Biodegradable & Compostable - what these Terms actually mean

Two words that have a lot of weight in terms of buying power and seem to be thrown about by lots of companies as a way to ensure we choose their products. They use our good intentions to do our part in taking care of the environment as a way to make more money.

Biodegradable plastic is plastic that will break down through the action of living organisms, usually microbes.
"Sweet!” We say to ourselves, “this product I just ordered is biodegradable, so is it’s packaging! AMAZING, I’ll pop it in my compost when I’m done…”

Have you actually tried this and checked a year later to find it’s still there…intact? To fully break down, biodegradable plastics require the right environment, which usually means commercial processing. If biodegradable plastic is left to break down in a natural environment – such as in landfills or the sea – it often only breaks down into microplastics. These microplastics can create ‘plastic smog’ in parts of the ocean and accumulate in soils.

Compostable plastic is plastic that will break down entirely into its nutrients and natural substances (ie, return to nature). Compostable is a subset of biodegradable.

We recommend that you read the label to determine if a compostable item is designed to break down in a typical compost bin. Most compostable plastics are designed to break down in a commercial compost and may not break down in a natural environment. If it is labelled as commercially compostable, we recommend you only buy the item if you have access to a local commercial compost collection service.

Don’t put biodegradable and compostable plastics into soft plastic or kerbside recycling - they are not designed to be processed by recycling facilities that deal with all other plastics. Further… Do not prioritise the purchase of products that combine natural and synthetic products over products that are either completely natural or synthetic. It is much more difficult (thus expensive and unviable) to recycle products that contain natural and synthetic materials. 

Recently, at Hallensteins, I was drawn to their “Organic Hoodies” all very well promoted as such of course. Upon reading the label (a habit formed due to the overpowering world of Greenwashing) I quickly discovered that the Hoodies were in fact 65% Organic Cotton and 35% Polyester. So I ask you… are these Hoodies Organic? According to the lawmakers they are. This is another example of why we must educate ourselves and apply our own standards. This is the only way we will continue to see positive changes. WE the consumer lead the way in this regard. WE determine the language and motivations of these companies. DO NOT sit back. If you see things like this I beg you to contact them, have a voice, help each other out by speaking out. 

Are things really better than they were? Or are they just more complicated? Unnecessarily

Complications provide loopholes. Simplicity allows for easier accountability.

What if we only had recyclable or compostable materials? Would it be better just to work on educating people rather than relying on “experts” to come up with industry standards that require the people to fully understand for them to actually work? Like many issues we face the solution seems to begin at the top in hope that it will flow down to the consumer. I have my doubts on how effective that process is…