So-called “biodegradable” plastic shopping bags in Australian supermarkets have failed to decompose as advertised based independent tests, raising serious questions over their green marketing claims.
About 60 million of the plastic bags, bearing the brand name Goody (produced by packaging company NuPak), have been distributed through shopping centers such as IGA, plus cafes and other stores. But according to a story originally published by the Sydney Morning Herald, tests done in October 2009 by Belgian company Organic Waste Systems. {Editor’s note: 2/1/2009 – the link to the Sydney Morning Herald story has been ‘deactivated’. However, you click on the link to read the full text of “Black Mark for Green Bags” by Flint Duxfield.}

Click on the link to download a PDF of the biodegradable test results.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been sent information questioning the green marketing claims. In the article, it would not confirm or deny if an investigation was under way.
Jon Dee, founder of the Australian environment group Do Something!, said that the findings of the test were extremely concerning. “I am calling for the ACCC to begin an investigation into Goody bags based on these tests. If they find it doesn’t biodegrade according to the national standards then it should clearly be removed from the market,” Mr Dee said.