Biodegradable materials are important because they help reduce the negative environmental impact associated with waste. Here are key reasons why biodegradability matters:
- Reduces Pollution: Biodegradable materials break down naturally by microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and other decomposers, turning into non-toxic substances like water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter. This prevents the accumulation of waste in landfills, oceans, and ecosystems, reducing pollution levels.
- Decreases Landfill Overflow: Conventional plastic and non-biodegradable materials take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose. Biodegradable products, on the other hand, break down faster, alleviating the strain on landfills and reducing the space occupied by waste.
- Lowers Greenhouse Gas Emissions: As biodegradable waste decomposes, it typically releases fewer greenhouse gases (like methane) compared to non-biodegradable waste, which can emit more harmful gases during long-term decomposition or incineration.
- Protects Wildlife: Non-biodegradable plastics and materials can harm wildlife through ingestion or entanglement, contributing to biodiversity loss. Biodegradable materials, when properly disposed of, are less likely to cause such harm since they decompose faster and more safely.
- Supports a Circular Economy: Biodegradable materials can often be composted and returned to the earth as nutrient-rich organic matter, promoting soil health. This supports a circular economy by turning waste into a resource, rather than a pollutant.
- Minimizes Toxic Byproducts: Some conventional materials break down into harmful chemicals or microplastics that persist in the environment. Biodegradable products typically avoid releasing these toxins, promoting healthier ecosystems.
Solving the Plastic Problem
Enormous islands of plastic float in our oceans and microscopic particles of it are in our bodies. The durability, malleability and low cost of plastics have made them ubiquitous, from packaging to clothing to aircraft parts. But plastics have a downside. Plastics contaminate nature, are tough to recycle and their production emits more CO2 than all air traffic combined.
Now, researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences have invented a new material made from modified starch that can completely decompose in nature—and do so within only two months. The material is made using natural plant material from crops and could be used for food packaging, among many other things.
“We have an enormous problem with our plastic waste that recycling seems incapable of solving. Therefore, we’ve developed a new type of bioplastic that is stronger and can better withstand water than current bioplastics. At the same time, our material is 100% biodegradable and can be converted into compost by microorganisms if it ends up somewhere other than a bin,” says Professor Andreas Blennow of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.
Thus far, the researchers have only produced prototypes in the laboratory. But according to Blennow, getting production started in Denmark and many other places in the world would be relatively easy.
Biodegradable Plant Pots
In the tackle to cut down on single use plastic, plant pots may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But in New Zealand alone, we use a whopping 350 million of them a year. When Wellington teenager Elisa Harley discovered this, she set out to cut this number down by designing her own biodegradable pots. Enivo Pots are made of forestry waste and are locally produced to avoid travel emissions. The early iteration of the product won awards in the Young Enterprise programme, as well as funding to work with Scion to perfect the product.
Baby Wipes
If you’re still on the fence, conventional baby wipes can take up to 100 years to break down. Biodegradable wipes, on the other hand, fully break down in a matter of weeks. Similar to conventional wipes, the best way to dispose of biodegradable wipes is to discard them in the trash. Biodegradable wipes will decompose in landfills.
Certain biodegradable wipes can be flushed down the toilet (as many as 5 at a time!). Conventional wipes, such as baby wipes, hand wipes, and surface wipes, should never be flushed down the toilet. Always check the packaging to make sure the wet wipe is septic-safe. If in doubt, throw it out with the garbage!
Biodegradable wipes are a great choice for the environment and your family. They break down much faster than conventional wipes and help reduce waste in our landfills. While they may not be a perfect solution, they are certainly superior to wet wipes that contain plastic.
Biodegradable Coffins a Game Changer
Demand for biodegradable caskets is growing in popularity, two coffin-makers said. Artists Helen Lomberg and Amanda Rose set up the Gloucester Willow Coffin Company after repeated requests from people at local farmers’ markets. “I could see that it was a need in some people to take care of these things and to think about their impact on the earth and what they want to leave behind. “I think the thing that really draws me to it, is it’s so sustainable,” Ms Lomberg said.
Customers are offered the opportunity to work with the artists, adding their own personal touches to the coffin. Some people bring greenery from their garden or small mementoes to weave into the coffin. “Maybe that just helps a little bit with the grieving process,” said Ms Lomberg. The handles are also biodegradable, made from hemp rope.
Ms Lomberg has been crafting items, such as baskets and sculptures, from willow for 35 years.”In Gloucestershire, we’re beginning to see the appeal of these traditional ways of doing things because of the lower impact on the environment. “Crafting willow also gives a wonderful link to our domestic, agricultural past. “We have a crop every year, something useful and beautiful. It can be used and returned to the earth. There’s no pollution and no threat to the environment,” she added.
