Biodegradable or compostable? A jargon busting explanation
With the arrival of our exciting new brand Seep, alongside some fantastic additions to our A Slice of Green range, waste disposal is a timely topic.
Sustainable choices are important to us all, especially when it comes to household cleaning products. However, terminology like "biodegradable" and "compostable" can sometimes be confusing. Let's delve into the difference and what each means for eco-conscious consumers.
Understanding Biodegradable Products
A biodegradable product simply means it can decompose through natural processes, thanks to microorganisms like fungi and bacteria. Here's the important caveat: this breakdown process can take anywhere from a year to a staggering thousand years. For instance, those "biodegradable" plastic bottles might take hundreds of years to become tiny fragments.
Is Biodegradable Always Good?
Not necessarily. Microplastics and other potentially harmful substances may linger behind, especially in landfill sites devoid of light and oxygen.
Home Compostable: The Sustainable Champion
This is where home compostable products shine. They break down entirely and quickly into nutrient-rich soil, leaving no harmful residues and minimising environmental impact. In essence, they become valuable food for plants, promoting healthy growth.
Home Compostable vs. Compostable: What's the Difference?
The key distinction lies in disposal requirements. "Compostable" products might necessitate a specialised industrial composting facility to achieve optimal breakdown conditions. Since these facilities aren't always widely available, we prefer the term "home compostable." These champions, like our cellulose sponges and packaging materials, decompose as readily as your leftover vegetables. Have a home compost bin? Chop them up and add them to the mix! Local council collecting food waste? Include them there too!
Don't Have a Home Compost Bin? No Problem!
The beauty of home compostable products is that you can still dispose of them in your regular household bin with peace of mind. You're not contributing to landfill overflow, and that's a positive step. For those with gardens, you can even bury chopped-up compostable items in loose soil – they'll just take a little longer to decompose than in a dedicated bin.
Seep & A Slice of Green: Leading the Sustainable Charge
Nearly all Seep cleaning products (with the exception of the copper scourers) are home compostable, including their packaging! That's right, even the rubber gloves and plant-based plastic bin liners can go straight into your home compost bin.
The A Slice of Green cellulose sponges are completely home compostable and come unpackaged, making sustainable cleaning even simpler.
At Green Tulip , we prioritise providing clear disposal instructions. We take the environmental impact of every product we offer very seriously. It's simply the responsible approach, and that's what we stand for.
