First, let's talk about what PBAT is made of. Its full name is polybutylene terephthalate-adipate. While it sounds complicated, it's actually polymerized from three monomers: terephthalic acid, adipic acid, and 1,4-butanediol. These three raw materials undergo a specialized reaction process to become PBAT material, suitable for making shopping bags-safe and environmentally friendly.
Now, the key question is: why are PBAT shopping bags biodegradable? Because its molecular structure contains ester bonds that are "easily attacked by microorganisms." In the natural environment, bacteria and fungi in the soil slowly break down these ester bonds, breaking PBAT into smaller molecules, eventually turning it into carbon dioxide and water. Unlike ordinary PE plastic bags, it won't remain in the environment for hundreds of years, causing pollution, making it particularly suitable for disposable shopping bags.
Now, let's discuss how it differs in performance from our commonly used PE bags. PE bags are traditional plastic bags-cheap and convenient, and less prone to leaks when carrying heavy items. The downside is that they don't degrade. While PBAT shopping bags have slightly lower tensile strength and are more easily punctured than PE bags, importantly, they are biodegradable, solving the environmental problems associated with PE bags.
In terms of price, PBAT shopping bags are becoming increasingly affordable. Previously, PBAT raw materials were too expensive; in 2020, one ton of PBAT could sell for 33,000 yuan, making the resulting shopping bags expensive and difficult for consumers to accept. However, things are different now. Domestic production capacity has increased, and competition has intensified. The price of PBAT has now dropped below 10,000 yuan, making shopping bags made from it priced similarly to traditional PE bags, significantly improving their cost-effectiveness.
Finally, while PBAT shopping bags are biodegradable, it's important to minimize the use of single-use items. If you absolutely need shopping bags, please prioritize biodegradable PBAT bags to contribute to environmental protection.
