Compostable Products

Degradable Plastic

The word "degradable" just means that something breaks down. Technically, all plastic is degradable plastic. You can break it with a hammer or grind it into a fine powder — this all counts as breaking down the plastic. Some plastics have additives that make them break down faster under conditions like sunlight (photodegradable) or oxidation (oxo-degradable).

While these plastics may appear to disappear, they only turn into tiny pieces (microplastics). These remain in the environment for years and don’t return to the earth in a meaningful way.

Biodegradable Plastic

"Biodegradable" means degradable, but with an extra condition: it can be broken down by microorganisms. This allows the carbon in the plastic to become part of natural organic molecules and the carbon cycle.

Only certain bioplastics will biodegrade within a reasonable time. Petroleum-based plastics that simply break into small pieces usually cannot be digested by microorganisms. Some renewable plastics are also processed in ways that make them non-biodegradable.

Compostable Plastic

"Compostable" plastics are biodegradable, but they also meet specific standards: they must biodegrade within a certain timeframe under composting conditions. This ensures they truly return to the earth in a safe, natural way.

All compostable plastics are biodegradable, and all biodegradable plastics are degradable — but not all degradable plastics are biodegradable or compostable. Be cautious of products that only claim to be “degradable.”