Biodegradable x Compostable
We already know that recycling is an important practice. But do you know exactly the difference between biodegradable and compostable? Let’s check what they mean separately first and then the difference between them
Biodegradable
Biodegradable products will break down safely into natural materials in the environment.Their plant-based or natural-based material turns the substance biodegradable.Biodegradation time
The decomposition process for biodegradable products in nature can happen over days or hundreds of years, depending on the item. Another factor that alters the biodegradation time is the place where the object is deposited.Compostable
Compostable products also decompose in nature but have important benefits for the soil. The decomposition time varies from one to six months, but the delay is welcome since it adds several nutrients to the soil during the breakdown process.The compostable product must be transformed into an organic compound, that is, a specimen of fertilizer that can be used in your plants and your garden.
So, What is the difference then?
Based on Recycle BC, “Biodegradable and compostable materials are also often mistakenly given the same meaning. Both refer to the breakdown of a material into its biological components – carbon dioxide, water and biomass. However, compostable materials must breakdown within a standardized set of industrial conditions to be certified as compostable. All compostable materials are biodegradable but not all biodegradable materials are necessarily compostable.”