materials have the capability to decompose over time. Biodegradable products ensure that the environmental footprint of a company is minimized as to reduce unnecessary landfill and permanent waste. 

Usually, discarded items find their way to landfills and incinerators. There, items either remain in these landfills for thousands of years, or are burnt by incinerators, which generates massive amounts of air pollution through the emission of harmful chemicals. But with biodegradable ingredients, products are guaranteed to naturally decompose within the environment, and eventually break down into natural substances like water vapor and carbon dioxide. This ultimately  leads to less pollution. 

Biodegradable products break down into more natural substances such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and organic matter. All of these substances  can be safely absorbed back into the environment, contrary to non-biodegradable products that become harmful chemicals and toxins upon breaking down. For example, biodegradable plastics can be sourced from plant materials, similar to the compostability of food waste. These materials have the capability to be metabolized by natural microorganisms in the environment.

Biodegradable products are able to safely reenter the environment because they are made from sustainable ingredients themselves. Biodegradable products also minimize waste production by lessening the amount of trash or discarded items that are sent to landfills or to be burnt into emissions  by incinerators. Another benefit of biodegradable products is that it usually takes less energy to produce. The most common forms of biodegradable products can be found in homeware, such as utensils, plates, and cups. Additionally, many sustainability-driven companies have implemented the use of biodegradable packaging in an effort to reduce waste. 

Most biodegradable products will provide evidence of a certification, of which follow the Organization and Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD’s standards for “Ready Biodegradability.” For example, liquid products such as detergents and soaps may have the SCS Certified Biodegradable label. This certification applies to products that can degrade within a 10-day time frame. 

LEARN MORE: Biodegradable Meaning