Production of plastic bags to self-destruct from wheat flour

Plastic bags (packaging) capable of biodegradation on the basis of mixing between 60% of normal plastic with 30% of starch (usually flour) is a study by TS. Ha Thuc Chi Nhan, Faculty of Materials Science - Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Sciences, in collaboration with One Step Tien Co., Ltd.

Students of the University of Natural Sciences practice their products
self-destruct packaging in the laboratory (Photo: San Thai)

From August 2011 until now, the technology of manufacturing this packaging has been completed and put into operation with a capacity of 1 ton of plastic granules / hour. In it, starch is used as an additive to connect plastic molecules. After use, the product is usually treated by landfill. In environments with humidity and temperature, starch is hydrolyzed by microorganisms found in soil or natural environments. The degradation of starch gives rise to microbial enzymes that attack plastic molecular circuits and promotes faster biodegradation of plastics.

Theoretically, the time to start decaying is 6 months and completely decomposed over 5 years. In particular, the product is only decomposed when buried into the ground. However, the main market of this product is Japan. The price of this product is equal to or higher than conventional plastic packaging of about 5%.