Cassava Bags Pilot Programme

Sustainability Less Plastic Cassava Bag

In March 2020, Link rolled out its first SUP pilot at TKO Gateway, Nam Cheong Place, Wo Che Plaza and Tai Yuen Commercial Centre, inviting 22 tenants to trial cassava bags supplied by The Kommon Goods. At our Head Office, we have replaced conventional bin liners with biodegradable ones. We consider this pilot as our initial step in collaborating with like-minded partners to tackle SUP issues and to test the effectiveness of cassava bags for retail purposes.

Objectives

Building on the insights and feedback from our flagship CONNECTION 2019 conference, we made our very first step toward SUP reduction with this pilot scheme.

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of cassava bags based on feedback from different stakeholders
  • Identify current SUP usage behaviours among tenants and shoppers
  • Reduce Link's plastic footprint by phasing out SUP bags step-by-step, starting with daily practices
  • Derive more "less-plastic" solutions for portfolio-wide implementation
What are Cassava Bags?
  • A bio-based polymer compound manufactured from renewable natural materials (i.e. cassava) and vegetable oil derivatives
  • Non-hazardous, solid material that causes no skin irritation
  • Anti-static and oil-resistant 
  
Certification
  • Passed biodegradation test according to EN 13532, tested by OWS
  • Passed the Acute Oral Toxicity, tested by WIL Research - Netherlands
  • Certified SNI Ekolabel (Indonesia) for biodegradable shopping bag                                                    
Why should We Stop Using SUP Bags?
  • Apart from incineration, oil-based plastic bags can never truly be broken down, and burning plastic releases extremely harmful substances like heavy metals and dioxins.
  • Plastic bags can breakdown into micro particles which can enter our food system.
Differences between Cassava Bags and SUP Bags
Cassava Bags SUP Bags
  • Made from sustainable materials (starch from cassava or corn & plasticisers developed from vegetable oil derivatives)               
  • Does not produce any environmental pollutants
  • Decomposes within 60 days into carbon dioxide, water and biomass without any toxic residues
  • Typically made from non-renewable petroleum
  • Produces petrochemical waste, which can lead to ocean and soil pollution
  • 400 to 1000-year decomposition period
Handling and Storage of Cassava Bags
  • Store in dry conditions with natural ventilation
  • Improper storage can initiate degradation that will affect the bag's physical appearance
  • Avoid direct contact with water
  • The bag may dissolve in warm water at a temperature of 60°C or above
Top Top
EN 繁體 简体