BIODEGRADEBILITY

What is called biodegradable?

“Biodegradable” refers to the ability of things to get disintegrated (decomposed) by the action of micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi biological (with or without oxygen) while getting assimilated into the natural environment.

What is 100% biodegradable?

What Does Biodegradable Mean?

Biodegradable refers to the ability of materials to break down and return to nature. In order for packaging products or materials to qualify as biodegradable, they must completely break down and decompose into natural elements within a short time after disposal – typically a year or less. The ability to biodegrade within landfills helps to reduce the buildup of waste, contributing to a safer, cleaner and healthier environment. Materials that are biodegradable include corrugated cardboard and even some plastics. Most plastics, however, are not biodegradable – meaning they cannot break down easily after disposal and can remain on the planet as waste for decades.

What Does Compostable Mean?

Compostable materials are similar to biodegradable materials, as they are both intended to return to the earth safely. However, compostable materials go one step further by providing the earth with nutrients once the material has completely broken down. These materials are added to compost piles, which are designated sites with specific conditions dependent on wind, sunlight, drainage and other factors. While biodegradable materials are designed to break down within landfills, compostable materials require special composting conditions. Compostable packaging materials include starch-based packing peanuts – an alternative to Styrofoam loose fill packaging that can be dissolved in water and added to composts for safe disposal.

What Is Biodegradable Plastic?

Biodegradable plastic is plastic that’s designed to break up when exposed to the presence of microorganisms, it is usually made from natural byproducts, and follows rigorously controlled conditions of temperature and humidity in industrial environments. Most biodegradable and compostable plastics are called bioplastic and they are generally made from plants (such as bamboo or sugarcane) rather than fossil fuels. For these bioplastics to be fairly and effectively biodegradable, their compostability needs to be confirmed according to international standards to make sure they can be handled in industrial composting plants.

One of the most recognized standards regarding biodegradability is the European EN 13432. According to NaturePlast’s literature review of standards on this subject, for something to be considered biodegradable it needs to:

1) Have a minimum volatile rate of 50%;
2) Be able to fragment at least 10% of its initial weight above a 2mm sieve after 12 weeks after being first composted;
3) Get at least 90% biodegraded (compared to the maximum disintegration of a reference substance) in no more than 6 months;
4) Also, according to OCDE 208, when it comes to toxicity, the resulting compost needs to perform at least 90% compared to the corresponding reference compost.

Meaning of Biodegradable

“Biodegradable” refers to the property of a substance or material to be broken down by natural processes into simpler compounds over time, typically through the action of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, or other biological agents. This breakdown process is a natural part of the Earth’s ecosystem, where organic matter is recycled and returned to the environment in a form that can be assimilated by other organisms or incorporated into natural cycles.
Biodegradable materials are typically environmentally friendly because they break down into harmless substances rather than persisting in the environment for long periods, causing pollution and harm to ecosystems. Biodegradable substances can include various organic materials such as food waste, paper, cardboard, certain types of plastics derived from natural sources (e.g., cornstarch-based plastics), and other organic compounds.
Promoting the use of biodegradable materials can help reduce waste accumulation, decrease pollution, and lessen the environmental impact of human activities. However, it’s important to note that not all biodegradable materials degrade at the same rate or under the same conditions, and some may require specific environmental conditions or facilities to degrade effectively. Additionally, biodegradability does not necessarily imply that a substance is non-toxic during degradation, so careful consideration of environmental and health impacts is still necessary when evaluating biodegradable products.

Definition of Biodegradable

What is the definition of biodegradable?

A biodegradable item decomposes naturally within a year with the help of microorganisms and other bio-processes.

Biodegradable waste, depending on its type, can sometimes also be called green waste, food waste, or organic waste. When biodegradable products are exposed to nature, including oxygen and moisture, they break down relatively efficiently.

Here are some examples of how long various biodegradable items take to break down naturally (assuming an adequate supply of oxygen and moisture):

Cardboard (unwaxed) – 3 months
Cotton rope – 3 to 14 months
Newspaper – 2 to 4 weeks
Orange peels – 2 to 4 weeks
Paper – 2-5 months
Paper towels – 2 to 4 weeks
Wood (plywood) – 1 to 3 years

However, when biodegradable materials are thrown into a landfill where they are not subjected to natural decomposition (they’re deprived of oxygen and moisture), they break down very slowly and create methane gas in the process.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 25+ times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, and is therefore a significant pollutant when it comes to climate change and carbon emission.

