Photo: Cyberpac
Photo: Cyberpac
Photo: ABF
Photo: Cyberpac
Photo: Cyberpac
Photo: Cyberpac
Photo: Jamie Baker
Photo: Natalie Maynor
Photo: Cyberpac
All images courtesy of Cyberpac unless otherwise noted.
Vanishing without a trace might not be appreciated in friends and lovers but is an excellent relationship to have with one’s used packaging material. What becomes a pile of plastic garbage is that it should just disappear into thin air, right? Well, a newly developed plastic bag does just that – it completely dissolves in water. Companies use it when sending their products, magazines for example, to users, who can simply dissolve it at home – no trace of the bag left, less plastic on the environment. Our only question is: Why hasn’t anyone come up with this concept before?
Two empty magazine bags, what's next?
Cyberpac, a UK-based packaging company, has developed a range of products – called Harmless – that use a hydro-degradable plastic that is up to three times stronger than polythene, lighter and leaves no damaging residue after dissolving in water. A bit skeptical of this promise, we’ve taken a look at the dissolving bag’s actual disappearing act.
The next step of the instructions says “Run the hot tap or boil a kettle.” Okay, here we go.
Here’s the best part: there’s actually no water required to get rid of the bag at all. As it’s non-toxic and biodegradable, if you’re in no rush to dissolve your bag, just throw it on the compost pile!
Oh, wait: "and remove strip.”
Okay, because the glue’s strip, though biodegradable, will not dissolve in water.
Here’s what Cyberpac says:
“Harmless-Dissolve is non-toxic and is degraded by micro-organisms, moulds and yeasts. These organisms can occur in both artificial environments, such as anaerobic digesters, activated sewage sludge and composts and natural environments such as aquatic systems and soil."
“Place bag in receptacle and pour on hot water”.
The company explains the process further: "The micro-organisms use Harmless-Dissolve as a food source by producing a variety of enzymes that are capable of reacting with it. In the end the bag becomes carbon dioxide, water and biomass.”
In other words, the bugs love it! We love it too.
Printed areas will take a bit longer to dissolve.
One question remains: Why did it take so long to come up with this concept? When we asked Cyberpac’s managing director Will Anderson, he pointed to the production specifications and costs that had to be figured out before the product could get off the ground. The recession surely didn’t help matters either.
And, finally, “pour solution down the drain” – bye bye!
Cyberpac's Managing Director Will Anderson explains further: “The concept came about some 12 months ago when we were making a similar application for the electronics industry. I took the product and analysed it before pushing the material some more to get a better quality finish and feel. We sought bio inks and even a bio peel and seal lip to deliver an industry first for Creative Review. Some of the challenges we faced were in the conversion to bags and the behaviour of the material across the presses however, apart from those small issues we have had tremendous success.”
Cool, we’re almost convinced; let’s just take a look at this video as well.
Knowing our readers, we’re sure that at least a few will point out that energy is consumed when boiling water and that clean drinking water is used. Well spotted, but boiling water is actually not necessary and any waste water or rain water can be used.
Depending on the product wrapped, the bag can be set to dissolve in cold or warm water from 5 degrees Celsius to 40 or 60C, ensuring that your magazine will not get wet if you or the postman is caught in the rain.
This plastic can go on the compost pile.
Cyberpac has had so much success with their dissolving bag that the company has been inundated with demand across the globe – especially Russia, Brazil and South Africa – and has begun setting up in Australia.
Harmless compost
For those convinced by the dissolving bag, there’s good news: There are more environmentally friendly products out there, such as a line of compostable bags, envelopes, sacks, jiffy bags, biodegradable bubble wrap, air pillows and more. Potential uses seem endless, for example for replacing cotton laundry bags in hotels and hospitals and thus reducing this load. The material’s natural anti-static qualities also make it useful when packing electronics. Harmless for the environment but revolutionary when it comes to packaging.
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12 comments
Nexyoo (not verified) says:
Dec 28th, 2009 at 6pm
Interesting! I have to admit I'm still skeptical, though. :) Is the plastic made from petroleum? If the bags end up in water, it's hard to believe that they wouldn't have any effect on the aquatic ecosystem, especially if there are many of them.
