Maku Furniture EcoShop

Poopbags gives a Poop!

Differences Between Biodegradable, Oxo-Biodegradable and Degradable Dog Waste Bags (This is the full length version...the system inadvertently sent the last email. Apologies!)

I'm not going to pull any punches... The Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill has really pissed me off and it disgusts me. We are going to paying for this, both financially and environmentally, for decades to come. So, why is PoopBags sending you an email on something that is endlessly covered in the daily news? Actually, this subject is directly tied to business decisions on which we have made to base the PoopBags, Inc. company. Let me explain. There are basically three types of poop bags that exist in the marketplace.

Plastic Packaging and Bags High density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) are thermoplastic made from petroleum oil. They are what you normally see at the grocery store or can be purchased in bulk. They have caused the toxic dump that the Pacific Ocean has become. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the world's largest floating dump. It extends from California to China and measures over 10 million square miles. The waste is estimated at 3.5 million tons of junk and 80% of it is plastic. Since plastic photodegrades and resembles plankton, fish then eat it, then you eat it. Please click here for more information.

Oxo-Biodegradable/Degradable Products These types of bags are manufactured by companies such as EPI, which is probably the largest "oxo-biodegradable" manufacturer on the market. These producers claim the bags will degrade in 24-36 months. The bags are actually a mixture LDPE bags, and chemical foaming and purging agents called "Totally Degradable Plastic Additives" (TDPA). The producers should be applauded for attempting to reduce waste. We take issue with oxo-biodegradable and degradable bags because of the material sourcing, and what these chemicals are potentially leaving behind. The Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill has brought a renewed call to find alternative energy sources. While the majority of oil is used for energy purposes, LDPE plastic bags, which, again, originate from oil. Oxo-biodegradable producers only perpetuate the oil crisis and do not innovate to find solutions to lessen the world's dependence on oil. BP's seemingly reckless response and uncommunicative behavior has also left all of us feeling clueless and ineffective. As we have all read, BP is using chemical dispersants to break down the oil. No one outside of BP knows what the dispersant's properties are and their long-term environmental effects. What is in this dispersant that degrades oil, but kills wildlife and ruins the environment for years? We have to consider the possibility that the BP dispersant is made of the same chemicals that the oxo-biodegradable producers are using to break down LDPE plastic bags. It is also really disturbing as EPI and other oxo-biodegradable producers are not forthcoming about the specific chemicals or purging agents used to break down a plastic bag.

Biodegradable/Compostable Products Biodegradable is probably the most abused word used these days. In fact, we cringe when someone says, "well, Bags on Board are biodegradable." No, they are not. In order to be considered truly biodegradable in all 50 states, the bags must be ASTM D6400 specified. PoopBags proudly meets those standards. Our bags are made with corn and other renewable resources, no heavy metals have been added, no chemicals were added to enhance the degradation process, and they are produced in the USA. This allows us to support the US economy and cut down on our carbon footprint by cutting the shipping distances our bags travel. Are PoopBags more expensive that option 1 or 2? Well, from a financial perspective, yes we are. From an environmental perspective, we are the clear leader. PoopBags could produce any of these three options but we CHOOSE to produce what we feel is the best solution for our planet. We will continue down the path we have chosen and we hope to continue to build a loyal following of more and more PoopBaggers along the way. So, if you're on board, thank you. As fellow business owners, we believe businesses – such as yours and ours – are fundamental drivers to achieve a more sustainable planet. You have the ability to make a huge impact by influencing many others to use 100% biodegradable dog waste bags which are packaged in 100% recycled/70% post-consumer waste paperboard boxes and converted with 100% windpower. You have the power to educate your customers on the information noted above and make decisions such as carrying 100% biodegradable PoopBags in your store.

Seriously, enough is enough. We're a small company, and a just handful of people, but we vow to make our voices heard and stand as tall as we can to big oil, this disaster and hopefully prevent further ones. Thanks for your support! Paul D. Cannella

The above was sent to us by one of our very caring vendors Poopbags, we were so impressed we want to share it with our customers as well.  Thank you Paul and Paige for sharing this with us, we wish BP cared this much!