The plastic bag that disappears

Dubai: The handy plastic bag has long faced all the blame for turning up at the wrong place at the wrong time - polluting desert landscapes, wadi pools and killing wildlife without too much question as to how it got there in the first place.

Whilst some environmentalists have cried out for a total ban on plastic bags to save the planet, the plastics industry has thought-up an additive that breaks down the plastic bag totally to stop their product being demonised.

With the oxobiodegradable additive thrown in the mix, Al Ain Plastics now boasts that 60 per cent of its production is made to biodegrade and disappear.

Some 48 million plastic bags are made every month at Al Ain Plastics factory for hypermarkets and smaller stores in the UAE. In the plastics business this amounts to 600 tonnes of plastic. Polymer granules are melted, blown into bags and cut.

In operation since 1989, the plastics factory recently partnered with Wells Plastics from the UK who supply them with the additive called Reverte.

Faced with growing public pressure or as part of corporate social responsibility, shops have started changing their orders to oxobiodegradable plastic bags. Others will probably wait until legislation comes through at a federal level, according to Kausar Ali Shah, procurement officer at Al Ain Plastics.

"We've been giving quotes for the two types of bag - normal and oxobiodegradable, and people then ask us what is the difference and I end up spending half an hour telling them," said Shah.

The difference in cost is just 25 fils per kilo, said Shah, but even then not everybody opts for oxo.

"It is not easy to convince people even though it is in our interest and in the environment's interest."

Shah predicts it could take another six months to a year for all bags to be manufactured with the additive.

"It is their choice but it will work better when they don't have a choice. Hypermarkets are easier to convince, they are also more educated. Smaller chains or independent stores have smaller budgets."

Big supermarket chains like Carrefour, Safeer and Lulu and some cooperatives make up the bulk of Al Ain Plastic's clientele. Monthly, 600 tonnes of plastic bags are produced at the plant. Carrefour orders 100 tonnes, Safeer in Sharjah orders between 20 to 25 tonnes and Lulu supermarkets in Al Ain is down for between 15 to 20 tonnes.

According to Shah, a one-off order for oxobiodegradable plastic bags was once made about four years ago from a government body. More recently, Al Ain Plastics has only been in talks with supermarkets for a year and production began three months ago.

John James, from Wells Plastics visiting the plant for the first time, believes the plastic bag problem is essentially, behavioural.

"This technology is ideal to stop plastic bags flying around& making thinner bags is also counterproductive because packers often double-bag to cope with the weight of items in the bag. Some people believe you can save money this way," he said.

In the factory, two dozen machines whir 24 hours a day and are manned by an 80-strong staff in two round-the-clock shifts. Logos and insignias are printed onto bags at a rate of 80 metres per minute. Eventually they are cut to size at a rate of 200 metres a minute on two lines.

Please take a reusable bag with you when you shop. According to you report one of the elements that these biodegradable bags release is carbon dioxide and if I'm not mistaken that doesn't help us with global warming. Even if the amount is small it would still be better if we didn't use plastic bags at all.
Richard Kent
Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Posted: March 14, 2009, 16:41

Thumb's up!
Javed Ali
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: March 14, 2009, 16:16

If this new product with additives is so good then what are the authorities waiting for? I think the production for non oxo bags should be stopped immediately.
Amita
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 14, 2009, 15:03

Now is the time to be aware of our environment and become consious of what is going to happen to our planet in the long run.The introduction of oxo-biodegradable plastic bags is a good sign as it well lessen the pollutants in the desert, the beach and our place will be free of unwanted plastics which cause harm to our environment. Kudos and more power to those people who invented the chemical.
Roberto Roy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 14, 2009, 14:22

Count me in. I'm with the Oxo-biodegradable bags, a clean environment movement. It is for the good of all living beings on this beautiful planet. Action speaks louder than words, thus I would suggest that the authorities to take action, as they have already been successful in their initiatives.
Ajay Gondesi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 14, 2009, 11:38