Recyclable vs. Biodegradable vs. Compostable: What's the difference?

With over 8 million metric tons of plastic waste finding its way to the ocean every year, we've only just begun to realize the size of the problem we are creating for our planet. But the good news is that no matter where you live, sustainability is becoming a hot topic worldwide. Whether it’s friendly reminders to bring reusable bags to the grocery store, products labeled as recyclable, or compostable eating utensils – the idea of sustainability is becoming a part of our everyday lives.

But with all this comes questions about what types of products are best for the environment. Is compostable really any different than biodegradable? What about products made from recycled materials? These are important questions, and the answers impact our planet and often our health as well. This blog post will take a look at the difference between biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable to help clarify.

What Does Biodegradable Mean?

Biodegradable describes the ability of a material to safely break down by microorganisms (like bacteria and fungi) and be restored to nature. For a product to qualify as legitimately biodegradable, it must completely decompose and break down into natural elements in a short period – usually a year or less.

Biodegradable materials include obvious things like food waste, human waste, yard waste, and untreated wood. Many products and materials will eventually biodegrade, but the problem is it could take several years or even decades to do so, including steel materials that ultimately rust and disintegrate and many plastics.

It’s important to keep in mind that conditions are essential in biodegradability. Variables like temperature and the presence of water, light, and oxygen greatly affect the speed in which something can break down. Certain products that will biodegrade in nature or compost heaps might not biodegrade in landfills because there is not enough light, air, moisture and bacteria.

What Does Compostable Mean?

Compostable means that an item made from natural materials can break down into nutrient-rich soil. While all compostable material is biodegradable, not all biodegradable material is compostable. The biggest difference between the two is that while biodegradable materials return to nature, they can sometimes leave behind residues. On the other hand, compostable materials turn into something called humus, which is water-retaining, nutrient-rich soil that plants love.

Items you can compost at home include food scraps, yard scraps, untreated wood, dead flowers, and pure organic cotton items. But what about compostable products you purchase? Compostable products are usually made from things like corn, bamboo, or sugar cane. But when you see a product with a "compostable" label, what it actually means is that it is commercially compostable, so you can't throw it in your backyard compost pile.

A commercial compost facility has the perfect balance of moisture, heat, and oxygen to break down plant-based materials. Without this ideal ecosystem, any compostable cup or eating utensil won't break down. You must send these products to a composting facility, and if there isn't one in your area, they'll need to be thrown in the trash.

Unfortunately, most commercial composting facilities that are equipped to handle food waste are ill-equipped to take on large volumes of compostable plastics. And many industrial composting facilities won't accept bioplastics and other biodegradable plastics because they are seen as a potential contamination risk. The US currently doesn't regulate composability labels. And sometimes, materials labeled "compostable" turn out to be petroleum-based products that could affect the quality of the compost. But the good news is some states are beginning to adopt new legislation that creates standards for this type of labeling. 

Home composting is an easy and fun way to reduce your kitchen and yard waste while creating nutrient-rich soil that will help your garden flourish. And some new products are hitting the market that are specified as home-compostable -- a trend that will likely keep growing.

What Does Recyclable Mean?

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash so they can be used again as new products. You are probably familiar with the idea that we can recycle cans, glass, paper, and plastic – and all of this is great – but let's break down the concept a bit more. Recycling doesn't necessarily mean that one material (like a used plastic bag) will directly lead to a new resource of the same type (like a new plastic bag). Instead, the recycled product is usually reused to create an entirely different product.

While it isn't a 100% efficient process, recycling still makes a huge large-scale difference. For example, compared to making glass from raw materials, recycled glass melts at a lower temperature, saving energy. And glass produced from recycled glass cuts air pollution by 20% and water pollution by 50%.

Many materials can be recycled, including metals (like steel and aluminum), glass, paper and cardboard, plastics, batteries, and electronics. But not everything can be recycled forever. Plastic can only be recycled once or twice before it is down cycled and turned into a material of lesser value. And every time paper is recycled, its fibers get shorter and shorter, so it can only be recycled around five times. But glass and metal can be recycled infinitely without losing purity or quality in the material.

For a guide on what can be recycled and how to recycle different materials, check out this waste management website. The most common types of recyclable materials are usually gathered in a curbside collection, buy-back centers, or other drop-off centers.

Buying Recycled Products

While recycling your waste is important, buying recycled products is another essential step in completing a recycled item's lifecycle and "closing the loop" on the process. When you purchase products made with recycled or reclaimed materials, you are helping clean up our oceans, rivers, and planet by removing existing pollution. You also do your part to maintain demand for recycled products, ensuring that recycling programs will continue.

Have a question about any of the above? Feel free to reach out to us! At Tree Hugger, we want to help you align your sustainable values with your packaging so you can feel good about the products you put out in the world. We can't wait to hear from you!