Degradable?—Biodegradable?—Biocompostable?
Packaging and plastic products may claim to be environmentally-friendly using terms such as "biodegradable" and "biocompostable". But what do these terms mean, and what is the difference between them? To understand the effects that these materials have on our planet, it is important to learn the differences. Degradable Degradable materials break down into simpler materials in stages over many, many years. During the degradation of degradable material, well-defined intermediate products are created such as harmful micro-plastics. Biodegradable Biodegradable refers to the capacity for materials to break down and return to nature within a landfill. For packaging products or materials to qualify as biodegradable, they must completely break down and decompose into natural elements within a short time after disposal - typically within a year. Biodegrading within landfills reduces the accumulation of waste, helping to create a safer...