Eco Garment Bags are made using technological progress to combine the functional capabilities of conventional single-use plastics but also offering a safe end of life, causing no harm to the environment. The polymer itself is not new, having been used for years in surgical stitches or laundry tablets, but the commercial production of multi-functional polyvinyl alcohol mono-layers is the innovative factor.
The base polymer is polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) which is a refinery product originally derived from ethylene. Ethylene is converted to vinyl acetate (a very useful chemical, used as a base for many other polymers), which is then polymerised to polyvinyl acetate, and converted to polyvinyl alcohol.
The unique process here is to produce thermo-processable fully hydrolysed polyvinyl alcohol. This PVOH is unusual as a petro derived polymer in that it is hydrophilic (water liking) and has enhanced biodegradation properties. It is well documented as being biodegradable in aerobic (soil, compost, freshwater) and anaerobic (sewerage, some landfills) conditions.
It is important to note that while the current base PVOH polymers are derived from petro refining, the switch to bio-based PVOH, such as from cellulose is imminent. There are currently no viable volumes of manufacturing of bio-based product suitable for this without high risk of causing damage through over production of crops.