Biodegradable at the most basic, simply means an item that has the ability to break down, or decompose back into the natural environment without causing harm. For example, when a substance biodegrades into carbon dioxide, water and other naturally occurring minerals, the substance seamlessly mixes back into the earth, leaving no toxins behind. Many materials do break down in a more harmful manner, leaving chemicals or other harmful substances in the soil.
In terms of environmental benefits, a biodegradable material will break down quickly, not take years, leave nothing harmful behind and save landfill space.
Many organic companies use biodegradable packaging for products, or even produce organic biodegradable products, but the items may not be as biodegradable as people think. There are some major misconceptions between compostable and biodegradable.
Compost-friendly items include organic matter that easily break down, while biodegradable items are capable of decomposing at some point but usually need help from biological agents such as bacteria to do so. Real biodegradable products usually need to be degraded in a controlled composting environment or facility - and very few of these facilities exist in the USA. A controlled facility simply means a large facility where materials reach 140 degrees for ten consecutive days.
According to standards developed by the Biodegradable Products Institute, PLA, a popular biodegradable materiel for green companies will only decompose into carbon dioxide and water in a “controlled composting environment” not in a backyard composting arrangement.
