Corn starch bags promise to send plastic packing

“The bags are made of resin drawn from corn starch. While all other materials have a limited shelf life of six-eight months,the corn starch bags can be used for as long as one wishes to. Unlike other materials that decompose by getting divided into fragments and later being consumed by bacteria,the bags decompose when thrown in soil or garbage,enriching the quality of soil. Once thrown in the litter,75 per cent of composting process takes place in 90 days. In four months,the entire bag composts,” said Vivek Mehta of city-based Balson Industries,sole manufacturer of such bags in Pune.

City-based Protecterra Ecological Foundation (PEF),an organisation working towards conservation of environment has been involved in promotion of the bags. “Our vision is to replace plastic by corn starch bags. While paper and cloth are other alternatives,they cannot contain wet products,which is not the case with corn starch bags. Secondly,they also have a capacity to contain weights up to 15 kg,” said environmentalist Pooja Bhale,director,PEF.

Resembling the texture and look of plastic bags,the corn starch bags are available in three types — bin bags for garbage disposal that cost Rs 110 for 30 bags,shopping bags and carry bags. Costing Rs 300 per kg,the corn starch resin is three times costlier than plastic which is Rs 90 per kg,despite which the manufacturers are optimistic.