The whole world is looking at going green today, and no one wants to be left behind. When it comes to packaging, there are businesses that are leading the charge, like the dairy industry, or more specifically, Bun Coffee recyclable coffee pods. When you talk of biodegradable, the idea is to have packages that can quickly decompose. There are several things you need to know concerning biodegradable packaging. Are they worth all the hype they are drummed up to be? Well, you can find out more about biodegradable packaging below. There’s everything that you’d wish to know here.
Certification is Expensive
Before you get the certification for this packaging, you need to invest. Not only money, though, but you also need to invest time too. The process is quite complex, and you’ll need to have the patience to see it through. Many tests need to be run to achieve this status.
Here are some of the tests that you need to do first and get the results
- Composite conditions done by ASTM-D5338 protocols – the results have to be at least 90% biodegradable in under 180 days.
- Should at least reach 90% disintegration according to the ISO 16929 within 12 weeks
- All heavy metals need to have a toxicity level of below ASTM-D6400 limit
Once your material has passed all these tests, you are offered the certificate by the industrial compostable. This certification is the only proof of biodegradation you can get.
Biodegradation isn’t Disintegration or Fragmentation
As much as desegregation and fragmentation can lead to biodegradation, they aren’t the same. They don’t, however, lead to complete biodegradation. And they may lead to microplastics that are even worse than the initial problem.
It is A Process
As you have seen, biodegradation is a process and not a result, as some may have been made to believe. The whole process makes no guarantees. The waste, however, gets to be broken down into smaller pieces. The material is broken down by fungi, bacteria among other biological means. It is illegal to claim biodegradability in some states as the idea isn’t one that comprehensively covers what is comprehended. The long period it takes for biodegradability is the main reason why nothing is assured here.
It isn’t a Panacea
Lastly, what you don’t realize about biodegradable materials is that they are still pollutants to the environment. The results are evident in greenhouses as biodegradable are greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. This way, greenhouses are the biggest problem for climate change, as the gas emission proves. So, if biodegradables are as much, is it the solution or even worse than the problem? The process is long and one that needs an undertaking.
Biodegradable Material
When it comes to biodegradable material, there’s a lot that you need to know. First, this isn’t the end of the road as there’s still much to do. Besides, it is a long-term process that can’t be assured instantly. Anyone that ensures it from manufacture without testing is selling a lie.