Ms Rose started as a student of her fellow artist and said she found the process very therapeutic. “There is something very tactile and organic about a basket. It seems like a lovely completion of the circle to be put to bed at the end of your life in a coffin, having started your life, possibly, in a wicker crib,” she said. For their next enterprise, the pair plan to make coffins for pets.
Biodegradable Glitter
Biodegradable materials are important because they help reduce the negative environmental impact associated with waste. Biodegradable materials break down naturally by microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and other decomposers, turning them into non-toxic substances like water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter. This prevents the accumulation of waste in landfills, oceans, and ecosystems, reducing pollution levels.
Conventional plastic and non-biodegradable materials take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose. On the other hand, biodegradable products break down faster, alleviating the strain on landfills and reducing the space occupied by waste. As biodegradable waste decomposes, it typically releases fewer greenhouse gases (like methane) compared to non-biodegradable waste, which can emit more harmful gases during long-term decomposition or incineration.
Non-biodegradable plastics and materials can harm wildlife through ingestion or entanglement, contributing to biodiversity loss. Biodegradable materials, when properly disposed of, are less likely to cause harm since they decompose faster and more safely. Biodegradable materials can often be composted and returned to the earth as nutrient-rich organic matter, promoting soil health. This supports a circular economy by turning waste into a resource, rather than a pollutant.
De-icing Fluids and Antifreeze
The Biodegradable De-icing Fluids and Antifreeze market by application encompasses various sectors such as healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing. It involves the deployment of innovative solutions to enhance efficiency, productivity, and customer experience. This market is driven by technological advancements, a growing demand for automation, and the need for data-driven decision-making across industries.
The North American biodegradable de-icing fluids and antifreeze market is segmented by various applications to cater to diverse needs across different sectors. In roadways, these fluids are essential for maintaining safe driving conditions during winter by preventing ice buildup. Airports rely on biodegradable solutions to ensure runway safety and prevent flight delays caused by icy conditions. Similarly, railways utilise these fluids to keep tracks clear and operational in cold weather, ensuring smooth passage of trains.
Sidewalks in urban areas benefit from biodegradable de-icing fluids to enhance pedestrian safety and prevent slips and falls during icy conditions. Residential applications encompass the use of these fluids in driveways and walkways, offering homeowners a safe environment during winter. The market’s growth is driven by increasing awareness of environmental concerns and regulatory pressures favouring sustainable and biodegradable products. Manufacturers are innovating to improve product effectiveness while meeting stringent environmental standards, thereby expanding their presence in the North American market.
Sustainable Clothing Brands
By their very definition, sustainability and fashion are inherently at odds with one another. The fashion industry thrives through consumption, with each season putting forward a new trend du jour for consumers to buy and just as easily dispose of. In fact, the clothing space is the third biggest polluter behind food and construction, and responsible for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions – more than shipping and aviation combined. Fashion’s business model relies on keeping prices low, with the large-scale processing of materials creating chemical waste that’s often dumped in water, while cheaper alternatives to synthetic materials are causing widespread microplastic pollution.
And then there’s fast fashion, where clothes manufactured from cotton lead to over-abstraction of water in countries like India and China that are already threatened by droughts from climate change. The human cost is just as dire. Labour exploitation, unsafe working environments and wages not fit to live on are all rife in the fashion industry which has trebled in size in the last few decades. 60 million people are estimated to be working globally, many still in sweatshops.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The fashion industry is constantly evolving with exciting new designers, slow-fashion labels and innovative production lines that are all helping to clean up fashion’s footprint. While labels like & Daughter and Herd are restructuring the wool production line, brands including E.L.V Denim and Nudie Jeans are a go-to for organic and recycled denim jeans. For eco-friendly, everyday staples, A-lister favourites Everlane, Ganni and Reformation use low-impact materials, while luxury labels like Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood were early adopters of innovative fabrics. Helping you tread more lightly on the planet, shoe brands Veja and Humans are Vain are proving vegan alternatives can look just like the real deal, too.
Above all, sustainability when it comes to fashion is mainly a mindset. Whether it’s shopping second hand via Vinted or Depop, frequenting your local charity shops, embracing the rental market or making considered purchases from eco-friendly labels, it’s up to you to create a greener wardrobe. While it may seem there’s more choice than ever, the amount of greenwashing can throw some confusion in the mix. So, we’ve rounded up all our favourite sustainable clothing brands below, from vegan trainer labels to trend-led high street brands.
Some of the many brands that are getting more and more sustainable are:
- Nudie Jeans
- Nobody’s Child
- Organic Basics
- Sezane
- Everlane
- Reformation
- Patagonia
Some conventional materials break down into harmful chemicals or microplastics that persist in the environment. Biodegradable products typically avoid releasing these toxins, promoting healthier ecosystems. Biodegradable materials are a crucial part of sustainable waste management and environmental conservation in a world facing growing waste challenges.
