Cassava Bags Australia has introduced the world’s first truly biodegradable single-use bag and liner range that is 100% plastic-free, won’t break down into microplastics and won’t leave behind any plastic footprint.

“Our determination to create a truly biodegradable single-use bag has been driven by our desire to save the planet,” Cassava Bags Australia co-founder and CEO, Bruce Delarossi said.

“A lot of people say they are going to do it, but we really have, and we are incredibly proud and excited to be rolling out this extraordinary invention to the rest of the world – single-use bags and liners that are made from the cassava plant and dissolves in hot water.”

Cassava is a hardy drought tolerant root vegetable native to South America which is now grown in many countries across the world.

“Cassava is a nutty flavoured starchy root vegetable that is extremely versatile. The most common consumed part is the root. It can be eaten whole or grated and ground into flour to make bread. It is the raw material that is also used to make tapioca,” Delarossi explained.

“What we have done is extract and combine it with organic components to create a biodegradable film. This is the first time anyone in the world has done this and we have achieved this without the use of any petroleum or toxins.”

Cassava Bags Australia was founded on the belief that businesses can be a force for good and that the actions of people, both individually and collectively, have the power to change the world.

“Experiencing first-hand the impact of pollution on the planet we decided to ensure we played a role in promoting the sustainability of Australia and the world – and so commenced our journey of research and development and Cassava Bags Australia was born,” Delarossi said.

“Our products have been tested by internationally recognised companies as a plastic-free and biodegradable product. For example, it would only take three to six months for our bags to biodegrade in soil, or just a few days to dissolve in the ocean. They can even be safely consumed by marine animals.

“By contrast, it takes 500 years for a normal plastic bag to break down. Australians use a whopping 10 million new plastic bags per day. Plastic bags do not go away. They break up into smaller pieces of plastics and marine animals are swallowing them and It’s killing them. They need our help.”

There is a range of products in production including bin liners, pet waste bags, mail-out bags, aprons, sanitation covers and retail carry bags.