Is Potclays’ packaging environmentally sustainable?

Potclays-branded clay and raw material bags, and SIO2 clay bags, are made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) - resin ID code 4. Furthermore, Potclays-branded clay and raw material bags are now manufactured with 25% recycled content. Once wiped clean and label removed, these bags can be recycled at any facility offering plastic bag recycling. Many supermarkets now have recycling points for plastic bags. This link might be helpful to find your nearest recycling point: https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/plastic-film

We would always encourage our customers to reuse bags, where possible, for storage of their reclaim or to prevent work from drying too quickly. This is one of the reasons that we opt for reusable wire ties. SIO2 use nylon zip ties for their 5kg packs: These are not recyclable but they are reusable.

As for sourcing a more sustainable alternative to LDPE, we are constantly exploring this with our bag suppliers, but have not yet found a suitable alternative material with the necessary durability and longevity. In discussions with Polybags, one of the largest suppliers of degradable and biodegradable bags in the UK, we were advised that they are not currently aware of a degradable plastic that would be suitable for our application (owing to goods weight, moisture and microbial action in long periods of storage) therefore reusing and recycling are the best options for our bags at this point in time.

Also see "Why doesn't Potclays have a system in place to accept clay bags for refilling?"

In 2018 we moved over from ‘flo-pak’ loose fill to a paper alternative. This has also vastly reduced our use of bubble wrap. We now have a machine that crimps brown paper roll for use as void-fill. This paper is fully recyclable.

Last updated February 2021