About Biodegradable Products

Biodegradable products are designed to break down quickly and become compostable, turning into an organic material that decomposes naturally. The resulting compost is a natural plant growing medium--ideal as a soil conditioner for farming and as mulch in a garden. The need for chemical fertilizers is eliminated.



Confusion and skepticism about what is a biodegradable product has existed for 15 years because plastic products did not biodegrade as manufacturers claimed. Specifications now exist for what can be labeled as biodegradeable, according to the Biodegradable Products Institute website.

Tableware

• Manufacturers commonly use biodegradable products for tableware, including plates, bowls, cups and cutlery. The BPI promotes the use and recovery of biodegradable materials, and certifies the product with a BPI logo, meaning the product complies with strict scientific standards. The tableware, made from corn resin and sugar-cane pulp, also includes cold cups, hot cups and cup sleeves. Eco-friendly pots, also biodegradable, consist of bamboo pulp as the primary ingredient. Facilities such as cafeterias and colleges often use these products.

Water Bottles

• Manufacturers make plastic water bottles from a biodegradable plastic containing corn-based ingredients. To be considered biodegradable, the product must degrade at a rate comparable to food scraps, yard trimmings and other compostable materials. To be considered truly biodegradable, an item must leave no large plastic fragments to be screened out.

Trash Bags

• Trash bags, also known as plastic bin liners, come in all sizes for home and commercial applications. Composting programs often use trash bags to reduce the need for washing and keeping bins clean. Made from a nontoxic, renewable, polyester-based proprietary resin, the bags are fully compostable in 50 to 100 days in an appropriate compost facility.

Other Products

• Other products fashioned from biodegradable materials include baby wipes made from water, aloe vera extract and glycerin; yoga mats made from pure rubber and jute fabric; and a cell phone from Japan made from corn, potatoes and kenaf, a commercial crop related to cotton.

  The BPI works with organizations in the United States as well as in Japan, Europe and Canada to promote the use and recovery of biodegradable materials.