February 2025 Activity Report: Introducing biomass plastic bags!

Hello, this is Kimura from the Sustainable Team.

This month, we changed the standard bags (polyethylene bags) that are essential for our internal operations to sustainable specifications!

These plastic bags are indispensable as they are used to separate various products such as outer and inner linings, zipper and buttons that are delivered to customers, and to prevent them from getting dirty before they reach the customer.

There is the option of reducing usage or not using it at all, but in reality this is not realistic when considering factors such as business efficiency.

Therefore, as a first step in this transition, we have changed our frequently used No. 10 (small size) and No. 14 (medium size) plastic bags to bags that have been certified as biomass bags!

Nakagawa Bag Manufacturing Chemicals Bio Standard Bag Bio Jaken 10
Product introduction: This bag is made from green (bio) polyethylene made from plants (sugar cane), which helps reduce CO2 emissions and conserve petroleum resources.
It has the effect of reducing environmental impact and has been certified with the Biomass Mark by the Japan Organic Resources Association, a general incorporated association, as being more than 10% plant-derived.
In addition, the biomass certification is displayed using an embossed pattern without using printing ink, making the bag easy to recycle and environmentally friendly.

If you look closely at the surface of the bag, you can see that it is uneven and has the "Biomass Mark/Biomass 10" engraved on it, but the design does not get in the way even when products are inside, so you can use it without any problems.

First of all, what is biomass?

Biomass materials are now commonly used in everyday items, even in the apparel materials we use every day.

There is an image of biomass being sustainable, but I think there are still not many people who can properly explain what is sustainable. (I was one of them.)

*Biomass* refers to resources derived from living organisms such as plants and animals. In particular, it refers to renewable organic resources other than fossil fuels, and is used as energy and raw materials.

Examples of biomass

• Plants: wood, crops, algae, etc.

• Animal sources: livestock waste, fish waste, etc.

• Waste: food waste, paper waste, etc.

Main uses of biomass

1. Fuel: Biomass power generation, bioethanol, biodiesel

②Chemical products: Bioplastics, Biofibers

3) Fertilizer and feed: Compost and biogas by-products

Biomass is considered carbon neutral (the CO₂ emitted when burned is offset by the CO₂ absorbed during the growth process) and is a resource that helps reduce environmental impact.

Do you have a rough idea of ​​what "biomass" is?

Taking this into consideration, the standard bag used this time is a "chemical product" of "plant origin."

summary

We introduced it on a trial basis at first, but as we found that there was no significant difference in transparency or strength compared to the material we had been using previously, we decided to make the full-scale switch.

My personal impression is that plastic bags that advertise themselves as sustainable are made of plastic that is so thin that it stretches easily and I worry about its strength, but when I actually used them, I found that this wasn't the case and they were easy to use.

Although it does cost money, I think it's important to get it in your hands, see it with your own eyes, touch it, and check it out.

Because it's something we use every day without hesitation, I want to steadily and steadily incorporate anything that can be made sustainable!