Our environment is infested with so many foreign objects that do not resonate well with nature. That is why no one will go against the claim that we are responsible for whatever bad that’s happening to our planet. We have created products that interfere with the natural course of our biosphere and kill marine animals and several other terrestrial species.
Biodegradation is getting a lot of buzz lately because of its viability in the current environmental crisis. Buying biodegradable products can help our biosphere a lot, and the effort starts with buying biodegradable products.
Before continuing, know that plastic isn’t biodegradable but is still consumed in shocking quantity by humans.
Say NO to Plastic:
More than half of the world’s waste consists of plastics, and they are the primary reason for contaminating our planet. We are under the impression that if we throw the plastic that we’ve used in a recycle bin, then we are somehow contributing to saving the environment.
Plastics can be pegged as the root of most of the environmental problems as they are hardly categorized as recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. Plastics can be recyclable to some extent, but biodegradable plastics is a concept that still needs scientific proof to be identified as a viable alternative for reducing environmental degradation.
Experiments prove that even after over three years, regular, biodegradable and oxo-biodegradable plastic fragments remained in the Earth’s soil. Objections on the Experiment point out that the latter two revised formulations weren’t tested in the recommended atmosphere.
These objections make you wonder why a biodegradable product can’t disintegrate in an environment that theyare meant to save?
In conclusion, companies & scientists need to improve on their biodegradable plastic formulations and then market their product as “environment-friendly”. Until then, any “biodegradable plastic” that you are buying right now isunlikely tocontribute to saving the world’s atmosphere.
Only the biodegradable alternatives of plastic proposed by licensed and reliable companies such as Bio – D seem to get the job done.
Now that the confusion surrounding “biodegradable” plastic is solved, let’s go through the following list to identify a biodegradable product from non-biodegradable one:
1. Look for the Symbol
Most biodegradable products will have a leafy triangular shape at the back of their packaging. This green triangle is different than the continuous arrow triangle we see on recyclable products. Once you find that symbol, then you’ll have to identify the extent of the biodegradability of that product.
2. Composting; alternative for Biodegradation
If you can’t find a biodegradable symbol on a product, then look for a circular symbol of composting. Composting means you are breaking down used products and trash to produce manure. If a product is not breaking down into the simplest components naturally, i.e. biodegrading, then you can compost them to cater to your means.
3. Organic Products are Biodegradable
Fruits, vegetables and everything edible won’t take much to disintegrate in the environment. Bacteria and other microorganisms don’t take long to break down organic compounds as their chemicals are familiar with the composition of organic compounds.
4. Alternative for Plastic Packaging
You need to buy products that are packaged in starch-based compostable material, corn-based wrap packaging and Plantic #039 etc. Most companies that produce organic soaps, shampoos, scents and skincare products package their products in jute and cloth pouches.
Summary
Reading what’s written on a package is not enough to identify a biodegradable product. You must know enough about the implications of certain words, formulations and terminologies to understand what’s right for the planet or what’s not.
