With increasing environmental awareness, terms like “biodegradable” and “compostable” appear frequently on packaging labels. However, their environmental degradation mechanisms and industrial handling requirements differ significantly.
What biodegradable really means
Biodegradable materials break down naturally over time through biological processes, but without defined timelines or guaranteed non-toxic residue benchmarks.
The strict standards for certified compostable films
Compostable packaging (such as PLA/PBAT starch blends) must disintegrate completely within 90 to 180 days in an industrial composting facility without leaving microplastic fragments or toxic heavy metals.
