Recyclable, Compostable, Biodegradable

Recyclable, Compostable, Biodegradable

The growing attention to respect for the planet and the adoption of increasingly eco-sustainable practices leads companies to consider the green aspect of all solutions that impact the production and packaging of their products.

This need becomes increasingly important in the choice of materials to be used and here, the terminologies that characterize the identification of the same come into play: “recyclable, compostable, biodegradable”: How are the differences determined?

The protection of the planet and its inhabitants requires the implementation of daily practices related to the correct management of waste recycling, starting from the knowledge of the terms that distinguish these actions. Only an adequate knowledge of technical terminology paves the way for the use of new solutions aimed at the noble intentions mentioned above.

Commonly and more and more frequently, terms such as biodegradable, compostable, recyclable materials are used: it therefore becomes strategic to have greater knowledge and awareness of these terms, to understand what the various product disposal options are, in order to select and correctly purchase equipment, materials and packaging.  Knowing the disposal cycle in advance is essential to be able to make an informed choice about how to improve your production.

Recyclable Material: In general, the term recyclable is often used generically to define materials and products without there being a precise and shared reference.

In reality, a recyclable material is a waste material that can be used again in production processes; in this regard, and among other things, Directive 94/62/EC 17 recognises the social and economic function of “recyclable packaging” and, referring to packaging, it must be designed to allow the recycling of at least a percentage of the materials used in compliance with the rules of the European Community, based on specific criteria that concern all stages of the life of the packaging,  (the so-called LCA – Life Cycle Assessment, the life cycle analysis that assesses the environmental footprint of a product or service).

However, the “recycling” of these materials is only possible thanks to a correct and conscious operation of separate waste collection, which allows these waste elements to be transformed into a resource of “new life”, thus reducing the materials that end up in landfills.

Compostable Material: A material is considered compostable when, after degrading, it is transformed into compost, a nutrient-rich substance usually used as fertilizer in agriculture. To be classified as such, the material, according to the UNI EN 13432 standard, must be:

• biodegradable;
• crushable, i.e. made up of fragments less than 2 mm in size;
• free from eco-toxic substances;
• low in heavy metals and fluorinated compounds;
• with pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium values below the established limits.

Also according to European legislation, a product can boast the wording “compostable” if it is biodegradable within only 3 months and if it passes ecotoxicity tests as proof that it cannot exert any negative effect on the environment.

Biodegradable material: The recognition of the biodegradability of a material occurs when its waste decomposes thanks to the action of microorganisms and bacteria, solar radiation or other natural atmospheric agents. Degradation can occur under two different conditions:

Aerobic (in the presence of oxygen): the substance produced can be used as a fertilizer or substrate in agriculture and floriculture;

Anaerobic (in the absence of oxygen): the substance produced, as well as in agriculture, can be used as a gaseous fuel.

A material can be defined as biodegradable when, within 6 months, it manages to transform; This means that what remains of the “initial waste” must be able to be absorbed into the soil in the form of water, carbon dioxide, mineral salts or other elements that are not harmful to the soil.

Difference Between Compostable and Biodegradable

From the above, it can be deduced that a “waste”, to be defined as compostable, must inevitably be biodegradable but, be careful, a biodegradable material is not necessarily compostable because, for example, it may not break down sufficiently during a composting cycle.

In addition, the main difference between the two types of material (compostable – biodegradable) lies not only in the speed of degradation, but also in the complete non-toxicity and its chemical composition: this identifies that what is compostable returns to the earth as a nutrient in the form of compost, while biodegradable returns to nature in the form of mineral salts and other simple elements.

Having clarified the terminology, we can now correctly decide the type of materials to be used in the design of new products/packaging, paying the utmost attention not only to saving raw materials, but also to the possibility of creating 100% eco-sustainable solutions.

In case of interest, EVi has the possibility to propose the different types of material described above with the availability to study and relative customization of the final project.

For info: info@evi-italia.com