The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By News Group (Originally in English)
Approximately 300 million tons of plastics are produced around the world each year, with much of it ending up in the environment causing ongoing harm to land and sea animals. Scientists estimate it will take 500 to 1000 years for most plastic bags to decompose, posing a growing risk for life on planet Earth.
Many governments have responded by issuing partial or complete bans on various forms of plastic, including plastic bags. When the city of Mangalore in Karnataka, India implemented a plastic bag ban in 2012, it created a challenge for people who forgot to bring bags for shopping, and who did not have the money to pay for cloth or paper bags to take their items home.
Mangalore native and biotech engineer Ashwath Hegde decided to develop some alternatives. He invented a bag which is organic, completely biodegradable and even edible! Made from 12 ingredients, including potatoes, tapioca and corn, the bags completely decompose within 15 seconds if exposed to boiling water, one day when exposed to room temperature water, and 180 days if discarded in a dry environment. They do not remain in the environment causing pollution or harming animals. They are also reasonably priced and can carry weights similar to regular plastic bags. They cost 35 percent more than regular plastic bags, and 500 percent less than cloth bags.
Mr. Hegde’s company Envigreen Biotech India Private Ltd. is currently manufacturing the bags and other plastic replacement products in Bangalore, India. They are being used in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and the company has plans to expand distribution across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
A big thumbs up Ashwath Hegde and EnviGreen Biotech India on the invention and production of your innovative, animal- and environment-friendly bags! We look forward to global distribution and more products to protect our Earth and animal friends.
Photo Credit: EnviGreen–Facebook profile picture-7April2017-www.facebook.com/EnviGreenIndia/
