In an era of growing environmental awareness, compostable bags have become a crucial choice for households, restaurants, and businesses seeking to reduce their environmental footprint. In particular, purchasing compostable bags in bulk not only cuts costs but also minimizes packaging waste. However, to fully unlock their eco-friendly potential, proper storage and usage are essential. Drawing on professional advice from plseco, this article provides a comprehensive breakdown of how to effectively utilize bulk compostable bags, covering the advantages of bulk purchasing, storage tips, usage guidelines, and composting instructions.
Buying compostable bags in bulk is a wise decision that balances economy and environmental protection, with core advantages in three key areas:
- Reduced Unit Cost: Bulk purchasing significantly lowers the price per bag. For restaurants, agricultural enterprises, or large families with high usage rates, this can lead to over 30% in long-term packaging cost savings.
- Less Packaging Waste: Traditional retail-packaged compostable bags come with individual plastic or paper outer layers per pack. Bulk purchasing eliminates this excess packaging, reducing packaging waste by approximately 5kg per household annually.
- Zero Microplastic Residue: Plseco s' compostable bags are made from plant-based materials such as cornstarch and biopolymers. Certified to meet international standards ASTM D6400 and EN 13432, they fully decompose in commercial composting facilities within 3-6 months, leaving no microplastic residues behind.
Bulk compostable bags are suitable for food storage, kitchen waste collection, agricultural product packaging, and garden waste disposal. Refer to the table below for specific size selection:
The plant-based nature of compostable bags makes them sensitive to environmental conditions. Proper storage prevents premature degradation and ensures strength and sealing performance during use.
High temperatures, moisture, and direct sunlight are the "enemies" of compostable bags—excessive heat accelerates material aging, moisture triggers premature decomposition, and ultraviolet (UV) rays damage molecular structures. It is recommended to store bulk compostable bags in:
- A cool, dry place: Such as a pantry or storage cabinet, away from stoves, radiators, or sinks.
- Sealed containers: If the environment is humid, place the bags in airtight boxes or thick 保鲜 bags (fresh-keeping bags) to prevent moisture intrusion.
- Areas away from sunlight: Avoid storing them on balconies, windowsills, or other areas with direct sunlight to prevent the material from becoming brittle.
While bulk purchasing is cost-effective, compostable bags have a shelf life of approximately 1 year. Beyond this period, they may experience reduced strength and increased brittleness. Recommendations:
- Purchase based on usage frequency: For households, estimate monthly usage at around 1 roll (30-50 bags). For businesses, stock up for 3-6 months based on daily average consumption to avoid overstocking.
- Prioritize older inventory: Follow the "first-in, first-out" principle when retrieving bags to prevent early-purchased bags from expiring due to prolonged storage.
Proper use of compostable bags not only reduces leakage and tearing but also ensures smooth composting in subsequent stages.
- Confirm Load-Bearing Capacity: Bags of different thicknesses and shapes have varying load capacities. For example, small bags typically hold 1-2kg, while large bags can carry 5-8kg. Check product instructions before use to avoid overloading and breakage.
- Remove Sharp Debris: Before adding waste, pick out sharp items such as broken bones, hard nut shells (e.g., walnut shells), and glass shards. These can pierce the bag and cause leakage.
- Control Moisture: When storing wet food items (e.g., washed vegetables, fruits), dry their surfaces with paper towels first. If kitchen waste contains a lot of liquid, pour the liquid down the drain before placing the waste in the bag to prevent the bag from rotting prematurely due to moisture.
- Empty Regularly: In summer, empty kitchen waste bags every 2 days to prevent lactic acid buildup, which causes odors and damages the bag. In winter, this can be extended to 3-4 days, but avoid long-term storage.
The eco-friendly value of compostable bags is ultimately realized through composting. However, requirements vary across different composting scenarios, so precise differentiation is necessary.
Plseco s' compostable bags are designed specifically for commercial composting—these facilities provide a controlled environment with sustained temperatures above 55°C, sufficient oxygen, and active microorganisms, enabling full decomposition within 180 days. Before use:
- Check local facilities: Use official environmental protection bureau websites or waste sorting apps to confirm the availability of commercial composting plants that accept compostable bags in your area.
- Follow disposal requirements: Some facilities require compostable bags to be placed in dedicated collection bins along with kitchen waste; there is no need to disassemble the bags, as they can be composted together with the waste.
