A project is nearing completion in Argyll to bring a new alternative to the single-use polypropylene bulk builders’ bag to global markets.
The project has been awarded Scottish Government funding through the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) shared prosperity fund to develop and obtain certification for it to gon the market.
Bags commonly used in industries such as construction, food processing, chemical, agriculture are single-use and made from material that takes 100–500 years to break down in landfill, creating toxic gases and acids.
With 40-50 million of these being used every year in the UK alone and going to landfill sites it is a huge environmental problem, HIE explained. There are also major safety issues with the current product. Accessing its contents can involve cutting the bag in midair, reaching in with hand tools and mechanical implements. These practices can cause injuries and deaths every year, impacting on productivity and waste, the organisation added.
The new alternative product has been developed by Dunoon-based former construction industry director Allister Wood. The fully patented sustainable ‘easy empty reusable bag’ (EEB) enables multiple use (15 times or more) and easy access. This means major environmental and safety advantages.
The HIE funding will also allow manufacturing of the product for market testing and launch.
Morag Goodfellow, HIE’s area manager for Argyll and the Islands, said, “Innovation is the key driver behind business growth, which is why we were keen to support these types of initiatives. The implications of Allister’s easy empty bag are huge. Not only could it dramatically reduce risks to personal safety across many industries, but it will make a significant contribution to those sectors’ transition to net zero. It should also positively affect companies’ insurance costs, reputation and downtime.
“We’re delighted to see this product come forward and to able to provide innovation support to take the project to the next stage. We’re really looking forward to see how it develops.”
Allister Wood, developer of EEB, added, “I was sure there was a better way to transport produce than the current bulk bag in use, confronting the huge environmental problem and safety issues it creates today. Our new easy empty reusable bag, which will be attractive to many industries such as construction, pharmaceutical, food processing, agriculture, chemical, animal feed and mining to name a few, will be a game-changer. It is already receiving very positive reaction from organisations both in the UK and abroad.
“We are presently testing the product for release and hope to launch this Autumn. A special thankyou to Adrian Green and all at Highlands and Islands Enterprise for their input and support.”
