Freeway is eco-friendly! We have started using Earth saving Oxo-Biodegradable plastic bags everytime you shop with us at Freeway.

What is Oxo-Biodegradable?


Here are some FAQs:

What is the Oxo-Biodegration Process (OBP)?

The first stage of degradation results in the film being reduced to a fine powder which is totally inert and physiologically harmless to man, animals and plant life. The polymer is ultimately returned to the natural carbon cycle as simple compounds such as water and carbon dioxide.

What are alternatives to OBP’s?

Paper bags are usually known as “natural product”, however, they are relatively heavy, expensive, slow to biodegrade and consume more energy to make. They generate more pollution in production than polyethylene. Each time, we make paper bags, we need to cut more trees and replacing them will take a long time.

Why is OBP important to the environment?

They are strong, impermeable to liquids and gases, easy to process into complex forms and they are inexpensive. They are reusable and can be recycled.  Aside form these properties that conventional plastics have as well, the oxo-biodegradable technology allows for the acceleration rate at which these products return to the ecosystem when they are ultimately discarded in one of the following ways:

Landfills: When Oxo-biodegradable bags are used, they degrade and disintegrate relatively quickly (over a few months) and allow the organic waste that they contain  to biodegrade near the top of the landfill where there is more oxygen available.

Litter:  Oxo-biodegradable bags will degrade within a few months when they are littered and they will disappear.

Compost: Organic wastes that were composted in oxo-biodegradable plastic bags made high quality compost. The bags disappeared and contributed to the organic content of the compost.

Are the additives to OBP’s harmful to people or the environment?

No, the active ingredient in oxo-biodegradable products, a transition metal salt, is used at very low levels. They are not toxic to sensitive and plant and animal organisms. In fact, it has also been determined to be safe for use as food packaging.

Won’t packaging using this technology disintegrate when it is being used?

No, the bags are designed to begin to degrade when they are discarded into common disposal environments (landfill, litter, compost) which are warm and/or sunny and have available oxygen.

Join Freeway in taking part in preserving our planet!!