Before you buy little plastic baggies, consider reusing those that may come with your packaging.
You are forever welcome to my leftover plastic baggies. Always let me know if you want some and what with each order.
NDA tells me that they never know how the stuff they order is going to come packaged, and with what plastics.
FYI The only way to detect a BPA lining at this point is to look for a golden hue = BPA and creamy hue = not.
If you make the shift to non petroleum packaging, how about making a big educational deal about it and get some media attention? It's nice to propagate the business model of "the little folks being able to do better environmentally."
My understanding is that if your sealer has variable heat, you can seal vegetable plastics, by using the lowest setting to about half the heat needed to seal conventional plastics.
US Pak-Sel has some vegetable cellulose plastics.
Green Shift in Toronto may be able to source for you. http://greenshift.ca/
I have a giant roll of eucalyptus cellulose sheeting that I sell by the linear foot here. It's priced exactly the same as dollar store plastic cellulose. http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/258
You can source heavier grades of vegetable plastics from California.
Here is my supplier, on the West Coast, BSI Biodegradable Solutions:
http://www.biodegradablesolutions.com/product_category.php?cat=bags
BDS sells by the 1000 case. I resell these by the 10 pack.
Cellulose Bags
Cellulose bags are a clear, shiny, high-grade packaging product made from plant material harvested from non-rainforest tree farming. Composition and barrier properties make cellulose well suited for food packaging.
Our bags have an average water vapour barrier rating, are heat sealable and are a good choice for packaging greasy or oily products. They are 100% biodegradable. When buried, uncoated cellulose film is found to degrade within 10 to 30 days.
Biodegradable cellulose bags come in lightweight (195 MST) and heavyweight (140 MST) grades, available in regular or breathable films. Because 195 MST is lightweight, it is recommended for short term, light use applications.
Crystal Clear Bags Canada:
Bags: http://www.clearbags.ca/details.php?heading=Crystal%20Clear%20Bags&name=...
Shrink Wrap: http://www.clearbags.ca/details.php?heading=Crystal%20Clear%20Bags&name=...
On oxy-biodegradable plastics: http://www.ecosafeplastics.com/qs/page/2866/0/-1
Environmentally Sound Products sell by the 100 bags.
Bags: http://environmentallysoundproducts.com/id10.html
Cellulose is the primary component of the cell walls of plants. It is completely natural and nontoxic, and can be composted and will completely biodegrade. Cellulose can also be recycled with other paper products.
Cellulose bags are perfect for food storage as, unlike plastic, no gases are given off to spoil the taste of food. They are also excellent for microwaving, freezer storage, lunch bags, etc.
The cellulose used in our bags is 195 MST. This indicates a 1 mil thickness, with a water-based coating of "nitro cellulose" which biodegrades in 30 to 90 days in soil.
Environmentally Sound Products
PO Box 214
Eldred, PA 16731
Phone: (800) 886-5432
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