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Biodegradable vs. Degradable Packaging

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These days everyone’s talking about the environment. Being eco-friendly is just about as important in the market place as having a quality product and the right price point. When you’re choosing packaging supplies for your business you’ll want to do your research first in order to impress discerning customers with your ecological credentials. Show you’re paying attention to the bigger picture and potential purchasers will have an added incentive: the knowledge that they can buy from you with a clear conscience regarding the environment.

What do these environmentally-friendly terms mean?

There are a few terms used in packaging with reference to environmental responsibilities: ’recycled,’ ‘recyclable,’ ’reusable’ and ‘compostable’ for example. Some of these words are used interchangeably, which isn’t always technically correct. Let’s look at the difference between ‘biodegradable’ and ‘degradable’ to pick up on the subtle differences on paper that have big implications for the natural world around us.

Any materials used in packaging will break down to some degree, given long enough and the right conditions. After all, even rocks and pebbles wear away very gradually with the force of tide and time. However, when we’re thinking about the responsible decomposition of packaging materials the question is how long will the process take, and what environmental conditions are necessary for that to happen.

Non degradable packaging will inevitably create waste and litter that will still be around for years and years to come, whereas more environmentally friendly packaging will decompose much quicker. Degradable, or photo-degradable products are designed to deteriorate when the conditions are warm, wet and as sunny. Mechanical assistance will speed up the process by crunching and squashing the waste materials.

A bag that is simply degradable may look worse for wear after a short amount of time, breaking into several pieces and looking tattered, but from an environmental perspective the material will take much longer to fully decompose than biodegradable materials. Degradable products left on rubbish heaps with additional materials piled on top have precious little exposure to the sun and rain – elements needed to help them degrade. In the compost heap, degradable products such as plastic bags leave residual pieces of plastic in the mix. It’s an environmental problem.

Biodegradable products – what microbes love to feast on!

On the other hand, materials that are biodegradable get a bit of additional help from hungry microorganisms, such as algae, fungi or bacteria. These microbes digest the discarded products and help them break down much more quickly. A biodegradable bag will decompose naturally in a matter of mere months, leaving natural elements of water, carbon dioxide and organic matter, to regain their place in the ecosystem. That’s much healthier than an overflowing landfill site.

Biodegradable products play a valuable part in composting. The test for whether biodegradable materials are compostable includes a check that it should take under 6 months for at least 90% of the material to convert to carbon dioxide. In addition, after 3 months no more than 10% of the residual product pieces should still be over 2mm in size. Additional strict rules also apply to the official definition of ‘compostable,’ which is why some countries prefer the use of this term to the more ambiguous label ‘biodegradable.’

Even so, biodegradable products such as food waste can still become buried in rubbish tips and not decompose quickly enough, if they’re surrounded by non degrading materials protecting them from the right environmental conditions and processes for decomposition. That’s why every business needs to play their part to ensure the majority of its waste products are biodegradable.

Discount biodegradable packaging supplies for your business

At onlinepackagingshop.co.uk we supply ECO FLO biodegradable loose fill. These polystyrene chips, also known as ‘packaging peanuts’ give excellent protection at a cost-effective price. Best of all, when they’re no longer needed they can be discarded onto the compost heap or thrown into recycling with a very clear conscious. They are starch based and will dissolve on contact with water, making them a great choice for any contemporary ethical business.

Another biodegradable product that is popular with our business customers is the biodegradable sandwich carton. These have a clear window panel for high visibility of the contents, and the whole carton – window too – is compostable! It’s a great choice for responsible food packaging.

Order your biodegradable packaging supplies in higher volumes from us and we’ll reward you with even bigger discounts!

The post Biodegradable vs. Degradable Packaging appeared first on OLPS.


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