A Brief Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages of Biodegradable Plastic Bags in Five Aspects

    In practical application, biodegradable plastic bags can be adopted in a variety of scenarios, including supermarket shopping, food takeaway, express packaging and so on. Nevertheless, they come with both advantages and disadvantages, which are summarized as follows:

    I. Advantages

   1. Eco-friendly

The primary merit of biodegradable plastic bags lies in environmental friendliness. Conventional plastic bags are hard to decompose in the natural environment and will cause pollution if they persist for a long time. By contrast, biodegradable plastic bags can decompose rapidly in nature and will not lead to long-term environmental pollution.

    2. Sustainability

    Since biodegradable plastic bags can break down quickly in natural surroundings, they help reduce reliance on limited petroleum resources and ease the global oil crisis. Meanwhile, relatively less carbon dioxide is generated during their production process. This helps cut greenhouse gas emissions and further advance global sustainable development.

    3. Reusable

    Biodegradable plastic bags can be reused multiple times to reduce waste generation. If they get stained or slightly damaged during use, they can be cleaned for repeated use.

    4. Higher Safety and Hygiene

    Biodegradable plastic bags generally contain no toxic additives, making them safer and more hygienic to use. Certain additives contained in traditional plastic bags may pose risks to human health, an issue avoided by biodegradable alternatives.

    5. Recyclable

    Biodegradable plastic bags are available for recycling and reuse, lowering waste output.

    II. Disadvantages

    1. Relatively High Costs

    At present, the production cost of biodegradable plastic bags remains comparatively high. Although costs are gradually declining, they are still much higher than those of traditional plastic bags. To some extent, this restricts the mass production and wide application of biodegradable plastic bags.

    2. Strict Degradation Requirements

Certain biodegradable plastic bags require stringent conditions for degradation. Though capable of decomposition in natural environments, they demand specific humidity, temperature and microorganisms. Under extreme conditions such as arid or frigid climates, full and rapid degradation may not be achieved.

    3. Slightly Inferior Performance

Biodegradable plastic bags have slightly weaker performance compared with traditional plastic bags. For instance, they are inferior to conventional plastic bags in terms of tensile strength, durability and transparency. Therefore, attention should be paid to applicable conditions and usage methods.