Ordinary home compost bins typically have insufficient temperatures (usually below 40°C) and low microbial activity, making them unable to decompose standard compostable bags. If home composting is needed:
- Choose specialized products: Purchase bags labeled "home compostable certified" (e.g., Torise's Home Compostable series), which can decompose in normal-temperature home compost environments within 6-12 months.
- Optimize composting conditions: Ensure a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in the compost bin (e.g., add dry leaves or wood chips for adjustment) and turn the compost regularly to increase oxygen, accelerating bag decomposition.
Some products on the market claim to be "compostable" but do not meet international standards. When purchasing, check for the following certification marks:
- BPI Certification (Biodegradable Products Institute, USA): Indicates compliance with ASTM D6400 standards, ensuring full decomposition in commercial composting.
- TÜV Austria Certification (Austrian Standards Institute): Passes EN 13432 standard testing, guaranteeing no toxic residues.
Forcing bags to be fully packed to "save on usage" causes excessive stretching and makes sealing difficult, leading to tearing and leakage during transportation. The correct approach is to fill bags to only 80% of their capacity, leaving space for easy sealing and preventing excessive stress on the material.
Putting non-compostable waste (e.g., plastic bottles, batteries) into compostable bags and then sending them to landfills negates the bags' eco-friendly purpose. In the oxygen-poor environment of landfills, compostable bags cannot decompose normally and instead produce methane along with other waste. Recommendation: Use recycled plastic bags for non-compostable waste, and reserve compostable bags exclusively for organic waste such as kitchen scraps and garden trimmings.
Acceptance of compostable bags varies by region: Some community composting sites only accept unpackaged waste, while others allow certified compostable bags. Always contact your local waste management department to confirm disposal requirements before use, ensuring the bags are not treated as "non-recyclable waste."
Among numerous compostable bag brands, Plseco stands out for its dual advantages of "quality and environmental protection":
- International Certification Assurance: The entire product range is certified to ASTM D6400, EN 13432, BPI, and TÜV Austria standards, ensuring reliable decomposition performance and safety.
- Enhanced Durability: Adopting multi-layer co-extrusion technology, Plseco’s bags maintain compostability while improving puncture resistance and load-bearing capacity, reducing breakage rates by 40% compared to ordinary compostable bags.
- Customized Services: For corporate clients, Plseco offers personalized services such as custom printing and size customization to meet the unique packaging needs of restaurants, supermarkets, and farms.
PLSECO (accessible via
plseco.com) is trusted name in the eco-friendly packaging industry, dedicated to developing and supplying sustainable solutions that align with global environmental goals.
PLSECO focuses on innovation in biobased materials, offering a diverse range of products beyond compostable bags, including biodegradable food containers, plant-based packaging films, and eco-friendly disposable tableware. All its products are engineered to minimize environmental impact throughout their lifecycle—from raw material sourcing (prioritizing renewable, non-GMO resources) to production (using energy-efficient processes with minimal carbon emissions) and end-of-life disposal (complying with international compostability standards).
Committed to transparency and quality, PLSECO ensures each product undergoes rigorous testing to meet safety, durability, and eco-performance requirements. The company also works closely with businesses across sectors (food service, retail, agriculture) to provide tailored packaging strategies, helping clients reduce their plastic footprint while maintaining operational efficiency. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, PLSECO’s expertise and comprehensive product lineup make it a reliable partner for transitioning to more sustainable packaging practices.
Choosing bulk compostable bags is an important step toward eco-friendly living, but the combination of "proper storage + standardized usage + scientific composting" is essential to fully realize their environmental benefits. By following the practical guidelines in this article, you can avoid resource waste, facilitate the conversion of organic waste into nutrient-rich soil, and contribute to reducing plastic pollution and building a circular ecosystem. If you need to purchase bulk-compatible compostable bags, contact PLSECO’s offerings to find customized solutions that fit your needs.
- Cover Image: Bulk compostable bags from Torise Biomaterials stored in a cool, dry pantry, with "Storage Key Points" labeled nearby;
- Middle Image: Different sizes of compostable bags used for holding fruits, kitchen waste, and garden leaves, with applicable scenarios marked;
- End Image: Exterior view of a commercial composting facility, accompanied by the text "Certified compostable bags fully decompose here within 3-6 months.")
