Biodegradable, Bio-Based, and Recyclable: They Are Not the Same
Bio-based, biodegradable, compostable and recyclable terms tell different material properties and waste scenarios. A product may not be biodegradable when it is made from vegetable source; a biodegradable product may be fosil welded. Environmental declaration should be mixed with raw material to the end of its life.
What does Bio-based say?
Bio-based expresses that the entire material comes from biological sources or a part. This does not show that the product will be self-dissolving in nature or suitable for the existing recycling line. Bio-based content rate and measurement method should be part of the declaration. Life cycle effect can not be judged only with the origin of resources.
Biodegradable and compostable
Biodegradation is related to converting the material in certain environmental conditions of microorganisms; time, temperature, humidity and environment may be misleading. Compostability is a more specific framework for defined condition and biodegradation, fragmentation and compost quality in time. House compost with industrial compost is not the same.
Recycled
The reversibility depends on the fact that the product can be converted to the existing collection, separation and processing infrastructure or the product. A technically processed material can not be recycled in practice if it is not collected in the local system. Combining compostable product into plastic recycling flow can also create quality problem.
Adhesive and finished packing
Compliance with the specific standard of a adhesive does not mean that multi-component finished packaging is automatically certified. Film enters the final evaluation of paper, printing, coating, adhesive quantity and product geometry. Beyan should be clearly matched with the scope of the certificate and product code.
Application control list
- Separate the end scenario of use with raw material origin.
- Specify the environment and time in the declaration of biodegradation.
- Check local collection and recycling infrastructure.
- Evaluate the finished product not component.
- Verify certificate coverage, product code and update.
Conclusion
Sustainability terms are not synonymous. Accurate communication requires measurable feature, defined waste scenario and verified document.
Manstechnic approach
Manstechnic handles product technical claims with the actual end scenario of use and packaging.