Biodegradable vs Compostable: Are They Good for the Environment?
With the growing need to save the Earth, consumers and businesses alike start to take a more conscientious approach to buy and use environmentally friendly and sustainable products. For instance, switching from using single-use plastic utensils to paper straws, these little steps in changing one’s lifestyle can help our nature a great deal.
However, the rise of demand for sustainable products also increases the “greenwashing” scheme in the market. When almost every product is now labelled as “eco-friendly”, how can you differentiate them from one another?
If deciding makes you scratch your head, here are some points to ponder to help you weigh your options.
The Differences Between Biodegradable And Compostable:
Biodegradable materials are designed to break down into organic matter with the help of living microorganisms. Products that are “able” to “biodegrade” within landfills help reduce waste growth and eventually lead to a healthier and safer environment.
Rapidbiz CEO Lola Hood explained that “Almost everything is biodegradable. That means, things can break down and go back to nature in time, whether in a year or a decade. For example, vegetables can biodegrade faster than leather shoes that might take years. Even some plastics are classified as biodegradable and can disintegrate, albeit slowly, back into the Earth.”
On the other hand, compostable materials, from the name itself, can turn into nutrient-rich compost. This organic matter is called humus, responsible for making the soil healthy for plants to grow in. Compostable products, like the one-of-a-kind sugarcane straws from Little Green Panda are actually home compostable which means they'll break down like a piece of fruit over time!
Are Biodegradable and Compostable Materials Good For The Environment?
When businesses claim their products as biodegradable, it is essential to know the materials used, what kind of residue it leaves behind, and how it affects our health and surroundings. Some of them can produce toxic fragments that may do our nature harm more than good.
In composting these products, they can put off more greenhouse gases which creates a larger carbon footprint. So it’s not good for everyone.
Given the argument, it’s best to buy products that require less time to degrade if you want to help fight climate change and reduce Carbon Dioxide emission.
Little Steps You Can Do At Home
Meanwhile, you can decompose home compostable products with less effort. Say, if you have your wheat straws (or even bamboo straws), you can just put them in your home compost bin to decay along with fruits and vegetables.
If composting is this easy and can be done at home, it is best not to wait any longer. Going green and maintaining sustainable living is more than just a trend. It is a lifelong commitment we owe to nature, ourselves, and the people around us.
Will You Make A Difference For The Planet?
Do you want to help heal our planet? No need to get overwhelmed by all the nitty-gritty of decomposing.
Little Green Panda can help you with your sustainable journey as the single-use plastic ban across the country rolls out. We encourage the use of various compostable straws to help reduce your plastic waste, one sip at a time. On a larger scale, we support farmers and female artisans to make a living!
If you're a business looking for better straws, contact us now for your free compostable straw samples.