Sofia Martinez
Hilex Poly Co. LLC is a leading producer of plastic bags that has unveiled a biodegradable product called the Hilex Environmentally Degradable (HED) bag. This introduction comes amid a nationwide debate over banning plastics from check-out counters. The HED bag is designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste in about eight weeks when exposed to oxygen. Heat, sunlight, and stress may accelerate the process. Hilex has also established an industry-setting standard for recycling by investing in the first bag-to-bag recycling facility in North America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Hilex Poly Co. LLC |
| Headquarters | Hartsville, South Carolina |
| Manufacturing Facilities | 9 |
| Largest Manufacturing Plant | North Vernon, Indiana |
| Year of Introduction of Biodegradable Bags | 2008 |
| Bag Type | HED (Hilex Environmentally Degradable) |
| Breakdown Products | Water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste |
| Breakdown Duration | About 8 weeks when exposed to oxygen |
| Accelerants | Heat, sunlight, and stress |
| Shelf Life | 2 years when stored in sealed cartons |
| Recyclability | Yes |
| Recycling Plant Location | Adjacent to the manufacturing plant in North Vernon, Indiana |
| Recycling Plant Size | 100,000 sq ft |
| Recycling Capacity | Upwards of 22 million lb of post-consumer PE bags, films, and sheets |
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What You'll Learn
Hilex Poly Co. LLC introduces biodegradable plastic bags
Hilex Poly Co. LLC, a leading producer of plastic bags, has introduced a biodegradable product in the market. The company, headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina, unveiled its new Hilex Environmentally Degradable (HED) bag, which is designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste within about eight weeks when exposed to oxygen. Heat, sunlight, and stress can accelerate this process.
The HED bags are made with high-density polyethylene and a proprietary additive to increase degradability. When stored in sealed cartons, they have a shelf life of approximately two years. Hilex's President and Chief Executive Officer, David Pastrich, highlighted the uniqueness of the HED plastic bag, especially when compared to traditional plastic garbage bags that do not degrade at all.
The introduction of these biodegradable bags is part of Hilex's strategy to address the environmental concerns of lawmakers and consumers. The company also offers a Bag-2-Bag recycling program, where used bags collected at stores are recycled into new bags at their plant in North Vernon, Indiana. This plant is the world's largest closed-loop plastic bag recycling facility, reflecting Hilex's commitment to sustainability and creating a positive impact on the environment.
Hilex Poly Co. LLC has a rich history in the plastic bag industry, dating back to 1980 when Sonoco Products Co. entered the market. Over the years, Hilex has become a pioneer in the industry, innovating with products like the QuikMate EZ bags and the RollStar EZ Open Produce Bag. The company has also established itself as the world's largest producer of plastic T-shirt bags, which are extremely popular among retailers. With their new biodegradable bags, Hilex Poly Co. LLC continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and environmental responsibility.
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HED bags break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste
Hilex Poly Co. LLC, the leading producer of plastic grocery bags, introduced a biodegradable product in 2008. The new Hilex Environmentally Degradable (HED) bag is designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste. This process typically takes about eight weeks when the bags are exposed to oxygen. However, heat, sunlight, and stress can accelerate the degradation process.
The HED bags are made with high-density polyethylene and a proprietary additive to enhance degradability. When stored in sealed cartons, these bags can last up to two years. Hilex's innovation addresses the ongoing debate over banning plastics from checkout counters and aims to provide an environmentally friendly solution.
HED bags are part of Hilex's strategy to address environmental concerns. The company also offers the Bag-2-Bag recycling program, where used bags are collected at stores and recycled into new bags at their plant in North Vernon, Indiana. This initiative reflects Hilex's commitment to sustainability and job creation within the recycling industry.
It is important to note that HED bags will not degrade in anaerobic environments, such as landfills without oxygen. In aerobic landfills, where oxygen is present, the bags will break down in approximately 400 days. This timeframe might not align with the composting standards set by certain communities. Nonetheless, HED bags represent a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of plastic bags.
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Hilex's Bag-2-Bag recycling program
Hilex Poly Co. LLC, the largest manufacturer of plastic carryout bags in North America, has created a Bag-2-Bag closed-loop recycling program. This program is a strategic opportunity to address the environmental concerns of lawmakers and consumers. The program recycles used plastic retail bags and other consumer films to make new plastic retail bags with high levels of recycled content.
