Australia's Biograde supplies compostable shopping bags to KMART stores

23-Mar-09

Biograde Limited, an Australian international supplier of packaging resins derived from renewable resources, has been appointed as supplier of compostable shopping bags for Kmart stores. The decision comes after South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation Jay Weatherill launched the customer trial, which is being conducted at 12 Kmart stores to find alternative options once the South Australian Government's ban on plastic checkout bags takes effect on 4 May 2009. Melbourne based Biograde makes the compostable bags from a proprietary blend of resins and corn starch, which undergoes biodegradation by natural biological processes and does not leave any toxic residue. Biograde managing director, Dr Frank Glatz said, "We source our own raw materials, formulate and manufacture the resin and produce the bags ourselves, so we know that we are providing a product that performs to those standards. Most importantly, these compostable bags wi ll decompose safely in the council waste management system." The rigorously tested Biograde materials comply with Australian Standards AS 4736-2006 and also meet European EN13432, USA/Canada ASTMD6400, Japanese GreenPla and China Environment Label standards. This high level of certification of its products was critical to Biograde being appointed exclusive supplier of biodegradable packaging to the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.