What’s in that Bag?

What does the term “green packaging” mean in the reusable bag marketplace? Here at ECOBAGS.com we evaluate bags & packaging materials based on the following parameters:

• Quality, durability, country of origin and third party certification for fair wage and fair labor standards.
• The chemical processes used to create the products.
• The degree to which the base materials for the bags are compostable, biodegradable or reusable.

It’s easy to see why market confusion exists about “green” products & packaging. Our clients for stock & custom packaging items are very diverse so basic definitions often help, as a guide to selecting “green” or “eco-friendly” packaging. Take a look at these definitions and terms for products in the reusable bag category.

Organic Cotton: Virgin material, recyclable, does decompose. Organic is the greenest of the cotton options as it is grown without chemical pesticides, fertilizers or herbicides. The Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) sets the standards for organic certification from “seed to sewn” taking into account the social aspects of production.

Recycled Cotton: Recycled material, recyclable, does decompose. This cotton can be made of reclaimed post-consumer or post-industrial cotton scrap that would typically be sent to the landfill.

Hemp: Virgin materials, natural fibers, do decompose in landfills. Hemp is a renewable & sustainable crop.

Natural Cotton: Virgin material, recyclable, does decompose. Cotton is one of the most intense crops on the planet; cloth can range from heavily processed to chemical free, depending on the farmers and country of origin.

100% Recycled PET (aka RPet, RPete): Recycled post consumer material, non-recyclable, does not decompose in a landfill. This is a brand new technology – bags made of 100% post-consumer plastic primarily from soda bottles, water bottles, and other beverage and household containers. However, buyer beware: a lot of bags say they’re made “with” recycled material without actually specifying the percentage of recycled content or the origin of the plastic.

NWPP: Non-woven polypropylene (PP): Virgin material, may be recycled, where accepted. Does not decompose in a landfill. NWPP is a thermoplastic polymer, petroleum (or natural gas) based product made by the chemical industry and used in a wide variety of applications, including packaging & textiles. These bags have flooded the market in the last two years, are functional and generally are very low cost.

PET: Non-polyethylene terephthalate: non-recyclable, does not decompose in a landfill. Commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers. It is one of the most important raw materials used in man-made fibers. Think in terms of water bottles, clear.

Each of our ECOBAGS® brand products incorporates the triple bottom line of people, planets and profits. Our full line of natural fiber totes, lunch & produce bags brings options to the table in the “green packaging” realm and we welcome the ongoing discussion about the evolution of this category of packaging.