Most non-woven bags are made from polypropylene, whereas plastic bags are made from polyethylene. Although their names are similar, the two materials differ significantly in their chemical structures.
Polyethylene has a highly stable molecular structure that resists degradation, meaning plastic bags can take up to 300 years to decompose. In contrast, the molecular chains of polypropylene break down easily, allowing for rapid degradation and safe integration into the environmental cycle; consequently, a non-woven shopping bag can fully decompose in just 90 days. Furthermore, non-woven shopping bags are highly reusable and cause far less environmental pollution when discarded compared to plastic bags.
