several stages, starting with material selection and resin production and ending with rigorous quality control. At every point, we take great care in ensuring our products are earth safe and have as little impact on the environment as possible.
1. Material Selection
The first step in making compostable bags is selecting suitable materials. At Because We Care, we use two types of resin grades: BF90 and KF90 series resins. Both are made from renewable resources, meaning crops that can be grown again and again, such as corn starch, and are internationally certified to decompose naturally in industrial and home composting environments.
2. Resin Production
Once the product’s material has been selected, the next step is to make the substance that shapes the bags. Plant-based resin is produced in a similar way to traditional plastic resins but uses renewable and biodegradable corn, tapioca or potato starch. Resin production involves a complex process of heating, mixing, and extruding materials to create a durable, flexible resin that can be used for bag manufacturing. Because We Care sources resin from trusted suppliers who use processes that minimise waste and energy consumption and use only the resources needed for production.
3. Bag Manufacturing
After the resin is made, it’s then used to create compostable bags. The bags are formed using a blown-film extrusion process, which involves melting the resin and then blowing it into a bubble. The bubble is cooled and flattened into a sheet, which is cut and sealed to create bags of various sizes and shapes. Throughout this process, we’re conscious of only using the resources we need, minimising offcut waste and reducing energy expenditure.
4. Printing
Once the bags are cut, they can be printed with a design or logo. We use a non-toxic soy-based ink for printing logos and brand messages on our compostable bags. This ink is environmentally friendly and has been specifically developed for use on compostable products. It is safe for humans and the environment and produces vibrant, long-lasting colours. When ordering in bulk with Because We Care, businesses have the option for custom printing on bags.
5. Quality Control
Once production is complete, our compostable bags undergo extensive quality control measures to make sure they meet our high standards for durability, strength, and sustainability. We test each batch of bags to ensure that they are completely compostable, will break down safely and naturally over time, and live up to the environmental standards Because We Care products are known for.
6. Packaging and distribution
Finally, our bags are packaged and distributed to our partner businesses and retailers all over the world. The full range of Because We Care products can be viewed on our website, with customised orders and specialised printing options available.
Whether you’re a small business owner, part of a larger corporation, or a sole trader, you can make your business operations more sustainable by switching to compostable bags for your packaging needs.
