MATERIALS EXPLAINED
A clear guide to biodegradability, compostability and bio-based materials — and how each relates to the products your business uses.
BIODEGRADABLE DESCRIBES A PROCESS. COMPOSTABLE DEFINES A TREATMENT ROUTE. BIO-BASED DESCRIBES AN ORIGIN.
These terms answer different questions about a material. Understanding the distinction makes the relationship between packaging, protective products and their intended use much clearer.
A biodegradable material can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler substances. In an aerobic environment, this process produces carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
Biodegradation depends on the material and its environment. Temperature, moisture and microbial activity influence the process. A biodegradability claim therefore relates to defined test conditions; it does not mean that a product will disappear quickly in any setting.
Within BioLine, biodegradable nitrile examination gloves and other biodegradable protective products form a distinct category from certified compostable packaging and food-service gloves. Nitrile-glove biodegradation evidence can relate to defined anaerobic conditions, as assessed by methods such as ASTM D5511 and ASTM D5526. This is different from compostability certification. Protection requirements and end-of-life guidance remain specific to the product.
Compostable materials are biodegradable under specified composting conditions and must also meet criteria for disintegration and the quality of the resulting compost. Certification considers more than the material simply breaking into smaller pieces.
Industrial compostability relates to controlled treatment facilities. Home compostability relates to lower-temperature composting conditions. A product certified for one route is not automatically certified for the other.
Compostable bags, liners and packaging can be designed for these routes, with the relevant certification identifying the conditions covered.
Bio-based materials are made wholly or partly from biological feedstocks, such as plant-derived resources. The term describes where the material comes from.
Origin and end-of-life behaviour are separate characteristics. A bio-based material is not necessarily biodegradable, and a compostable material is not necessarily entirely bio-based. The finished product’s properties determine its suitability.
| TERM | WHAT IT MEANS | HOW IT RELATES TO USE |
|---|---|---|
| Biodegradable | Breakdown through biological activity under defined conditions. | The test environment and product guidance explain the scope of the claim. |
| Industrially compostable | Assessed for controlled industrial composting conditions. | Intended for an accepting commercial organics treatment route. |
| Home compostable | Assessed for lower-temperature home composting conditions. | Suitable for the home-composting conditions covered by its certification. |
| Bio-based | Made wholly or partly from biological feedstocks. | Describes material origin; disposal properties are established separately. |
| Recyclable | Capable of being collected and processed into new material through an appropriate recycling system. | A separate recovery route; compostability does not establish recyclability. |
Compostable waste liners support the collection of organic waste where the collection system accepts them. Retail bags and mailers serve carrying and protective functions while using materials certified for the relevant composting conditions.
Compostable food-service gloves have an intended food-handling application and are assessed separately from biodegradable nitrile medical gloves. Biodegradable PPE remains protective equipment first. Material characteristics do not replace the required safety specification, or change clinical and contaminated-waste obligations.
MedSafe presents the material description alongside the intended application and relevant certification, so the product’s role is clear.
Yes, within the composting conditions covered by their assessment. Compostability also includes requirements beyond biodegradation, such as disintegration and compost quality. The reverse is not true: a biodegradable product is not automatically compostable.
No. Biodegradable describes how a material breaks down. Some biodegradable and compostable materials are polymers; those terms alone do not establish that a product is plastic-free.
Compostability certification concerns composting conditions. It does not establish the same behaviour in landfill, water or the open environment.
No. Test methods, material formulations and treatment conditions differ. A verified timeframe applies to the product and conditions assessed, rather than to every item described as biodegradable or compostable.
TECHNICAL REFERENCES: EUROPEAN BIOPLASTICS · TÜV AUSTRIA
Explore biodegradable protective products and certified compostable packaging within BioLine.
