The ban on plastic bags has naturally led to inconvenience for many consumers due to the unavailability of alternative materials which are as effective as a plastic bag in their functions. However, it is now time to switch over to bags that have been made from biodegradable material but which still retain the efficiency and qualities of conventional plastic. The solution is BioGreen Bags.

It is rightly said that necessity is the mother of all inventions. The inconvenience has led to the invention of plastic-like bags that are made from biodegradable raw materials. A Bangalore-based company manufactures environment-friendly bags which you could use as a replacement for plastic bags.

“Karnataka Government imposed a ban on plastic and plastic products in the state on 11 March 2016, without any alternative to the people to carry essentials hassle-free. When I went to purchase groceries in paper bags, including milk, rice and dal, they started breaking as soon as they came in contact with moisture from the milk packet. I then looked for alternatives and unable to find any inexpensive one, BioGreen was born!” says the 29-year-old entrepreneur Mohammed Sadiq.

Biogreen Bags are made from natural starch, vegetable oil derivatives, along with vegetable waste. The raw materials are collected and then converted to pellets, which are in turn processed into thin films so that they could be molded into bags. The products are non-toxic and thus beneficial for the environment as well as the flora and fauna. The products contain no conventional plastics.

What is the product called BioGreen Bags?

Biogreen bags are now India’s answer to the toxic pollution unleashed due to the use of plastics in the world. It is estimated that by the year 2020 the oceans would have more plastic debris floating around than the fish in them. BioGreen is the first 100% biodegradable substitute to plastic bags. It is totally harmless for the environment, plants and animals. Even if consumed the bags are safe as they are edible and biodegradable.

According to a Ministry of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change report, about 15,000 tons of plastic waste got generated in India each day in the year 2015, out of which around 6,000 tons remained uncollected and was thus littered. This resulted in the death of around 1 million sea birds and approximately 100,000 marine mammals every year due to the plastic in the oceans. Therefore, a plastic bag, which is 100 percent biodegradable, waterproof, recyclable, and made out of organic waste, is a boon for mankind. Most importantly, it produces 90 percent less greenhouse gas during its production. Perhaps, this the cure that the world had been waiting for.

How do BioGreen Bags function in an environment friendly way?

Apart from the fact that they are non-toxic for the environment as well as biodegradable, BioGreen plastic bags decompose in around 160 days and can be used as manure for improving the quality of agricultural lands. They would thus lead to the reduced use of chemical fertilizers, which are toxic. Moreover, since the BioGreen plastic bag is made out of organic wastes, it is also helping in getting rid of thousands of tons of municipal waste which usually ends up in landfills. The icing on the cake is that the entire product range is quite affordable and can therefore be a sustainable alternative to plastics. Thus, it is kind of plastic minus the toxic.

Braving the odds: from collection to convincing the world

The entire entrepreneurial journey of Sadiq was fraught with its ups and downs. He had to meticulously arrange for the gathering of the raw materials for production of the bags from around the world. However, according to Sadiq, the hardest part was convincing and educating people as well as government officials about the product together with obtaining the license for manufacturing and marketing the BioGreen Bags.

Blazing the trail for green technology, the BioGreen way

The green startup runs three manufacturing units: in Pune, Dharwad and Thiruchirapally since July 2017. BioGreen company exports over 120 tons of such sustainable products to the USA, UK, Kenya as well as other parts of South Africa. Its clientele includes the likes of The Future Group, Myntra, and DMart. The confident Sadiq clearly spells out the vision of his green startup.

“We dream to achieve zero percent plastic use in Karnataka and a cut-off of 50 percent of plastic products in the Indian market by end of the year 2020. Some people may believe it is too much to ask for but with a manufacturing capacity of 600 tons, things seem brighter at the end,” avers Sadiq, who plans to launch BioGreen full-fledgedly on 30 January 2018.

It is that time of the year when we need to act upon our resolutions. Let’s pave the way for a green future of mankind this year. Join me in congratulating Mohammed Sadiq and the team of BioGreen bags! Let us gift a healthy environment to our next generation.

Image credit: thestartupjournal.com