When it comes to plastics, biodegradable plastics cause a range of water issues, so reducing rather than recycling & reusing plastic should always be prioritized.

What happens to non-biodegradable waste?

There are many items that would be considered non-biodegradable, and though they will eventually break down, the time it takes for this to occur is much longer. Consider, for instance, these items:

Aluminum cans – 80 to 200 years
Diapers – 450 years
Fishing line – 600 years
Glass – 1,000 years
Plastic bottles – 450 years
Plastic six-pack holder – 400 years
Styrofoam cup – 50 years
Tin cans – 50 years
Cigarettes – 1 to 5 years

Biodegradability & Compostability Testing:

we offer a range of testing services for various industries, including polymer manufacturers, additives, oil, chemicals, paper, compostable materials, bagasse, gloves, bio packaging, fiber, PLA, PBAT, sugarcane, fabrics, and organic industries. Our testing services cover different types of products such as carry bags, bottles, boxes, cutlery, tableware, etc.

For Plastic/ Bioplastics/ Biopolymers:

High molecular weight polymers biodegradation tests applicable to biodegradable plastics, papers, coating, packaging and other consumer material.

Biopolymers, derived from renewable sources such as plants, offer a promising alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. They have gained popularity due to their reduced carbon footprint and potential to contribute to a circular economy. However, assessing their biodegradability is crucial to understanding their environmental impact and ensuring they meet composting and waste management regulations.

Testing by following methods to determine if the product or its components meets the requirements of ASTM / ISO biodegradability definitions.

Anaerobic Biodegradation of plastic materials under High-solids anaerobic-digestion conditions as per ASTM D5511 or ISO 15985 test methods.
Aerobic Biodegradation of plastic materials in soil as per ISO 17556 or ASTM D 5988 test methods.
Aerobic Biodegradation of plastic materials in Marine environment as per ASTM D 6691 test method.
Compostable plastics as per ISO 14855– in reference to specification IS/ISO 17088 or ASTM D 5338 – in reference to specification ASTM D 6400).
Oxidation and Biodegradation of plastic material as per ASTM D 6954 test method.

Biodegradation Testing

We execute the corresponding tests from:

Chemical Characterization and IR spectrography.
Biodegradability testing according to methods DIN EN ISO 14851/14852 and OECD 301/302 series.
Disintegration testing according to ISO 16929 and ISO 14045.
Ecotoxicity according OECD 208 with 2 plant species.

BIODEGRADEBILITY TEST FACILITY- AVAILABLE WITH FGT CPS

FOR FAST SERVICES ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL BE APPLICABLE:
24 HR SERVICE-2 x normal charges
48 HR SERVICE-1.5 x normal charges

S. N	TEST NAME	TEST METHOD	TAT
1	Determination of acute ecotoxic effects to earthworm	ISO-17088(Annex-D)
2	Determination of chronic ecotoxic effects to earthworm	ISO-17088(Annex E)
3	Determination of ecotoxic effects on higher plants	IS/ISO 17088 (Annex C)
4	Determination of effects on reproduction of Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei	ISO 11268-2
5	Earthworm reproduction test	OECD 222
6	Earthworm, Acute Toxicity Tests.	OECD 207
7	Terrestrial Plant Test: Seedling Emergence and Seedling growth test	OECD 208
8	Determination of acute toxicity to Eisenia fetida /Eisenia andrei	ISO 11268-1
9	Biodegradability of Textile Chemicals and Auxiliaries	BTRA/CTL/SOP/01-2015, OECD guidelines (1992) 301D closed bottle method
10	Bio degradability	OECD 301 D
11	Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under defined composting conditions	ISO 16929
12	Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions – Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide	ISO 14855 Part 1
13	Dry Solid test	IS/ ISO 14855 – 1
14	Volatile solid content	IS/ ISO 14855 – 1

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