Blog Post by Brittnee Stivey

Waste management has become a topic of focus in recent years, as we discover new and innovative ways to properly dispose of, and recycle, our waste. Many new terms have become prevalent on the labels of everyday items, but it can be confusing to figure out what they mean. A few terms that you may have come across include ECO-FRIENDLY, BIODEGRADABLE, and COMPOSTABLE. Unfortunately, many of these terms aren’t what they seem, and can contribute to the confusion and greenwashing of sustainability. This makes it difficult for the everyday consumer to use products that make a positive difference. Today, let’s take a look at the definitions of these particular terms!

‘Eco-friendly’

The term eco-friendly refers to an item that is made of, or contains, ingredients or materials that don’t significantly impact or are not harmful to the environment. Something that is eco-friendly may also be described as being ‘green’, or ‘environmentally friendly’. However, it is important to consider the product holistically - from where it is sourced, to how it is made, and how it is delivered to the consumers - which all contribute to the ecological footprint of that product. If any of these processes are unsustainable and harm the planet, then the product cannot be considered completely eco-friendly.

Some examples of eco-friendly products that you can implement in your home include:

Stainless steel pegs
Beeswax wraps or silicone food wraps
Reusable coffee cups
Reusable produce bags
Reusable water bottle (preferably made of metal)
Dish scrub pads made of coconut fibre and/or plastic-free dish brushes
Bamboo toothbrushes
Recycled toilet paper

All of these items reduce waste (especially plastic waste) in your home and reduce your need to purchase single-use items, which are a major focus for waste management schemes.

‘Biodegradable’

The term biodegradable refers to items that are able to decay naturally by being broken down by living organisms, such as fungi and bacteria. These products break down in a way that is not harmful to the environment, for example, they don’t release harmful chemicals into the environment as they degrade. However, in Australia, a biodegradable item does not currently need to be tested in order to be labelled as such, nor does it need to break down within a certain timeframe.

When it comes to ‘biodegradable’ plastics, the issue becomes somewhat muddy. Biodegradable plastic is defined as being able to break down completely into natural substances, which can be either biobased (made from plants) or made from petrochemicals. Sometimes, a product may be labelled as biodegradable when it’s actually made from oxo-degradable plastics. These have metal added to them, which allows them to break down when exposed to light or heat. However, these plastics don’t degrade completely and instead break up into microplastics, which are a huge environmental concern. Unfortunately, the majority of biodegradable plastics on the market will only break down in an industrial composting facility, making claims of being environmentally friendly somewhat irrelevant for most households, so be aware of these claims when making purchases!

There are many factors that affect how ‘biodegradable’ a product can be, so be aware of different labels to ensure you’re actually purchasing ‘green’ products!
*Photo: New Zealand's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment*

Beware of greenwashing!

‘Greenwashing’ is a phenomenon that has become more prevalent as consumers make more environmentally-conscious purchasing decisions. A company may use terms such as ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’, or ‘sustainable’ to advertise their product, without divulging information about the actual nature of their product and whether it degrades within a realistic timeframe. A product labelled as ‘biodegradable’ may actually take years or decades to break down in the environment. While the item itself may not be made of harmful materials, its prevalence in the environment can cause harm in other ways, such as becoming an ingestion or entanglement risk to fauna. This can become incredibly confusing for the consumer and affects other businesses that are trying to take genuine steps to implement more sustainable practices. Thankfully, there are many online resources you can use to help identify if a product is actually environmentally friendly, and after a recent ACCC inquiry into 'greenwashing, stricter regulations are hopefully on the way.

‘Compostable’

The term ‘compostable’ refers to materials that break down completely into non-toxic components (such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass) that will not harm the environment. They require microorganisms, humidity and heat to decompose properly, and there must be sufficient scientific evidence that the material can break down into usable compost within a certain timeframe. The result is a completely organic, natural material with no plastic or chemicals left behind. It is important to note that all items listed as ‘compostable’ fall under the ‘biodegradable’ category, however not everything that is biodegradable is compostable!

In Australia, a material must meet the requirements of the Australian Standards AS 4735-2006 (biodegradable materials suitable for commercial composting) and Australian Standard AS 5810-2010 (biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting) in order to be considered compostable. It must biologically disintegrate and biodegrade in the relevant composting system to set levels within a defined period of time.

Compostable materials can either be disposed of in a home composting setup, or sent to a commercial composting plant for processing. However, work is being done to bring more home compostable plastics into circulation to make disposal of these products easier. A product labelled as compostable should not be disposed of in your regular household waste bin, as the conditions in landfill vary so greatly that it is not possible to predict how long it will take the materials to decompose.

What’s happening to reduce waste across Victoria?

Many councils across Victoria are implementing a new food and garden waste collection service (you may have already received your free kitchen caddy and compostable liners) to try to combat the large amounts of food waste that end up in landfill where they cannot break down properly. This waste is collected and taken to commercial composting facilities for proper processing, where it is turned into compost and mulch for use in parks, gardens and farms. A bonus feature of these collection bins is that many food items that cannot be put into ordinary compost (such as meat, bones and dairy products) can be put into these bins. This initiative will reduce contamination of waste products, and will hopefully see the amount of waste sent to landfill be reduced by almost half! The shift to a more in-depth waste disposal service is crucial to supporting Victoria’s sustainable future, improving the way we recycle our waste and paving the way to a more circular economy.

Take home messages

Navigating the emerging world of ‘green’ products can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when the rules around labelling products are unclear. Items labelled as eco-friendly/biodegradable generally have a lower impact on the environment than their non-eco-friendly/biodegradable counterparts, however, there is no set time frame an item has to degrade within in order to be considered biodegradable. Compostable items, on the other hand, must meet certain criteria in order to be certified as compostable and are generally better environmental and sustainable choices. However, it is important to remember that compostable items should not be put in your regular household waste bin, and must be processed in a home composting setup or sent to a commercial composting facility.

While all of this can be overwhelming, it is important to note that any small action, even if done imperfectly, is still a better option and makes more of a difference than not taking action at all! Be aware of greenwashing and stay informed about different ‘green’ terms, to help make your purchasing decisions and collectively reduce our impact.

Check out our other blogs for more information about how plastics affect our local environments, and ways we can make a difference!

The Good, the Bad and the really Ugly of Plastics: Part 1

National Recycling Week: Microplastics

Beyond Plastic Free July

Ocean Plastic: Keep it Clean!

Busting Recycling Myths

Plastic Free July with the Marine Mammal Foundation

The Marine Mammal Foundation is a not-for-profit charity organisation, protecting the marine environment through research, community engagement and education. Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation.