Bio-based bioplastics and their importance: biodegradable, home compostable and industrial composting

Introduction

Bioplastics offer a promising alternative to conventional plastics, which are typically derived from fossil fuels. However, terms like “biobased,” “biodegradable,” “home compostable,” and “industrial compostable” often cause confusion. What do these terms actually mean, and what should you pay attention to? In this post, we will explain the differences and key aspects of these terms to enhance understanding of bioplastics.

What Are Biobased Bioplastics?

Biobased bioplastics are plastics that are partially or entirely made from renewable, biological raw materials rather than fossil fuels like petroleum. Common sources for biobased plastics include corn, sugarcane, or potato starch. However, it’s important to note that “biobased” does not necessarily mean “biodegradable.” A biobased plastic can have the same durability and environmental behavior as conventional plastic, even though it is derived from renewable sources.

What Does Biodegradable Mean?

Biodegradable plastics are materials that can be broken down by natural processes, specifically by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi, into water, carbon dioxide (or methane), and biomass. However, biodegradability is highly dependent on environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture, and the presence of certain microbes.

Here are some key points to consider about biodegradable plastics:

• Conditional degradation: Biodegradation occurs only under specific conditions (e.g., in industrial composting facilities).
• Byproducts: The breakdown should leave no harmful residues or toxins behind.
• Not a universal solution: Not all biodegradable plastics are home compostable, and some require specialized industrial composting facilities.

Home Compostable: What Does It Mean?

Home compostable plastics are those that can degrade in the conditions typically found in a home compost pile. They do not require specialized temperatures or industrial composting facilities and can break down in your backyard compost. Home compostable plastics must meet specific standards to be certified as such, and they break down within a timeframe comparable to other organic waste in the compost.

Important things to consider about home compostable plastics:

• Certification: Look for certifications like the “OK compost HOME” label to ensure that the plastic is home compostable.
• Conditions: Home compostable plastics should degrade in a typical home compost environment.
• Compost time: Decomposition typically takes longer than in industrial composting facilities, ranging from a few months to a year.

What is Industrial Composting?

Industrially compostable plastics are designed to decompose only under the controlled conditions found in industrial composting facilities. These facilities provide higher temperatures, controlled moisture, and optimized microbial activity to speed up the degradation process. Industrially compostable plastics should break down within weeks to months and leave no toxic residues.

Important aspects to consider about industrially compostable plastics:

• Requires industrial composting: These plastics will not break down in typical home composting conditions and need the higher temperatures of industrial composting facilities.
• Proper disposal: It is crucial to ensure that these plastics are disposed of in the right composting infrastructure, as they will not break down in regular landfills.
• Certification: Look for the “OK compost INDUSTRIAL” certification, which confirms that a product is suitable for industrial composting.

What Should You Watch Out For?

When buying and disposing of bioplastics, here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Certifications: Make sure the bioplastic is clearly certified as either home compostable or industrially compostable.
• Disposal: If the plastic is only industrially compostable, do not put it in your home compost. Ensure it is disposed of through the correct composting infrastructure.
• Read the information: Don’t confuse “biobased” with “biodegradable” – always check whether the plastic is biodegradable and under what conditions.

Conclusion

Bioplastics offer great potential for a more environmentally friendly future, but it’s important to understand the differences between biobased, biodegradable, home compostable, and industrially compostable materials. This ensures that bioplastics are used and disposed of correctly to fully realize their environmental benefits.