Who provides TESCO'S with these bags. cheers.

Baylis, you could try:

customer.service@tesco.co.uk

If you explain the background to your query and what you are looking for I am sure someone will respond.

Specification:

Biodegradability of P-Life Degradable Plastics has been tested and proved to comply with ISO14855 standard. ISO14855 is defined as "Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and disintegration of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions ?Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide".

P-Life dosed LDPE Films, which were oxo-degraded were evaluated for testing. Tests result showed that the degree of biodegradability was 30% after 144 days and it was still increasing. This investigation has shown that when the P-Life dosed plastics will degrade into low molecular mass products and the plastics are certainly bio-assimilated after they go through the degradation process.

Through P-Life additive induced oxo-biodegradation process, plastic materials after going through stage 1: oxidative degradation will finally be bio-assimilated by the living organism in stage 2: biodegradation process. Only if the plastic materials are bio-assimilated by the living organism will carbon dioxide be evolved. And repeated tests conducted by a number accredited authorized testing body including Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute (CERI, www.ceri.jp), an renown accredited authorized testing body in Japan has confirmed the biodegradability of P-Life Degradable Plastics.

Biodegradable plastic will degrade as a result of bacterial activity. In order to also be classified compostable, ther degration must meet certain specified criteria such as rate biodegration, maximum residue of material left a a specific point in time as a requirement for the material to have no harmful impact on the final compost or the composting process. All compostable plastic is therefore also biodegradable. The standard for compostable plastic used is the European standard EN 13432.

Degradable plastics are not compostable. Most of the products using the label Degradable plastic, degrade as a result of physical and chemical impact (fracture into smaller pieces of plastic). They are oil based products with special additives that assist their 'fragmentation'. Biological activity is not a significant part of the degradation of these products, or the process is too slow to earn the classification Biodegradable or Compostable (the Biological degredation will typically take many years).

Bioplastics are a new generation of biodegradable and compostable plastics, derived from renewable raw materials such as starch (e.g. corn, potato, tapioca etc), cellulose, soy protein, lactic acid, etc, not hazardous in production and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, biomass etc, in the environment when discarded. Corn starch is currently the main raw material being used in the manufacture of bioplastic resins. Mater-Bi (main componenet corn-starch), and PolyActide (PLA) (made from corn-starch as well) are currently the 2 main resins (raw materials), being used today in the production of compostable and biodegradable plastics and are certified for compostability under standards soybean protein, cellulose etc. Most of these are currently not certificed for compostability, though some are for biodegradability. The field of bioplastics is constantly evolving with new materials and technologies being worked on and being brought to market.

cheers Darradev.

darradev cheers, sent a email.

Thank you for your email.

I just want to let you know that your email has successfully reached
us, and we promise to be back in touch as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Tesco Customer Service

Thank you for your email.

I have investigated this for you and have been advised of the
following.

Sorry, this is company sensitive information that we do not provide to
customers.

I do apologise for the disappointment this may cause.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us at
customer.service@tesco.co.uk quoting

uk legislation
It is important to appreciate the difference between Standards and Laws in this context. Standards are, essentially, a guide to specification and compliance with a Standard is not legally enforceable. Sometimes, Laws are enacted which embody references to Standards in order to define products which do or do not meet specific criteria - clearly in those cases it does make a real difference if a product does or does not meet the Standard.

At the present time, d2w, and any other oxo-biodegradable products, do not meet the requirements of EU Standards for degradable packaging. The significance of this and how this is likely to change are detailed below.

Standards
UK Standards are normalised with those of the EU. Domestic Standards are created by the British Standards Institute (BSi) who also administers those of the EU. The current Standard for degradable packaging is the European Standard, EN13432. A key feature of this Standard is the measurement (using the Sturm Test) of the speed of emission of CO2 in the course of degradation in compost. Although d2w products totally degrade, the speed at which they emit CO2 does not meet the current Standard - indeed, based on this definition even a leaf cannot be called 'degradable'.

A BSI Working Group 2004/00862, reporting to Committee PKW/00, is currently formulating a new British Standard designed to recognise the functionality of oxo-biodegradable technology. This has been under way for some months and is titled at present BSi Standard PKW/00 Doc. 2004/00862.

Tesco Customer Service wrote:
Thank you for your email.

I have investigated this for you and have been advised of the following.

Sorry, this is company sensitive information that we do not provide to customers.

I do apologise for the disappointment this may cause.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us at customer.service@tesco.co.uk quoting TES4254053X.

Kind Regards


Frances Gibson
Tesco Customer Service

Baylis,

try SEO.L Stanelco PLC they have some patent on biodegradable technology,not up to speed with them but they did get a contract from Asda if am correct or wal mart.

i see in the observer front page 33 councils have banned plactic bags at supermarkets.

Sphere supply bags to Tesco

Oh please don't involve SEO - Tesco needs suppliers that can deliver volume, not words!
Also, the whole premise of plastic bags needs discussion - for it is my understanding that the environmental issue is far from clear-cut.
The original complaint from the green-lobby was that the bags damaged wildlife - well we only care to some extent, as six-pack packaging is still made - it has been linked to deaths of hedgehogs, who get caught in the can-rings. (Perhaps if it was robbins that would be a different story?).
However, it appears that most wildlife isn't "that stupid" to attempt to eat plastic bags - although it is recognised many animals swallow stones to aid digestion process.
One issue leveled at bags is that they last hundreds of years and contaminate landfill - this I don't believe, Firstly landfill is a sealed environmnet, to avoid liquids finding their way into water-courses, furthermore the atmosphere is monitored so no nasty-niffs. Finally, the bags I have arround the home and garden rarely last more that 3, or four years ( less outdoor, including larger heavy-duty bags from builders).
So where is the problem with supermarket bags? Personally I like them, they are useful for wrapping things and so on. I prefer the clear-variety, so much easier to check what's inside.....but they have a limited life, so need replacing.
If supermarkets charge for bags and folks wish to re-use them, then they will have to be stronger and last longer. So whilst the "number" of bags might drop ( less than half?), they will last longer, which kinda-negate the whole process.
Yes, I know they are supposed to be bio-degradable, but folk won't choose to pay for these.....with a short-life.
No I don't think I get it at all, esp. as the original premis is far from proven.
-Incidently checkout-bags were introduced to prevent pilfering and to advertise the store.