Biodegradable Packaging Tape Developed
by on 04.27.05
A biodegradable packaging tape made from renewable resources is being developed by German researchers that can be disposed of cheaply. Currently, used plastic wrappings and containers are incinerated or dumped in huge quantities on landfill sites with ongoing environmental results.
The organic packaging tape will be available worldwide in 2005 and may be as cheap as current tape if oil prices continue to rise and manufacturing costs come down.
The compostable tape is particularly effective for use when the rest of the packaging material is also biodegradable, allowing the whole unit to be disposed of without separating individual materials.
Under normal conditions, the composted film breaks down to half its weight within about four weeks. The compostable film is already being marketed under the name Bio-Flex 219F.
:: LogoTape
[by Justin Thomas]
Great idea. What I do currently is to compost the boxes tape and all. After the boxrs have decomposed, I simply gather the tape and put it in the garbage. No boxes are going to landfill, just the tape.
It's a good idea if you are shipping something and expecting it to get there in a week, but I never really throw out boxes, or remove the tape and throw it out. How else do I ship things to friends and families? Tape over tape is secure enough.
Another issue is if you are storing something in the box. In four weeks, if it's falling open, it will not be practical.
The tape only decomposes when it is in the ground and exposed to sufficient heat, humidity and micro-organisms.