In the world of retail, Canada’s version of the OSCAR® has to be the Best New Product Awards, held in Toronto. In this year’s awards, or the first time, a non-food product won best of show, with the award going to… GLAD® 100% Compostable and Biodegradable Kitchen Bags.
According to Robert Levy, president and CEO of BrandSpark International, which hosts the awards, consumers rated the product highly for being “an environmentally friendly product that works well,” adding that he suspects the green movement has much to do with it. “I think we’ve passed the tipping point and consumers are willing to act.”
According to the package, the GLAD® compostable bags are made from ‘vegetable based material that is 100% biodegradable’. This is backed up with certification by the Biodegradable Products Institute, which means they are designed to compost quickly, completely and safely, without leaving any plastic residues. (Unlike some ‘degradable’ plastics, which only break down into smaller plastic pieces)
The bags are designed for municipal compost systems, which unfortunately, don’t yet exist in all areas of Canada. I called the GLAD® Customer service number (1-800-561-5039) to find out more. Albert, from Peoria Illinois, seemed surprised that we didn’t have municipal composting in Vancouver. Even his supervisor didn’t have an answer when I asked about how well the bags might break down in a backyard compost system. So I guess it’s up to your faithful GreenDeal blogger to find out. Stay tuned.
For regular garbage, using a compostable bag is still a good idea, according to the person I spoke with at the Vancouver Landfill, especially if it contains leaves, food waste or other compostable material. It’s one less piece of plastic, and it does help in the long term.
Glad 100% compostable and biodegradable kitchen bags, made by Clorox, are available at London Drugs.
March 13th, 2009
