Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro In Chile, SoluBag is born, a biodegradable, water-soluble bag that leaves no toxic residue: a revolution in the fight against plastic pollution
Facebook – @Solubagus
The classic plastic bag, which we use daily, has been around since 1965. That year, a group of Swedish engineers and designers came up with a practical solution for packaging. Today, over half a century later, it is estimated that around 4 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. The problem? These bags are not biodegradable, accumulating at alarming rates and polluting the environment for centuries. However, a discovery that happened almost by accident in Chile could soon change this scenario.
An accidental discovery
Roberto Astete and Cristian Olivares, two Chilean researchers, were not looking for a solution to plastic pollution. They were initially working on formulas for biodegradable detergents, but during their experiments, they stumbled upon an innovative combination: by replacing petroleum-based derivatives with a derivative of limestone, they managed to change the structure of plastic, making it soluble in water.
SoluBag: a breakthrough
The result was SoluBag, a bag that behaves exactly like a regular plastic bag, but with two key differences: it is not made from plastic and dissolves in water without releasing toxic substances. During a public demonstration, Astete submerged a SoluBag in a jar of water, shook it until it completely dissolved, and then drank some of the liquid, proving the material’s complete safety.
A new era for plastic alternatives
In August, Chile became the first country in South America to completely ban plastic bags. This move aligns it with countries like Rwanda and Jamaica, which are already taking action against the environmental crisis caused by plastic.
SoluBag represents a game-changing innovation, as it can be used not only for bags but also for a wide range of products currently made from plastic. While a regular plastic bag takes over 150 years to degrade, SoluBag dissolves in minutes simply by being immersed in water.
Two versions for different needs
There are two versions of the product: a standard version that dissolves in cold water and a reusable version, lined with fabric, that only dissolves in hot water. And what about rain? No problem: the formulation can be adjusted to react only to high temperatures, preventing accidental dissolving.
A tangible solution to marine pollution
The impact of plastic on marine ecosystems is devastating. Waves and bacteria help break plastic materials into microplastics, small particles that are ingested by fish and marine organisms, entering the global food chain. To make matters worse, many plastics contain chemical additives to make them resistant to UV rays, microbes, or fire—substances that further pollute the environment.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, each square kilometer of ocean could contain over 60,000 microplastic particles. In some parts of the world, this number is even higher. The Earth Day Network estimates that 32% of the more than 78 million tons of plastic packaging produced each year ends up in the ocean. Solutions like SoluBag can have a decisive impact in the fight against ocean pollution by offering a biodegradable, safe, and innovative alternative.
Source: SoluBag
