With the impending green-friendly era, consumption of biodegradable products is more and more becoming the thing these days as a corrective measure for plastic pollution. They are being positioned as green-friendly products everywhere in the world and even in the UAE. All the buzz that they are receiving notwithstanding, there remains a lot of myths and misconceptions about them. Misunderstanding these facts is causing the wrong shopping choices and retarding the development of true sustainability.
Here, we're going to strip away the truth about everyday myths about biodegradable products and what you really need to understand before you make your choice.
What Does "Biodegradable" Really Mean?
The word "biodegradable" refers to the capacity of a product to break down naturally by microorganisms into carbon dioxide, water, and organic matter. Biodegradable products differ. The period, site, and extent of breakdown all vary with the product and where the product is being disposed of.
Myths Associated With Biodegradable Products
Myth 1: Biodegradable Means It Breaks Down Anywhere Instantly
Fact: Biodegradable items will not immediately break down, and they will not break down anywhere. They require certain conditions such as heat, oxygen, and water—conditions present only within commercial compost facilities. In a landfill or in the ocean, most biodegradable items will not break down for decades.
Myth 2: All Biodegradable Products Are Compostable
Fact: "Compostable" and "biodegradable" are frequently confused and utilized wrongly, but they're not. Compostable material will break down into nontoxic substances that will nurture the soil, but biodegradable material may leave remnants behind or take longer to break down. Compostable materials would presumably have controlled composting conditions to function.
Myth 3: Biodegradable Plastics Are Completely Safe
Fact: Even though biodegradable plastics are greener compared to regular plastics, they tend to be produced using synthetic additives or require breaking down in certain environments. Unless they are disposed of in the appropriate way, they become pollution like other plastic.
Myth 4: You Can Recycle Biodegradable Products
Fact: Compostable and biodegradable products must not be mixed with regular plastic recycling. It will taint the recycling stream and cause processing issues for standard plastics. These products possess a second end-of-life solution and should be treated as such.
Myth 5: Being Biodegradable Is Enough
Fact: Biodegradable products are going in the right direction, but sustainability also means reduced consumption, recycling, and proper waste disposal. Relying solely on biodegradable products and not modifying behavior, the environment issue will not be addressed.
Why Busting These Myths Matters?
The biodegradable product fact matters in an effort to:
1. Make intelligent buying decisions
2. Follow truly sustainable brands
3. Reduce waste pollution in the UAE and elsewhere
4. Avoid greenwashing or misleading product claims
Transparency, education, and quality are our motto at Ecoway Global. Our packaging materials, tableware, and trash bags are properly labeled and produced for effective disposal in the right places.
Frequently Asked Questions on Biodegradable Products
1. Are biodegradable products always eco-friendly?
No. Certain products have additives or man-made components that may not always break down. Choose certified products from reputable companies like Ecoway Global.
2. Can I throw away biodegradable items as normal trash?
You may, but sending them to landfills where they break down slowly is not the preference. Composting where possible is preferred.
3. What am I looking for when I scrutinize certifications?
Certifications like ASTM D6400, EN 13432, or OK Compost that certify a product as complying with compostability requirements.
4. Are biodegradable trash bags as convenient to use as plastic ones?
Yes, Ecoway Global's durable biodegradable garbage bags are robust, leak-resistant, and just as easy to use every day.
5. Are biodegradable products more expensive?
Initially, they might be more expensive than usual plastics, but their long-term environmental advantage and conformity with future restrictions makes them a good investment.
Biodegradable products are the biggest solution towards having a plastic-free world and a green planet, especially in such a developed nation as the UAE. But to make the most out of them, we have to break the myths and know the real process behind.
We at Ecoway Global try to offer sustainable, eco-approved products and learn responsibly with them as well. Learning initially results in the real environmental impact.