What's the difference between degradable and compostable packaging?
Degradable versus compostable packaging?
"Degradable" refers to a material's ability to break down into simpler substances, either through chemical or biological processes. This breakdown can occur through various means, including exposure to light, heat, oxygen, or the action of microorganisms. It's a broad term, encompassing materials that might take a long time to degrade, unlike the more specific "biodegradable" which implies breakdown by living organisms within a specific timeframe.
Degradable: This is a general term for anything that can be broken down, whether through natural processes or man-made interventions.
Biodegradable: This specifically refers to materials that can be broken down by bacteria, fungi, or other living organisms.
Compostable: This term indicates that a material can break down in a specific composting environment, typically within a defined time frame and under specific conditions.
So, while all biodegradable materials are degradable, not all degradable materials are biodegradable. For example, a plastic bottle might be considered degradable because it can eventually break down in a landfill, but it might not be biodegradable because the breakdown process could take hundreds of years and not involve microorganisms.
READ: What are bioplastics?
Why certification matters
The word ‘biodegradable’ is used often. Nearly every material biodegrades, given enough time, so claiming a material is biodegradable without any further context is misleading.
Certification to international standards provides assurance to composters that the product material, including all other components of the product, e.g. colours, labels and glues is compostable. The compostability of a product is certified through certification bodies to either industrial or home compostability standards. The main certification bodies are:
* TÜV Austria
* DIN CERTCO
* Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
* Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA)
The EN 13432:2000 Standard
The EN 13432:2000 Standard, "Packaging recoverable in the form of compost" was developed in response to the European Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/EC), with the objective of preventing the production of packaging waste. Compostable packaging is designed for circularity.
EN 13432 is the reference standard for all certification bodies. The European Norm about compostability of packaging (EN 13432) requires (besides a clear and detailed description of the product) 4 tests:
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biodegradation (chemical breakdown)
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disintegration (physical breakdown)
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ecotoxicity (assess negative effect on plants)
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heavy metal content
Industrial compostable
The criteria for industrial compostability are set out in the European standard EN 13432, which requires the compostable product to:
1) disintegrate after 12 weeks, and
2) completely biodegrade after six months*
*90% or more of the material is converted to CO2, and the remaining is converted into water and biomass – i.e. valuable compost.
Home compostable
TÜV AUSTRIA developed OK compost HOME* to guarantee 100% biodegradability in a garden compost and requires a product to:
1) 100% biodegrade into completely non-toxic by-products
2) disintegrate within 180 days. Not more than 10% of the original dry weight present in a > 2mm screen fraction
3) achieve ultimate biodegradability (90% absolute biodegradation) within 12 months.*Is the basis of AS 5810.
READ: Reclaim’s new food waste and certified compostable packaging collection
Is compostable packaging actually compostable?
Yes. Where the packaging is certified to a standard. However, for compostability to be achieved, certain conditions are required. Most compostable products need environments such as a high temperature (on average 65°C) and sufficient moisture to achieve biodegradation within 90 days. This is where home composting and commercial composting differ. Materials break down faster in an industrial facility due to the controlled environment. This is largely a condition of heat. But smaller volumes of organic matter, much lower temperatures and inconsistent factors such as moisture means that the composting process is much slower in your backyard.
The criteria for industrial compostability are set out in the European standard EN 13432 which requires the compostable product to completely biodegrade after six months. However, ultimate biodegradability for home composting, a special process based on EN 13432 at low temperatures (90% absolute biodegradation or 90% with a suitable reference substrate) must occur within 12 months.
READ: Compostable materials in the real world: Scion x WasteMINZ
Are you a business owner? Or are you responsible for procurement?
In Aotearoa New Zealand, there is no established trade association for compostable packaging, while elsewhere, such organisations have been created in part to eliminate fake compostables and biodegradable products and allow for easy identification of compostable packaging in organic waste streams.
When deciding on a packaging provider, check that those products are certified. We remain unwavering in our commitment to compostable materials and their role in driving a circular economy. While challenges exist, we are working closely with partners, composters, and councils to ensure our products are recovered for organics recycling. Whether you are looking to move to compostables or want to speak confidently about your packaging with certification assurances, reach out at hello@ecoware.co.nz to discuss your requirements.
