Biodegradable plastic bags

	These carrier bags from mainland China's Paper Box & Handicrafts are made of 210 to 230g art paper with PVC tube handles.

More companies are using art and kraft paper, recyclable plastic and natural materials such as cornmeal and shell in their latest releases.

Carrier bag makers in Taiwan and mainland China are increasing the use of biodegradable plastic, fabric and indigenous materials in support of the “green” trend.

Most designs from the island are made of kraft paper and nonwoven textiles. To raise distinctiveness, some releases contain natural components, including recycled cornmeal and crushed oyster shell.

Further, companies are utilizing thinner plastic types. Requiring fewer processing stages, this not only trims down production costs but is also more environment-friendly. HDPE and LDPE manufactured via stereolithography are examples of these materials.

Lightweight varieties such as PP and PE are receiving increased attention as well. They are washable, water-resistant and hardwearing. On the other hand, many suppliers are decreasing their use of PVC, which is said to contain cadmium and other toxic materials.

In the mainland, designs are constructed mainly from handmade and recyclable materials. Specifically, 100 to 350gsm art paper and 200 to 300gsm white cardboard are popular. Woodfree and kraft paper are likewise employed. Some companies are using environment-friendly glue as adhesive or pulp binder.

Many suppliers purchase raw materials overseas to ensure quality. Products in imported materials are two or three times more expensive than local versions.

Makers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait apply logos and patterns via silk-screening, and computerized and flexographic techniques. Photogravure, copper letterpress and aluminum lithography are alternatives. UV-ink printing is the common method of impressing logos and patterns on plastic carrier bags. Generally, the pigment used complies with Europe's requirements on nontoxicity.

To boost durability, the handles are pressed with a machine. Some are sewn directly on the fabric body to reinforce strength. Paper versions are fitted with metal pins or copper buttons around the handle loops.

Creating models from recyclable materials is a long-term plan for many Taiwan companies, including Full Delta Enterprise Co. Ltd.

The maker offers carrier bags in art and kraft paper, nonwoven textiles and canvas. It also develops designs in LDPE and HDPE, which are machine-processed plastic types known for their high recovery and recyclability rates, and low production costs. EVA, PP, and PVD are utilized as well.

At Taiwan Huacheng International Co. Ltd, only green materials are used for making gift carrier bags. Releases are in biodegradable and nontoxic PP, reusable nonwoven fabric and handmade paper. Upcoming designs will have cotton and complex fiber as base.

Models from Jiaoufung Industry Co. Ltd are mostly in environment-friendly plastic varieties such as PP and EVA. Priced at $0.33 to $0.35 each, the former is preferred for its water resistance, durability, washability and color variation. More importantly, it does not contain toxic substances.

Sinde Plastic Co. Ltd recycles and reprocesses cornmeal, and oyster and volute shell to make carrier bags. Since refining these materials can be expensive, the company's R&D team focuses on new technologies that will reduce operating expenditure. Sinde also uses HDPE.

Similarly, product development efforts in the mainland are concentrated on environment-friendly designs.

At Yantai Guangming Color Printing & Packing Co. Ltd and Guangzhou Jianxing Color Printing Co. Ltd, for instance, film is laminated on recycled materials using nontoxic glue.

Quality is likewise emphasized, mostly through the use of imported materials.

Everich Mfg Co. Ltd sources paper from South Korea and Italy for its gift bags. Some models come in 150g art paper with a PVC window on the body. They can also be foil-stamped to enrich the exterior's visual appeal.

The company runs an art studio in Budapest, Hungary, where R&D is carried out. With Europe as Everich's biggest export market, the in-house designers are able to stay abreast of the trends more efficiently.

Releases from Paper Box & Handicrafts Ltd are made of materials purchased in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Products are accentuated with PVC tubes, ribbons and glass bead strings used as handles.

Global File Stationery Mfg Co. Ltd procures plastic from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Thailand. Most models boast 4 or 5-color prints. Versions for carrying wine bottles have translucent bodies.

Art paper and silk ribbons used for Guangzhou Runjiah (Packaging) Industrial Co. Ltd's carrier bags are sourced from Hong Kong. Typical designs from the company are offset-printed or hot-stamped.

Plastic gift bag specialist Shantou City Kangbai Fty Co. Ltd utilizes PP from Switzerland and Taiwan. Local materials are likewise employed for the low end.

Art paper used at Xiamen Wide Color Printing Co. Ltd is imported from Sweden.

There are more than 200 suppliers of carrier bags in the mainland, most of which are based in the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang. Some are Hong Kong-invested companies, including Yantai Guangming and Guangzhou Runjiah.

Due to the incessant increase in raw material and labor costs, and the revaluation of the yuan, prices are foreseen to rise by 5 to 10 percent in the next 12 months.

The main export markets are Europe, the US and Asia, with OEM and ODM orders making up the bulk of shipments.

In Taiwan, the number of carrier bag exporters is declining because of heightened competition from their mainland counterparts. Further, companies are affected by the soaring cost of petroleum, deterring them from investing heavily in R&D and production equipment.

Currently, there are fewer than 10 suppliers on the island that export actively.