PhilMech tests biodegradable fruit bag

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) is testing a transparent biodegradable fruit bag that aims to solve the problems of plastic waste management.

In collaboration with the National Mango Research and Development Center in Guimaras, PhilMech is currently testing a biodegradable bag made from cassava starch and polybutylene succinate (PBS), a thermoplastic polymer resin.

The transparent biodegradable fruit bag, which measures 6x8 inches with a thickness of 150 microns, is expected to completely degrade after 36 weeks.

PhilMech said the tensile strength is within the range of low density polyethylene (LDPE) while the elongation is within the range of high density polyethylene (HDPE), but it has higher density, thickness swelling and can absorb more water.

PhilMech executive director Rex Bingabing noted that the development of a transparent bag with plastic-like qualities would help address the volume of plastic wastes ending up in agricultural lands or trading posts.

“Plastic bags and products take years to degrade and can impede plant growth if left to rot in soil. What farmers and agriculture commodity traders use today are still plastics and those that are left undisposed after use can present problems to the environment,” he said.

Bingabing added that the tested biodegradable fruit bag was still comparable with  existing bagging materials which include the Chinese brown paper bag and old newspapers.

“This is in terms of quality of harvested fruits in terms of percent marketable, non-marketable and export, peel color at ripe stage, flesh color and percent edible portion,” Bingabing said.

The development of a biodegradable bag was done under PhilMech’s project “Utilization of Biodegradable Composites Material on the Production of Fruit Bag” by researchers Andres Tuates Jr. and Ofero Caparino.

“Plastics generate higher quantity of wastes that are difficult to dispose. The plastic residues remain on the soil for some years as large pieces and the  are impediment to plant growth and also a potential hazard to animals if the land is subsequently put down to grass,” the researchers said.