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The industry is evolving fast and the terminology is sometimes quite confusing. Therefore, we offer this small guide for you to make the right choice.
What is a biodegradable material?
According to EU 2019/904 Directive, it is, by definition, a material which is degraded following a simple process with microbial action, transforming into water, biomass and CO².
Can a biodegradable packaging be certified?
There is no standardized certificate at international or European level. Some bodies offer a certificate under own-established conditions. At official level, if we wanted to hold a certificate for a biodegradable package, the only way to do so is to certify it as compostable, according the UNE EN 13432.
What is the difference between a biodegradable package and a compostable one?
A biodegradable product is decomposed by the action of micro-organisms. If the result of biodegradation is a compost that can be used as fertilizer, it is a compostable product. If it is not, the product is just biodegradable. The certification for compostable products includes an analysis on biodegradability, eco-toxicity, disintegration and compost quality.
Can we consider a compostable package recyclable?
Only in certain cases. Composting and recycling are completely different processes. Compostable materials must be handled as organic waste and not as plastic or paper that can be reused.
What is the difference between recyclable and recycled?
A recyclable product is one that, after its shelf life, can be treated with a mechanical or chemical process for it to be reused. A recycled product is one that is manufactured with a material that has been already used and has been re-introduced in the cycle.
What is a bio-based product?
A bio-based product is one that is obtained from renewable sources, such as wood, corn, potato or sugar cane. These types of products can be certified according to the EN 16785 European Standard.
Are there any bio-based plastics?
Yes, there are conventional plastics made from a renewable source. Among them, certain are compostable, like PLA; others are not, like in the case of biopolyethylene (made from corn).
Is paper always compostable as compared to plastic?
No. Paper can be compostable or not, depending on the chemical treatment it has been subject to during its production. There are other plastics that can even be biobased and compostable, like in the case of PCL.
What is a biocompostable material?
It is a commercial term which does not exist in the dictionary. The terms compostable, bio-based and biodegradable are described above.
Is it possible to certify whether a product is recycled?
Yes, authorized bodies can certify the percentage of commodities of recycled origin, according to UNE-EN 15343 Standard.
Is it possible to certify the recyclability of a product?
The only official symbols that exist are those which abide by the international signaling. It is the case of the “Green dot” symbol, which is certified by Ecoembes in Spain. Its use is mandatory for packaging for sale. There are other triangular symbols with arrows and a number, which state the plastic contained in each packaging.
