Cleanbodia Bio Bags

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$7.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Public Sector Agencies

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Cleanbodia produces and sells the bio bags. The product is implemented by a number of eco-minded businesses based in Cambodia.

Countries

Cambodia

Manufacturing/Building Method

The biodegradable bags are made by a combination of cassava starch and fossil fuel polymers.

Intellectural Property Type

Select Type

User Provision Model

Users can request orders through Cleanbodia's webpage. Orders in Phnom Penh can be picked up in BKK1 while orders outside of Phnom Penh will be delivered.

Distributions to Date Status

The bags are distributed nationwide in Cambodia. Over 100 organisations including businesses and schools across 6 cities use Cleanbodia's products.

Design Specifications

The composition of biodegradable bags includes a mixture of cassava starch and fossil fuel polymers. The bags are available in three sizes but its dimensions can also be custom made.

• Biodegradable carrier bag: 50 cm tall (including handles) x 30 cm wide x 12 cm deep with a volume of 12 liters. A roll of 200 bags weigh 1.11 kg
• Medium biodegradable garbage bag: 70 cm tall x 34 cm wide x 16 cm deep with a volume of 38 liters. A roll of 50 bags weigh 1.25 kg
• Large biodegradable garbage bag: 80 cm tall (including handles) x 50 cm wide x 15 cm deep with a volume of 100 liters. 25 bags weigh 1.00 kg.

When disposed of, the cassava starch degrades naturally within just a few months and produces bacteria which begins to directly attack the fossil polymer chains. This drastically reduces the degradation duration from hundreds of years to about 5 years. The product can be degraded in either water, soil or garbage piles.

Technical Support

Not applicable

Replacement Components

Not applicable

Lifecycle

The biodegradable bags are degraded in about 5 years.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The specific performance targets are outlined for each bag size:

• Biodegradable carrier bag: can hold approx. 4kg, including hot liquid, and are food safe.
• Medium biodegradable garbage bag: can hold approx. 12kg, including hot liquid, and are food safe.
• Large biodegradable garbage bag: Has durable handles, can hold over 15kg.

Vetted Performance Status

The product is tested to ensure it meets the following requirements to be certified as OK biobased:

1. the total carbon content of the product is at least 30%
2. the carbon content of a renewable raw material (biobased) is at least 20 %.

Safety

The bags are food-safe, so food will not become contaminated by the bag's material.

Complementary Technical Systems

None

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

The product received the following certifications to inform the user of its level of biodegradability:

• OK biobased: Four-star biobased certification by TÜV Austria regarding the product's composition from bioplastics and/or materials of natural origin.
• ISO 14855-2: Certification by Vincotte against ISO regarding the product's aerobic biodegradability in controlled composting conditions.

Evaluation methods

The manufacturer cites time to degrade and strength as its evaluation criteria.

Other Information

Cleanbodia also sells compostable bags that can be put in compost and fully degrades in 24 months.

General info about eco-friendly plastic bags: There are a lot of terms related to eco-friendly plastics such as biodegradable, compostable and oxo-biodegradable. Even though claimed to be environmental friendly several versions of "eco-friendly" plastics have been criticized to be even the exact opposite of "eco-friendly".

Some articles and links with information related to this topic are: 5 surprising secrets of biodegradable plastic bags, Are OXO-biodegradables really environmentally friendly, Conventional plastics, FAQs about plastics.

Idealist - Plastic Free Cambodia