Switching biodegradable materials may seem like a quick fix. But if implemented poorly, they can be detrimental to a product&#;s overall sustainability. For some products biodegradability is undoubtedly the way forward, for others there may be a more sustainable approach.
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Biodegradable materials are those which generally are made up of organic matter than can be broken down through composting or a similar method while being assimilated into the natural environment. There is certainly untapped potential for biodegradable materials to help businesses on their journey to circularity and in meeting emission reduction targets. But why are they not used more commonly? How can businesses overcome challenges faced in switching to biodegradable materials?
Defining &#;Biodegradable&#;
First of all, it is important to clarify further what it means to be biodegradable. Biodegradable means that an item is able to degrade without causing harm to the environment. The terms bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Bio-based plastics derive from non-petroleum biological resources. Biodegradable plastics degrade via exposure to naturally occurring microbes and may be bio-based or made from petroleum.
Another element in defining biodegradable is the actual process of degradation. Some materials are home compostable, where decomposition can occur in a variety of conditions, while other materials require more energy intensive industrial composting as shown in the diagrams below. In short different materials require different conditions and timescales to biodegrade meaning a strong infrastructure is required to guarantee the effective collection and biodegradation of materials.
Despite this, to be able to be labelled as biodegradable both types of material must meet tight standards. Annebeth de Witte, speaker at the SUSTAINX roundtable, explained that the criteria to be considered &#;compostable&#; and &#;home compostable&#; are based on the temperatures required for degradation. On top of this, to label a product biodegradable, all the constituent materials of that product must be biodegradable, otherwise the biodegradable material is considered an impurity when recycled in conjunction with other materials. The EU Packaging waste directive highlighted more guidelines on biodegradable and bio-based packaging materials specifically, asserting biodegradable materials should be mandatory in certain applications to avoid the issue of impurities.
Effectively implementing Biodegradable Materials
Even from just defining biodegradable, the challenges of implementing biodegradable materials start to become clear. The complexity of biodegradable materials, from the degradation method and time to the lack of infrastructure, can seem daunting. However, as Jana Kerkhoff, speaker at the SUSTAINX roundtable explained, there is a tried-and-tested 4-step approach to implementing them effectively. When wanting implementing biodegradable materials, there are four questions to consider:
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What is the function of the product?
When choosing to implement biodegradable materials in a product it is important to consider how the materials can affect the product in terms of its purpose. Most products are highly complex involving a number of different materials each with its own functional requirements. Should the material be durable, efficient, and/or cost effective? There is no silver bullet, materials often cannot offer all these features while still having a low environmental impact&#;choose a material based the functional requirements of the product, sometimes concessions must be made for example choosing a recyclable material instead to maintain durability. Remember: For a product to be considered biodegradable, all constituent materials must be biodegradable.
What is the typical end of life of the product?
An important aspect of a biodegradable product is it&#;s end of life. Determining whether how the product will be disposed of/collected/recycled is vital. Depending on the product, the preferred end of life process in terms of minimising environmental impact is 1) Biodegradable, 2) Recycle, 3) Reduce, and 4) Reuse. In many cases, biodegradable products still require collecting to ensure proper biodegradation, in this situation consider also if there is the internal or external local infrastructure available to facilitate this.
To what extent is sustainability the priority?
With the level of current innovations, the applications of biodegradable materials can be limited, and it can be more sustainable to take a different approach. It can be just as beneficial to design for durability or a product that can be recycled, in order to reduce the overall impact of the product. While biodegradable materials can improve circularity to an extent, they are less likely to promote reuse and recycling, which is problematic as a production of biodegradable materials is often emissions intensive. With this in mind steps should be taken first to &#;close the loop&#; as much as possible before then opting for biodegradable materials: The first target should be to make a product last as long as possible, extending its lifecycle. Then focus on making sure that the product can be recycled, either into the same product, or to recover material for other uses. Finally, when both have been achieved to the fullest extent, the last target is to make sure the product can biodegrade. Even though no waste is created at the end of life, there is still a significant amount of energy and other resources that have gone into the individual product which in most cases cannot be recovered.
Finally, will using biodegradable materials do more harm than good?
As with most business decisions, there is risk associated with implementing biodegradable materials. Decomposition of materials can release toxic substances or may not decompose fully leaving micro waste. The most salient risk is to do with the consumer mindset&#;biodegradable materials have a tendency to indirectly promote single-use and/or littering. Biodegradability must be marketed in a way that addresses this and makes consumers aware that this is not the purpose of the product. In practice, this could mean taking products back at the end of life or ensuring customers know when and how to properly dispose of the item.
Despite the challenges that arise when looking to implement biodegradable materials, there is a simple 4 step approach to determining if biodegradable materials are applicable, and how they can be implemented. When effectively implemented they offer a planet-friendly alternative material, but other methods to &#;close the loop&#; should be employed first before expending resource (and emissions) on biodegradable materials that with the current state of innovation may not yet be the most sustainable solution.
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