What is the Difference Between Compostable and Biodegradable?

What is Biodegradable?

Something is "biodegradable" if bacteria, fungi, or other biological processes can disintegrate it. If you look at the word itself, the meaning is right there. "Bio" means "life," "degrade" means to break down, and "able," of course, means that it can happen. Biodegradation is just the process of nature taking its course and breaking down materials into their parts. Plastic will break down into carbon dioxide, water, and other things. Pretty simple, right?

The truth is that lots of things are biodegradable if given enough time. Plastics take decades or even centuries to break down naturally, but they will break down. So, they are biodegradable. Even diapers, notorious for lasting long in landfills, will break down eventually.

When a packaging company says that their product is biodegradable, all they mean is that it will break down when placed in a landfill. That's a good thing. We don't want products that last forever sitting in our landfills. The key, however, is to note how long it takes for the product to biodegrade. Some products degrade in months, while others take years. When shopping for green products, the less time for biodegradation, the better.

What is Compostable?

We've all heard of a compost heap, right? When you take organic materials and allow them to decompose, it then creates fertilizer for your soil. Composting is the process of recycling organic waste so that it can eventually be reused.

In the packaging world, compostable means something a bit different. Typically, what a packaging company means when they call their product "compostable" is that it can be turned into compost if entered into an industrial composting facility. It is an important distinction. 

Compostable products do not always biodegrade naturally in a landfill. They will take much longer to break down in a landfill, especially an "air-locked" landfill with no oxygen.

Compostable products are great for the environment, but it is essential to ensure that your business has the proper waste management processes. Make sure that your compostable waste is going to a compost facility.