Innovations and advancements in technology bring with them a whole new vocabulary, an ever-evolving language that can keep up with changes in the industry. Over the past decade innovations in biobased, biodegradables and bioplastics have led to a wealth of new materials that can help to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and finite resources, and move towards a world where plant-based replaces polluting plastics. But the language used to describe these materials can confuse the uninitiated, especially when so many begin with “bio” – but mean very different things!

Let’s dig down into the different terms, what they mean and how they differ.

 Biodegradable and Compostable

Biodegradable and compostable are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings.

Biodegradable: Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, algae and fungi.

All things degrade, but not all things biodegrade. Environmental factors such as sunlight, water, and pollution can degrade items but may only degrade into smaller particles, not constituent parts. For instance, a plastic carrier bag will degrade into microplastics (solid plastic particles measuring less than 5mm in length).

Compostable: An item that fully biodegrades, returning to water, carbon and biomass within a certain timeframe.

There are also the terms ‘home compostable’ and ‘industrially compostable’, these refer to the conditions under which an item will compost. These terms are regulated in some jurisdictions and comply with the EU standard EN 13432 and the US Standard ASTM D6400-99.

• Solinatra is both biodegradable and compostable.

Bioplastics and Biopolymers

Bioplastics and biopolymers may sound very similar but have very different meanings.

Bioplastic: Bioplastics are materials that are wholly or partly derived from renewable sources, such as corn starch, vegetable fats or woodchips, or from directly processing natural biopolymers.

Bioplastics may only be partly derived from natural, renewable sources and may still contain fossil-fuel-derived or non-renewable sources.

Not all bioplastics are biodegradable, some bioplastics are chemically identical to their conventional, fossil-based counterpart and are recyclable.

Biopolymer: Biopolymers are naturally occurring polymers, produced by plants and animals. There are three main types of biopolymers: polynucleotides, polypeptides and polysaccharides. Common examples include collagen, starch and cellulose, and even DNA is a polynucleotide. Biopolymers are naturally occurring, and some can also be replicated synthetically.

Starch, cellulose, chitin and alginate can be used to produce materials that have properties suitable for manufacturing. Alginate is found in seaweed and is often used to make flexible films for food packaging.

• Solinatra is a bioplastic, made with biopolymers.

Biobased and Biomaterials

Whilst these terms are less likely to be used interchangeably, they are likely to be used in conjunction with one another, or with the other terms in this article.

Biobased: Biobased refers to the content of a material that is naturally occurring and organic in origin.

Biobased only refers to substances that are derived from living organisms, some naturally occurring elements and minerals are not included within the definition of biobased. Inorganic compounds including silica, talc, mica and kaolin clay are naturally occurring but would not count towards a material’s biobased content.

Biobased materials may also refer to non-plastic materials, and not all biobased materials are biodegradable. Paper is a biobased material, but the biobased content will vary depending on the paper stock and manufacturing method.

Biomaterials: Biomaterials are biobased materials designed to interact with biological systems.

Biomaterials is most often used to refer to substances and materials that are designed for medical purposes, such as in grafts,  implants and medicine delivery – these are biocompatible biomaterials and include dental fillings, hip replacements and heart valves.

• Solinatra is a biobased biomaterial.

• Solinatra is a biobased bioplastic, made with biopolymers, and is biodegradable and compostable! Solinatra is 100% natural and made without petrochemicals or fossil fuel derived ingredients.

 Understanding the differences between these terms helps to make informed decisions and avoid greenwashing. Further definitions can be found at our glossary, including terms related to composting and the circular economy. Let us know on social media what phrases to define next!

Sources:

European Bioplastics - https://www.european-bioplastics.org/glossary  

Plant Based Products Council - https://pbpc.com/plant-based-products-glossary   

ISCC - https://www.iscc-system.org/about/circular-economy/

Ellen MacArthur Foundation - https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/glossary