Understanding Biodegradation: What You Need to Know
With sustainability at the forefront of many projects and decisions, the term “biodegradable” is often seen as a seal of environmental approval. However, the term is very often misused or confused with other terms and processes like “compostable” and “disintegration”, potentially learning to unintended environmental harm. Understanding biodegradability and the need for certification is essential in ensuring that products are actually doing good for our planet.
Biodegradation vs. Compostable vs. Disintegration: What’s the Difference?
While terms like “biodegradable,” “compostable,” and “disintegration” are often used interchangeably, they refer to distinct processes and standards. Understanding the differences between these terms is crucial for businesses, consumers, and environmental advocates alike.
Biodegradation is a blanket term that refers to the natural process by which organic substances are broken down by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or other biological agents. This process ultimately returns the material to natural elements like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. However, not all biodegradable materials break down at the same rate or under the same conditions—some require specific environments to fully biodegrade, and vary greatly in how long the process takes. Once a product is certified biodegradable, consumers are assured that the product will biodegrade and leave no toxic residues behind within a specific timeframe in the chosen environment.
Compostable materials, must also meet strict requirements, and are usually classified as ‘Home compostable’ or ‘Industrial compostable’. Compostable products not only biodegrade, but do so only under strict and particular conditions. Without these conditions, the product might not fully decompose.
Disintegration refers to the physical breakdown of a material into smaller pieces, but doesn’t guarantee full decomposition into harmless materials. Disintegration alone doesn’t guarantee that the material has fully decomposed into natural, non-toxic elements. A material may disintegrate into microplastics, for example, which can be harmful to the environment. The process is also non-certifiable.
Common Misconceptions about Biodegradable Materials
“Biodegradable” Means the Product Always Disappears completely
One of the most widespread misconceptions is that all biodegradable products will entirely breakdown and disappear, leaving no trace behind. In reality, many products that are ‘biodegradable’ will only break down in specific conditions like high hear or specific microbial conditions to fully decompose.
How to avoid this: To be sure that the product is going to decompose into harmless materials, check that it is certified biodegradable in its specific environments.
Made from Natural Resources = Environmentally Safe
Although most natural resources are safe for the environment, processing steps can modify the physical properties of the natural resources, and may not fully break down in all natural environments. Furthermore, to enhance physical properties, ingredients can be added to these natural resources that could release toxic waste, like PFAS, or microplastics.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are harmful chemicals that are often used in products to make materials water or grease resistant. PFAS does not biodegrade and can leach into the environment, contaminating soil and water resources for decades or even centuries. Because of their persistent nature, that are often labelled ‘Forever Chemicals’.
How to avoid this: When choosing a product, check for its certifications and claims. If the natural material has water-repellent properties that don’t usually exist, ask if it has been tested for PFAS’. If the product is certified biodegradable, you will know that it has been tested for toxic chemicals as well.
“Biodegradable” means there are no microplastics
Some products that are labelled ‘biodegradable’ might only degrade over a very long period of time, disintegrating into smaller pieces like microplastics in the meantime. This is a major problem as these microplastics can cause harm to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Disintegration is only a part of the biodegradation process, and without the right conditions, these microplastics can continue to persist in soil, water bodies, and even animals for a long time.
How to avoid this: For a start, check that the product is made 100% of biodegradable material. As before, for full assurance, check for certifications to ensure that the product leaves no trace behind after a pre-determined period of time.
Certifications for Biodegradation
Several certifications ensure that products meet specific biodegradation criteria. These certifications give manufacturers, consumers, and regulators confidence that a product will behave as expected in terms of decomposition and environmental impact.
- TÜV Austria Certification TÜV Austria offers several certifications for biodegradation and compostability. Some of these certifications include:
- OK Biodegradable MARINE: This certification guarantees that a product can biodegrade in marine environments, including oceans and seas, ensuring that it does not contribute to marine pollution or harm aquatic life.
- OK Biodegradable Soil: This certification ensures that a product can biodegrade in natural soil environments within 2 years, without harming plant life or soil quality, making it suitable for agricultural and landscaping applications
- OK Biodegradable Water: Products with this certification can break down safely in freshwater environments, such as rivers and lakes, without leaving harmful residues.
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization) The ISO 14855 standard outlines how to measure the biodegradability of plastics under controlled composting conditions. This standard helps manufacturers determine whether their products can be considered biodegradable or compostable under specific criteria.
ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) ASTM provides standards for various materials and processes, including biodegradation and compostability. For instance, ASTM D6400 is a standard for compostable plastics, ensuring that products degrade fully under industrial composting conditions.
Why Certifications Matter
Certifications ensure that products marketed as “biodegradable” or meet rigorous, independently tested standards. Without these certifications, companies can make vague or misleading claims about their products’ environmental impact, resulting in “greenwashing.” Certified products, on the other hand, are subjected to real-world testing that confirms their ability to break down in specific environments within defined timeframes.
For example, a product that is TÜV OK Biodegradable certified, like Rainbow’s Terra Tree Shelters, will biodegrade in natural environments, whereas a product without certification may break down only in industrial composters or not at all. Certifications like ISO 14855 or ASTM D6400 provide the framework for standardizing these processes and helping both consumers and businesses make informed decisions.
Conclusion
Understanding common misconceptions is key to making informed choices about biodegradable products. Simply labelling something as biodegradable doesn’t guarantee that it will break down completely or harmlessly, Certifications from recognised bodies like TÜV Austria and ISO are crucial in ensuring that the products biodegrade as intended, without leaving behind harmful chemicals or microplastics, potentially doing more harm than good in the fight for sustainability.
Sources: TÜV AUSTRIA Initial acceptance tests, Royal Society of Chemistry, first mile, Oceanwatch Australia, BPI