What’s the difference? Biodegradable vs Compostable
By Maria Luisa Santana, Sea Smart Intern
Biodegradable and compostable are two words often used to refer to the material used in packaging. They both show up when we're looking for eco-friendly products to purchase. Understanding the difference between them is crucial to comprehend the environmental impact of what we are consuming.
WHAT IS BIODEGRADABLE?
Biodegradable materials are broken down naturally in a biological process like bacteria or fungus. Biodegradable products break down to the materials they are made of, making their way back to the environment. A simple example is a paper - the paper will slowly make its way back to the soil by breaking down into smaller pieces in a very similar way that fallen dried leaves from a tree would. When a product is biodegradable, it means that it will break down in the environment when tossed away or put in a landfill, which is an essential piece of information to know. However, as consumers, more important than knowing if the product is biodegradable is knowing how long it will take to break down. Some items take weeks, and some take months, some take years or even decades. The tricky part is making sure you're purchasing something that will not pollute the environment for a long time before it fully disintegrates.
WHAT IS COMPOSTABLE?
On the other hand, a compostable material turns into compost - which is essentially organic waste that breaks down into fertilizer for the soil. Compostable is like recycling but with organic waste, like eggshells. When a product is compostable, it means that it can turn into fertile soil under the right conditions. These conditions are the tricky part. What a company means when they label their product as "compostable" is that it will turn into compost if it enters an industrial composting facility specifically, not necessarily regular landfills. As consumers, it is crucial to make sure your compostable waste is not going to an open or closed regular landfill but a compost facility instead. Compost requires four main components to work: organic matter, moisture, oxygen, and bacteria.
The main difference between biodegradable and compostable is that biodegradable products break down naturally while compostable needs a specific setting. Certain plastics are biodegradable because they have microorganisms added to help break them down. These plastics are not compostable, as they are still not made from organic matter and will not turn into fertile soil.
Here at Sea Smart School, we offer products that assist in waste reduction, as well as free resources for teachers on ocean plastic pollution and its impact. Check our website for more!
