There are the terms “Industrial Compostable” and “Home Compostable”, which can create confusion.
The difference between the two is the environment required for a compostable product to successfully decompose within a predetermined time frame as determined by officialdom.
If a product’s decomposition conforms to the parameters set down by officialdom, then a product is deemed to be certified.
There are 3 main parameters that need to be met:
- 90% of the product must have decomposed
- There is a set timeframe – generally 90 days
- No toxins are to be leached during this process
If these three parameters are met under scientific / best practice laboratory conditions then a product is awarded an accreditation by means of a reputable compostable confirmation certificate. Â The certificate though, does not alter or manipulate the natural phenomena of an organic material being able to compost back to natural elements, as a natural / organic product will continuously decompose, but within fluctuating time frames. The more important reason for the certification is to ensure that materials that are presumed innocent, such as paper are truly compostable and not just biodegradable, as they may well leach toxins into the environment as the paper decomposes, such as chlorine. This is a case in point that paper is biodegradable, but not necessarily compostable.
A tree trunk would fall into the category of “Industrial Compostable” as it would need to be mechanically broken down (ground down into sawdust) first for biology to ensure it decomposes by 90% within 90 days, whereas a leaf from the same tree would be classified as “Home Compostable” as it would be able to naturally decompose within 90 days within a reasonably conducive composting environment, such as a damp, humid and warm tropical environment with lots of bacteria present.
However, the very same leaf or the ground down tree trunk would not decompose timeously in an artic environment as it is a very inhibiting natural environment due to the cold temperatures. You will also find that an industrial composting facility generally operates within a higher temperature range, but not limited to, than a typical home composting environment. Composting is a natural process and the reason we use fridges and freezers to store organic matter such as food, is for longevity of the freshness of food. The cold environment inhibits the natural phenomena of composting.
Bonnie Bio products follow these very same principles. When our products break down, they break down consistently with other natural materials. At Bonnie Bio, we’re proud to say that our biobased internationally certified compostable and biodegradable plastic alternatives have been manufactured to comply with the following international standards: EN 13432, AS 5810, ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868 and carry the DIN CERTCO, CE, FDA and Seedling logos. We are the only company in South Africa to have international certifications.
