Green Buddy, a local pioneer of biodegradable bags
PLASTIC bags and containers are so cheap convenient to use that most people would probably find it hard to perform their daily activities without them.
They are used to carry our groceries, wrap food, store chemicals, seal bulk items and not forgetting waste disposal.
However, most of the plastic bags, and even polystyrene food containers would end up in landfills and overwhelm them, while most are carelessly discarded, becoming an eyesore, clogging up drains and rivers which will become breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests.
There are also those ending up in the ocean and becoming a hazard as they are mistaken as food by marine wildlife.
It is estimated that 500 tons of rubbish collected around Kota Kinabalu would make its way to the Kayu Madang landfill in Menggatal, and 10,000 kilograms are plastic bags.
To tackle such problem as well as to promote environmental awareness, a local company has produced a biodegradable plastic bag which is harmless to the environment.
Green Buddy, believed to be the first company to produce biodegradable plastic bags and biodegradable food packaging in Sabah, has been promoting its products to the market since 2013.
The company’s managing director, Kelvin Chin said their biodegradable plastic bags and biodegradable food packaging can degrade within 12 months of use.
“We have seen and read in the news of what normal plastic bags can do to our environment.
“While there have been numerous programmes to control the use of plastic bags, such as the no plastic bag on weekends, we can always recycle it or reuse it as the first step
“But the problem is that once normal plastic bags have been sold or used, it will normally end up in dustbins, which will then end up in landfill.
“We understand the impact normal plastic bags can have on our environment and that is why we produced biodegradable plastic bags which can rapidly degrade in 12 months upon using it,” he said at the Green Buddy office at Cyber Square at Jalan Lintas, Kepayan.
According to Chin, the earth is suffering from severe environment pollution known as ‘white pollution’ where solid waste which comes from high levels of usage and littering of various types of plastic products such as plastic, paints, synthetic fibers and adhesives that are difficult to degrade and can affect the air, land, waterways and oceans.
“This results in several environmental impacts such as global warming, flash floods, drought, haze and other disasters.
“As a consequence, harvest may fail, chronic diseases persist, increase breeding of mosquitoes and climate change.
“Ultimately, the ozone layer will deplete in time and cause disruptions to the natural ecosystems,” he said.
Chin explains that biodegradable plastic is a practical environmental solution whereby its component contains biodegradable additives which enhance biodegradation.
“Synthetic plastic bags takes up to a thousand years to decompose, while biodegradable plastic only takes 12 months to decompose,” he said.
Green Buddy has produced three biodegradable plastic bag sizes, namely size S (20 liter), size M (100 liter) and size L (150 liter).
The company also produces biodegradable food packaging that comes in various shapes and sizes which are 100 per cent organic, able to sustain heat up to 100 degrees Celsius and water and oil resistance up to six hours, while food in the biodegradable food packaging can be refrigerated and heated in the microwave.
“We believe that with the use of biodegradable plastic bags and biodegradable food packaging, it can help create a healthy living environment, reduce blockages and congestion of sewage lines and rivers, improve harvest and create more efficient waste recycling.
“We also believe that our biodegradable plastic bags can help protect endangered marine life and create a happy and healthy lifestyle for our future generations to come,” said Chin.