In the United States, environmental organization Eco-Sikh has developed compostable bags made out of potato- and corn-based starch in an effort to curb rising pollution levels in India.
The bags were introduced at a Gurdwara launch party in partnership with the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
“Eco-friendly plastic bags are the future, as pollution levels are increasing every day with the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags,” Eco-Sikh India president Supreet Kaur said at the launch. “These bags play a crucial role in controlling pollution levels across the globe. They have the capability to decompose naturally in 180 days when exposed to water or sunlight, or disposed of in garbage. Even if they are consumed by animals, they are not harmful to them. Moreover, the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in religious places have increased in the recent past. Because of this, we have started this service from the gurdwara, so that people take this issue seriously, and make an effort to bring these bags into their daily use.”