Hilex invested more than $25 million to build a national recycling facility in North Vernon, Indiana. The company has established a post-consumer feedstock for the facility through a national post-consumer film collection network. Hilex has worked with retailers to distribute more than 34,000 retail collection bins across 38 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
The North Vernon facility and the Bag-2-Bag program enable consumers to return plastic retail bags that are not reused at home to local retailers for recycling into new bags. This process saves energy and resources, contributing less to landfills. The Bag-2-Bag process produces bags that require 20% less energy and generate 11% lower carbon emissions compared to standard plastic retail bags. The recycling process diverts over 20 million pounds of bags and film from landfills annually.
Hilex's Bag-2-Bag program has proven that corporate sustainability complements business models. The program has successfully reduced energy consumption, water usage, and other input resources while meeting consumer demands for sustainable products. Hilex's efforts have been recognised with an award, showcasing how businesses can invest in sustainability to benefit both industry and consumers.
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Hilex's defence of its biodegradable plastic bags
Hilex Poly Co. LLC, a leading producer of plastic grocery bags, introduced its biodegradable product, the Hilex Environmentally Degradable (HED) bag, in 2008. This move came amid a nationwide debate over banning plastics from check-out counters. The HED bag is designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste in about eight weeks when exposed to oxygen. Heat, sunlight, and stress can accelerate this process.
In response to the trend towards plastic bag bans, Hilex has argued that its HED bags won't degrade if placed into landfills where no oxygen is present. They are designed to break down in about 400 days in aerobic landfills where oxygen is present. However, this degradation timeframe does not meet the American Society for Testing and Materials' 90-day composting biodegrading standard.
Hilex, aware of the reusability and recyclability of its products, established the first bag-to-bag recycling facility in North America in 2005. This $20 million investment has helped the company remain economically competitive while creating jobs in the industry. Hilex's closed-loop plastic bag recycling plant in North Vernon, Indiana, has made significant strides in recycling old sacks and post-consumer PE bags, films, and sheets.
Hilex Poly, as a bag maker and recycler, believes that the story of plastic bags is about people and the jobs created in the industry. The company has advanced the plastic bag industry in several ways, including becoming the world's largest producer of plastic T-shirt bags and introducing innovations like its QuikMate EZ bags with an "easy-to-open design".
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Hilex's role in advancing the plastic bag industry
Hilex Poly Co. LLC, a leading producer of plastic bags, has played a significant role in advancing the plastic bag industry. The company has made several innovations and contributions that have impacted the industry and addressed environmental concerns.
One of Hilex's notable advancements is the introduction of biodegradable plastic bags. In 2008, Hilex unveiled its Hilex Environmentally Degradable (HED) bag, designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste within about eight weeks when exposed to oxygen. This move came amid a nationwide debate over banning plastics from checkout counters. HED bags are made with high-density polyethylene and a proprietary additive to enhance degradability. Hilex's biodegradable bags offered a solution to address littered bags and provided an alternative to traditional plastic bags that do not degrade.
Hilex has also established itself as the world's largest producer of plastic T-shirt bags, which are the most popular model among retailers. Their patented QuikMate EZ bags are widely used in various bagging operations, featuring integrated tabs with an "easy-to-open design" that reduces tab waste. Additionally, Hilex has innovated with grey-coloured bags, which indicate that they are made with partially recycled resin recovered from used plastic bags.
Another significant contribution by Hilex to the industry is its commitment to recycling. In 2005, the company invested over $20 million to establish North America's first bag-to-bag recycling facility in North Vernon, Indiana. This recycling plant, adjacent to its bag manufacturing plant, collects and reprocesses millions of pounds of post-consumer PE bags, films, and sheets. Hilex's closed-loop recycling system involves shredding, treating, and melting down the recycled plastic to create new bags, completing the cycle.
Hilex also offers customisation options for its specialty plastic bags, allowing customers to choose film colours, sizes, and prints. Their RollStar® EZ Open™ Produce Bag is designed for convenience, with folded handles for easy loading, making it suitable for curb side pickup, home delivery, or retail use.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hilex Poly Co. LLC introduced biodegradable plastic bags in 2008. These bags are called Hilex Environmentally Degradable (HED) bags and are designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste in about eight weeks when exposed to oxygen.
HED bags are made with high-density polyethylene and a proprietary additive to increase degradability. When exposed to oxygen, the bags will break down into water, carbon dioxide, and microbial waste. Heat, sunlight, and stress may accelerate the process.
Hilex has taken several steps to address environmental concerns, including the introduction of biodegradable bags and the development of the Bag-2-Bag recycling program. In 2005, Hilex invested over $20 million to establish the first bag-to-bag recycling facility in North America, which is located adjacent to its bag manufacturing plant in North Vernon, Indiana.
