They look like plastic but aren’t. These Innovative cassava and corn bags offer eco-friendly solutions to the country’s ever-growing plastic pollution problem.
The non-plastic bags from the Philippine-based Oikos Sustainable Solutions are sourced and manufactured locally as innovative, sustainable alternatives.
Their flagship products – cassava and corn bags – closely resemble conventional plastic but are entirely devoid of plastic materials and provide a sustainable choice for consumers.
The cassava bags are made of 75% cassava starch and 25% vegetable oils. The corn bags are crafted from corn starch converted into dextrose with enzymes mixed with natural fats and polymers.
Oikos PH says the bags are 100% plant-based and safe for consumption by both people and animals.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippines annually produces about 2.7 million tons of plastic waste and about 20 percent of these end up in oceans, ranking the country as the third-largest contributor to plastic pollution globally.
Oikos’ sustainable bags naturally biodegrade in only 3 to 6 months, significantly reducing environmental impact compared to traditional plastics, which take 20 to 500 years to decompose as reported by the United Nations. Cassava bags also dissolve in water above 70-80°C and leave 0% toxic residue in the environment.
These biodegradable bags include laundry bags that can be thrown in the washer with dirty clothes, dissolving in the process. Oikos also offers mailers and trash bags under its cassava line, and corn bags, which can be alternatives to paper bags.
By promoting the use of cassava and corn bags, Oikos PH aims to inspire a shift towards sustainable practices and contribute to a cleaner, greener future for the Philippines.
Discover Oikos’ cassava and corn bags—an alternative eco-friendly packaging solution that looks like plastic but contains zero plastic materials. This local company aims to reduce plastic waste pollution in the country.
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— Shara Joy (@Shajuyie) July 1, 2024
The term ‘Oikos’ originates from ancient Greek, from which the prefix “eco” was derived. It encompasses three interconnected concepts: the family, their property, and their house. As a company, Oikos believes that fostering a better Earth begins within our homes, workplaces, and immediate surroundings.
Similarly, Nanotronics Inc. made significant strides in sustainable packaging by winning the Grand Prize in Business Innovation at the 2022 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators global awards. This achievement provides access to the global market and mentoring support to develop their biobased and biodegradable plastic, exemplifying the Philippines’ commitment to sustainable solutions.
Mondelēz Philippines has also achieved significant sustainability milestones in 2023 by collecting and diverting post-consumer plastic packaging, eliminating plastic trays for Oreo Mini and Chips Ahoy, and partnering with Plastic Credit Exchange. These efforts align with the EPR Law, aiming for 98% recyclable packaging by 2025.
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