Compostable & Biodegradable
What is Compostable and Biodegradable?
Find Compostable & Biodegradable Eco-Straw
Compostable & Biodegrable material choices consist of: Paper, PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) & PHA (PolyHydroxyAlkanoate)
Compostable
- Decomposes into water, CO2, inorganic compounds and biomass at the same rate as paper
- Decomposes at least 90% in a maximum of 6 months so that the original product cannot be visually distinguished in the compost. The remaining material still contains organic material which can be used to grow green bean seeds.
- Should leave little or no toxic residue
Biodegradable
- Destroyed over a certain period of time & conditions biologically with the help of microbes
- May leave toxic residue
- Decomposes into Water, CO2 and Biomass with the help of Microbes.
- The biodegradation process will depend on conditions (location, temperature, humidity and presence of microbes) and the environment (commercial composting, soil or water), so there is no time limit on when it can decompose (it can take decades)
Compostable and biodegradable standards
There are several international organizations that have established standards and methods for testing compostability:
- American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM-6400-99 and ASTM-6868
- European Standardization Committee (CEN) EN13432
These standards establish biodegradation, disintegration and environmental toxicity criteria for plastics to be called compostable.
- Biodegradability is determined by measuring the amount of CO2 produced over a certain period of time by biodegradable plastic. The standard requires 60% conversion of carbon to carbon dioxide within 180 days for resins made from a single polymer and 90% conversion of carbon to carbon dioxide for copolymers or polymer blends. Disintegration is measured by sieving the material to determine the size of biodegradation and less than 10% must be remains on a 2 mm sieve for 120 days.
- Ecotoxicity is measured by placing heavy metal concentrations below the limits set by standards and by testing plant growth by mixing compost with soil in different concentrations and comparing it with controlled compost.
Our compostable PLA straws are also DINCERTCO certified and entitled to use the Seed Logo
Greenwashing
Unfortunately, some manufacturers and many companies have confused and misled consumers by misusing the terms “compostable” and “biodegradable.”
This greenwashing of products with Biodegradable or Compostable claims hides the fact that the product is still in the environment or uses terminology that does not meet the correct standards.
However, not all efforts to become more environmentally friendly are taken seriously. For the sake of sales,  some companies have engaged in “greenwashing,” marketing claiming their products as environmentally friendly alternatives one, when in fact the products are no different from regular conventional plastic.
As conscious consumers, it is important to ensure that every choice we make takes into account its impact on the environment. Choose truly compostable straws!
