Non woven eco-friendly bags already have certain environmental attributes, but through technological upgrades and process optimization, they can further reduce environmental load and achieve the advanced goal of “more environmentally friendly”. From the source of materials to the end of recycling, there is room for improvement at every stage.
Material Innovation: Reducing Environmental Impact from the Source
At present, the mainstream PP (polypropylene) non-woven fabric is more durable than plastic bags, but it is still essentially a petroleum based material with a degradation cycle of several years. To overcome this limitation, biobased materials are the core direction. PLA (polylactic acid) non-woven fabric made from plant fibers such as corn starch and sugarcane bagasse can be completely degraded in the natural environment within 6-12 months, and the carbon emissions during the production process are reduced by more than 35% compared to traditional PP materials.
The mixed material technology is also worth paying attention to. Blending 20% -30% bio based fibers with traditional non-woven fibers can retain their original strength while shortening the degradation cycle. For example, the “grass and wood blended” non-woven fabric developed by a certain enterprise has increased the proportion of biodegradable components to 45% while maintaining tear resistance, with a cost increase of only 12%. It has been adopted by multiple chain catering brands.
Production process: detailed optimization of carbon reduction and consumption reduction
The printing and dyeing process is a heavily polluted area in non-woven fabric production. Traditional water-based inks contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Switching to plant-based inks or UV curable inks can reduce harmful emissions by over 90%. A factory in Zhejiang has reduced its annual VOCs emissions from 80 tons to 6 tons by comprehensively replacing ink types, while increasing printing adhesion by 20%.
Energy consumption control is equally crucial. A non-woven fabric production line powered by solar energy, combined with a waste heat recovery system, can reduce energy consumption per unit product by 40%. According to data from a “zero carbon workshop” of a certain enterprise in Guangdong, the carbon emissions per ton of non-woven fabric production after renovation have decreased from 3.2 tons to 0.8 tons, and the cost of electricity has decreased by 25%.
Design Upgrade: Extended Lifecycle and Degradability
The load-bearing layer design of thickened non-woven bags can increase the average usage frequency from 5-8 times to 15-20 times, which is equivalent to reducing 60% of repetitive production needs. A certain coffee brand has increased the thickness of takeaway bags from 60g/㎡ to 80g/㎡. Although the cost of a single bag has increased by 0.3 yuan, the user reuse rate has increased threefold, and the comprehensive environmental benefits are significant.
The design of easily degradable structures is also important. Using water-soluble sutures at the seams of the bag body or reserving biodegradable tear holes at the bottom of the bag can avoid being buried as a whole due to difficulties in disassembly during recycling. The “intelligent degradation bag” of a certain German brand automatically dissolves the stitches within 3 months after contact with soil, and the dispersion and degradation rate of the bag fibers is accelerated by 50%.
Recycling System: Building a Closed Loop Processing Chain
Establishing a classified recycling network is the foundation. Guide users to dispose of discarded non-woven bags into community specific recycling bins through the food delivery platform app, and then have them undergo fiberization and regeneration by professional institutions. The “Bag Recycling Plan” piloted in Shanghai shows that for every ton of non-woven fabric recycled, 0.8 tons of recycled fiber can be produced, saving 600 liters of crude oil.
Chemical depolymerization technology provides a solution for damaged bags that are difficult to physically regenerate. Decompose waste non-woven fabric into monomer raw materials in a specific solvent, re polymerize to produce new fibers, and the material recovery rate can reach 92%. This technology has been industrialized in Japan, reducing processing costs by 30% compared to traditional landfill.
To truly achieve “full lifecycle environmental protection” for non-woven eco-friendly bags, companies need to be willing to invest in material research and development, consumers need to develop a habit of repeated use, and policies need to promote the construction of recycling systems. When every aspect is striving towards the direction of “carbon reduction, recycling, and degradation”, eco-friendly bags can truly bear the name of “environmental protection”.
Dongguan Liansheng Non woven Technology Co., Ltd. was established in May 2020. It is a large-scale non-woven fabric production enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. It can produce various colors of PP spunbond non-woven fabrics with a width of less than 3.2 meters from 9 grams to 300 grams.
Post time: Aug-24-2025