KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 August 2025 – Malaysians use approximately 9 billion plastic bags every year, including trash bags that are difficult to fully decompose. Over time, these break down into microplastics, increasing the risk of microplastic ingestion among locals and making Malaysia the country with the highest intake in the world.

To address this issue, local innovative eco brand Earthya has launched the Earthya Compostable Bag, a product developed over three years of dedicated research. Made entirely free of any plastic components, it can fully break down into plant fertiliser in natural conditions or home compost environment, helping to ease Malaysia's struggle with microplastic pollution.

According to The Straits Times, among 109 countries surveyed for microplastic pollution, Malaysians consume an average of 502.3 milligrams of microplastics per person daily, equivalent to about 494,000 particles. Over 50% of this microplastic intake comes from consuming fish. This is closely linked to Malaysians' heavy reliance on single-use plastics in daily life, including plastic bags for takeaways, disposable food containers, plastic beverage cups, straws, shopping bags, garbage bags and more. Without a robust recycling and waste management system, these plastics eventually break down into microplastics, which enter the air and waterways, widely infiltrate the human food chain, and ultimately end up in the human body.

Founder of Earthya, Ivan Chan Bin luan, expressed his hope that these compostable bags will help ease Malaysia's microplastic pollution challenge.

Therefore, together with the Earthya team, he conducted in-depth research into various biodegradable materials suitable for making plastic alternatives, and discovered that many trash bags are wrongly marketed as eco-friendly, such as those made from Photo-Degradable, Oxo-Degradable, or Bio-Degradable plastics which still release microplastic particles during composition, posing potential risks to the environment.

Ultimately, they selected premium calcium carbonate and an internationally certified compostable polyester as the core materials, successfully developing the Earthya Compostable Bag—a truly eco-friendly trash bag that contains no plastic, naturally decomposes into plant fertiliser, and leaves no microplastic residue.

Compared to conventional trash bags on the market, the Earthya Compostable Bag offers 5 unique advantages:

Contains no traditional plastic components such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). Generates no microplastics during use—safer and more eco-friendly.

Suitable not only for industrial composting but also able to break down in home compost systems or natural soil.

When compared to most cornstarch-based compostable bags with a shelf life of only 6 months, the Earthya Compostable Bag is better suited for long-term storage and everyday use.

Combines strength and familiar feel, so going green doesn't mean giving up convenience or changing your habits.

Offers a hassle-free composting solution for households, while preventing methane emissions caused by sealing food waste in plastic bags.

Most importantly, the calcium carbonate added to Earthya bags can be absorbed by the soil, helping to balance pH levels and further improve soil quality, achieving multiple environmental benefits.

Earthya Compostable Bags have obtained the following certifications to date:

The OK Compost is a certification program specifically for compostable products, managed and issued by TÜV Austria.

The MyHijau certification is one of Malaysia's most authoritative eco-labelling systems, designed to promote sustainable practices among businesses.

The BPI certification mark on a product indicates that it has passed rigorous testing and meets compostability standards such as ASTM D6400 or D6868. These standards assess the product's ability to break down in industrial composting facilities, a process that typically takes up to 90 days, while ensuring no harmful residues remain.