These days, biodegradable packaging is cropping up for all kinds of products. I’ve seen compostable coffee pods, biodegradable shopping bags and food waste bin liners, even biodegradable chocolate bar wrappers.
Bioplastics currently represent around 0.5% of total plastic production. The production of these plastics is only growing. European Bioplastics estimates that global capacity for producing bioplastics will increase from approximately 2.18 million tonnes in 2023 to 7.43 million tonnes in 2028.
We know that we have a plastic problem: conventional plastic is mainly sourced from fossil fuels and takes hundreds of years to degrade. In the meantime, it takes up space in landfills and litters our environment, harming wildlife.
At first glance, it seems to make sense to produce plastics that biodegrade to limit the amount of plastic that lingers in ecosystems. However, there’s a lot of confusion around biodegradable packaging. Is it a sustainable alternative or just greenwashing? That’s what I set out to answer in this post!
What is biodegradable packaging?
Biodegradable packaging is packaging made of a material that can be degraded (broken down) by micro-organisms like bacteria, fungi and algae. The material breaks down into natural elements like water, carbon dioxide and biomass.
This definition is vague about both the time frame and conditions for biodegradation. Biodegradable packaging should ideally break down within a reasonable time frame, say one year. In terms of environmental conditions, this packaging has been proven to be biodegradable in a lab, but it may not degrade in the same way in nature, where conditions are less controlled.
What’s the difference between biodegradable packaging and compostable packaging?
Biodegradable and compostable are two different but related terms. As I’ve explained, biodegradable is fairly general in referring to material that can be broken down by living organisms. This biodegradation might happen in a landfill, a compost facility or out in nature.
Compostable material also breaks down into its different components under the right conditions. However, this decomposition happens specifically at a compost facility or (sometimes) in your home compost. In these environments, conditions like the temperature, humidity and level of oxygen are all controlled. The end result of the composting process is compost, a nutrient-rich substance that can be used to enrich soil.
The relationship between bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics
Bioplastics is an ambiguous term with two meanings: these plastics may be bio-based (made from natural materials like plants) or biodegradable (able to be broken down into natural elements).
Not all bio-based plastics are biodegradable. And biodegradable plastics are not all made from natural materials. Many are, but some are produced synthetically. Biodegradable refers to the chemical structure and the quality of being able to break down, not what the plastic is made of.
If you look at global bioplastics production, non-biodegradable, bio-based plastics make up over 44% of production. Biodegradable plastics, meanwhile, make up over 55.5% of production.
What types of biodegradable packaging are there?
There is a wide variety of types of biodegradable packaging.
Materials used for biodegradable packaging
Biodegradable plastic can be made from various natural materials, including cornstarch, seaweed, mushrooms, cellulose, paper and cardboard. These plastics can also be produced using various chemical processes. If you have a more scientific background than I do, you can check out this journal article that goes into different types of biodegradable packaging in detail.
Uses for biodegradable packaging
Bioplastics are used in many sectors, including food and agriculture, consumer products, health care, construction and fashion. Biodegradable packaging comes in different formats, including trays, bags and containers. Biodegradable films or coatings are sometimes added to produce to extend its shelf life. There are also applications for packing and shipping, like biodegradable packing peanuts and corrugated cardboard as a bubble wrap replacement.
Standards and certification for biodegradable packaging
Various organizations offer standards, testing and certification for biodegradability and compostability, including the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (Canada); ASTM, implemented in part by BPI (North America); TÜV AUSTRIA (various countries) and the ISO (global). These labels may reflect different characteristics, such as being biodegradable in freshwater or seawater, or being compostable in an industrial composting facility.
The variety of certifications can create confusion since there isn’t one label that clearly indicates that a package is biodegradable. As well, even if a package is labelled as biodegradable or compostable, it may not be accepted for composting in a given municipality.
Is biodegradable packaging better for the environment?
Biodegradable packaging has both benefits and drawbacks when it comes to sustainability. On the positive side, biodegradable packaging is often made from renewable natural materials. This means reduced use of fossil fuels and fewer toxins. Biodegradable packaging should also break down under the right conditions, which reduces the quantity of waste in our environment.
On the other hand, bio-based biodegradable packaging requires inputs from agriculture, which uses valuable land and has climate impacts. There’s also the question of disposal. The proper disposal infrastructure for biodegradable packaging does not always exist. This packaging may not be recyclable and can even contaminate recycling streams. If it ends up in landfill, it can produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. And biodegradable packaging may not break down as it’s supposed to in the ocean and other environments.
Biodegradable packaging is one solution for waste reduction. However, in the long run, it’s better to reduce our use of plastics and use materials for as long as possible instead of rely on materials that biodegrade.
How should you dispose of biodegradable packaging?
The best way to dispose of biodegradable packaging depends on waste management infrastructure where you live. Check with your local government to confirm.
Here in Toronto, all biodegradable and compostable plastics should go in the garbage, no matter what it says on the label. There’s an explanation here, but basically the Green Bin program was designed to process food waste, not packaging. Items that behave like plastics are removed during pre-processing.
Biodegradable packaging: Friend or foe?
There can be a lot of confusion around biodegradable packaging. I hope this post has helped you understand the topic better.
In my view, although biodegradable packaging has some benefits over conventional plastics, there are still issues to sort out. Biodegradable packaging may be one solution to the plastic pollution crisis, but it cannot be the only one.
I want to know: What do you think about biodegradable packaging? Is it a sustainability solution or a load of greenwashing?
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Very interesting. And more complicated than I imagined. For organic green bin waste, we use Glad brand bags that are “compostable in municipal facilities”, and which have two certifications marked on the box. I hope that they are indeed composted by the city (Ottawa).
Thank you. Yes, it is quite complicated! According to this page, you can use compostable organic bin liners in Ottawa, but they will unfortunately be removed during processing and sent to landfill: https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/green-bin-and-leaf-and-yard-waste#section-9951b4b1-3d78-4b5a-ae93-fbcf54756ecd