Biodegradable Packaging vs Compostable Packaging - DON'T get Greenwashed

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What's up everybody! We're coming at you here live from the Viv offices in San Francisco and we're here to tell you one thing - that is one thing only - and that is that THE WORD BIODEGRADABLE DOES NOT MEAN THE SAME THING AS THE WORD COMPOSTABLE.

We're going to walk you through 3 things: 1) the definition of the word compostable, 2) the definition of the word biodegradable, and 3) how to make sure that when you're buying food packaging that's marked compostable or biodegradable, you're not being greenwashed.

Here it is.

The word compostable has a definition that is strictly controlled by the scientific standards ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, and EN13432. It means 3 things. #1) Biodegradability - It means that 60-90% of your product is going to break down within 180 days. #2) Disintegration - 90% of your product is going to break down into (itty bitty) pieces that are 2mm in size of less. #3) Eco-Toxicity - That means that when that product breaks down in a commercial composting facility it is not going to leave heavy metals that are toxic to the soil beyond that of a control group.

The word biodegradable on the other hand, simply means that a product is going to break down over a period of time by natural processes. It could mean any period of time, it could mean tens of year, it could mean thousands of years. Quite literally, this plastic bag is biodegradable - at some point, eventually it's going to break down. This plastic lunch pail is biodegradable. At some point, way down the road, lord knows when, it's going to break down.

What does this means for food packaging? Well, you want to be looking for products that are specifically marked compostable. There are brands out there that are using the word biodegradable, and they're using it to greenwash their products and essentially trick you into purchasing them. One of our favorites (/ least favorites) is Taterware.

Not sure if you can get a good look at this, but it says biodegradable right on this fork. We've been working with ...