Recyclable and oxodegradable polythene
As long as oil is being cracked to manufacture fuels, the basic raw materials for polythene are being produced as a bi-product, so either we use them and help conserve paper from the equivalent of millions of trees or we dispose of them via incineration or landfill. 
Paper can only be recycled a few times as the fibres get progressively shorter and are soon at the point where they will no longer stay together. Polythene however, can be recycled an infinite amount of times. Thus it would seem to make good sense to reuse this material wherever possible, while it is still available, rather than send it to landfill.
Polythene (polyethylene) is a strong, versatile material that is resistant to water, acids, alkalies, and most solvents.
Its many applications include films and bags for mailing and food packaging, shower
curtains, unbreakable bottles, pipes, pails, drinking glasses, insulation for wire and cable etc.
If a normal recyclable polythene bag is left in the hedgerow or beside the motorway, it will have degraded and disappeared within 18 months mainly due to the action of UV light from the sun.
If an oxodegradable (non recyclable) polythene bag is left in the hedgerow or beside the motorway, it will possibly have degraded and disappeared some 2 months earlier mainly due to the action of the chemical catalyst included in the mix and UV light from the sun.
Oxodegradable polythene is normal polythene that has 1%-3% of an additive included in the ingredients mix. The (very expensive) additive has the effect of accelerating the degradation process. The long carbon-hydrogen-oxygen structures of polythene are gradually broken down into smaller components under the influence of oxygen, light and heat (oxodegradation) until they are finally small enough to be ingested by bacteria, if it is present (biodegradation).
Bacteria rely on oxygen and are present in the top 12 feet of a landfill site, below this methane (from decomposing organic matter) travelling upwards displaces the oxygen.
Most mailing polythene will get to landfill around 10 weeks after being manufactured and will therefore need to remain within the top 12 feet for many months if it is to degrade. The likelihood of this actually happening will depend on the size and usage of the landfill site in question.
It is often said that oxodegradable polythene can be recycled but for most people this is a virtual impossibility as the reprocessing companies do not want it. Downloadable pdf file
Obviously oxodegradable polythene can be remelted in the same way as normal polythene. However, it will continue to degrade unless an oxidising additive is included to negate the effect of the original catalytic additive. This is very expensive and simply pushes up the price of the remanufactured finished goods, often to a point where they are no longer competitive.
Downloadable pdf file
Several organisations are now starting to use clear, unprinted oxodegradable polythene that does not bear any indication as to its physical makeup. This makes it impossible to differentiate from normal recyclable material thereby potentially jeopardising the whole recycling process.
Although we at Polyprint Mailing Films are fully committed to recycling and encourge both customers and the general public to use our facilities, we appreciate that some customers prefer to use oxodegradable film. We will therefore of course print and supply this material as requested.
Polythene gauge (thickness)
It's probably fair to say that the majority of polythene or polypropylene used in the mailing industry is of a heavier gauge (thicker) than is necessary for enclosing the product. Polyprint Mailing Films has actively encouraged customers to opt for thinner films wherever possible and furthermore we have developed and pioneered the use of 10mym and 12mym materials that are unique to the industry. Downgauging reduces the amount of material used, reduces the carbon footprint and saves money.
Further information
For further information in our recycling and environmental service please email us at .