Bob (not verified) says:
Dec 28th, 2009 at 8pm
Wow, that's ingenious, a plastic bag that protects its contents from water, and is also water-soluble... oh wait.
Disney Club Penguin (not verified) says:
Dec 28th, 2009 at 8pm
So the water the bag dissolves in is not harmful at all? I would be concerned that there would be some toxic residue left in the water while dumping it down the drain.
Crazy cool though, I would love to give them a try.
strokjo (not verified) says:
Dec 28th, 2009 at 8pm
Hi there,
this sounds very nice in the first instance. But I wonder the following!
PE or PP or PS are not really toxic, but the problem with polymers is that they do not easily degrade, that is correct. But the new polymer seems to me also not a magic solustion, unless it is clear what the energetic costs of production are.
Maybe using a PE bag for a longer period (reusing it) is more environmental friendly then just flushing it down the drain and leave the waste water treatment plant deal with the "organic and oxygen demanding" liquified waste. Some polymers are chemically inert or non toxic for us (one could drink or eat them), while they can be still toxic to fish (glue for the gills). Well, I think this is not the case here, but one should look at the whole perspective not only on "once it fits into the sink, the problem is gone". I am just skeptical...
cheers,
adam (not verified) says:
Dec 28th, 2009 at 11pm
uh so its just another reason for people to litter and think its ok
daniel (not verified) says:
Dec 29th, 2009 at 12am
something nobody has mentioned.
the water has to be HOT.
heating up water takes a hefty amount of energy.
if someone wanted to contribute less to water pollution shifting from hot to cold water helps more than say changing from synthetic to natural detergents.
so requiring hot water MIGHT offset the bag's benefits.
Corey (not verified) says:
Dec 29th, 2009 at 6pm
This is nothing new. the pest control industry has been using these bags for years.
Spirit (not verified) says:
Dec 30th, 2009 at 12am
Oh, I love this idea! :) I'm honestly shocked that someone didn't come up with this before. I mean, I know we have those reusable cloth bags at the grocery store but 'this' is monumental! I'll be on the look out for these. :)
Sinead (not verified) says:
Jan 6th, 2010 at 4pm
Wow! Amazing. great to finally see progress being made with the problem of plastic bags. I'm still amazed that so many countries have as yet failed to introduce a charge for plastic bags to encourage more people to bring re usable bags when they shop, or to refuse a bag for one item. It still amazes me when i see people accept a plastic bag for one small item in a shop! Especially when they have a handbag or pockets!
They introduced this in Ireland many years ago and it's made a huge difference. I'm still amazed each time I go back, to see so many people bringing re useable bags to the shop. It does work.
I've recently been reading about it on the news section and in the discussion forum on ecoboom.com which is another great site for envrionmental issues. I have a rant on there quite often too!
So hooray for getting rid of plastic bags.
Maggie (not verified) says:
Jan 16th, 2010 at 8pm
This isn't new. In fact, as a seventh grader six years ago, I did a project and created two different types of plastic out of safe materials that dissolved in water. And I wasn't even that smart of a seventh grader.
But the problem is usability. The thing about plastic is that it is used to keep things safe from temperature, liquids, etc. And replacing cotton laundry bags? Forget it. I can't tell you how many times I've brought sopping wet, warm t-shirts back to my room so I can hang them to dry.
I can see this working for some things. But unfortunately, I think it needs a bit more research. I mean, I won't throw out the idea after reading one article, but I'd love to learn more about it before I deem it amazing.
ericBOB12 says:
Dec 24th, 2011 at 12pm
Dumb. I read up on some interesting science articles. www.natur-tec.com/images/biocyclearticle.pdf. it explains the composition of biodegrading bags. But overall I must say a biodegrading bag from the line "HARMLESS" is far from harmless. The CO2 from the decomposition will contribute to global warming. Too bad.
Designer (not verified) says:
Its a good news that Plastic bags are geting dissolved..
but the main problem of using a plastic bag is to withstand all temps and weathers. if this bag is geting dissolved in water then there is no use in using it...