When you see "biodegradable" on a plastic product, what comes to mind? For many of us, it paints a hopeful picture: a world where our plastic waste simply disappears, returning harmlessly to the earth. It's a comforting thought in an age where plastic pollution feels overwhelming.
But here's the reality we need to talk about: the word "biodegradable" has become one of the most misunderstood terms in sustainability. And unfortunately, that confusion isn't always accidental.
Let's start with what biodegradable actually means. At its core, biodegradability refers to a material's ability to break down through natural biological processes, ultimately decomposing into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass. Sounds straightforward, right?
The catch is in the details. Most products labeled as biodegradable come with invisible fine print: they'll only break down under very specific conditions. We're talking about the kind of controlled, high-heat environments found in industrial composting facilities, where temperatures can reach around 58°C and specialized microbes are present to break down materials. These facilities maintain the precise moisture levels, oxygen flow, and microbial activity needed for proper decomposition.
The problem? These facilities aren't available everywhere, and even when they are, many won't accept biodegradable plastics because they take significantly longer to break down than organic matter like food scraps. This slower breakdown impairs the composters' ability to turn compost quickly, affecting their business operations.
What happens to that biodegradable plastic coffee cup or food container when it ends up in a regular landfill or, worse, in nature? It sits there for centuries, behaving much like conventional plastic. Landfill excavations have uncovered plastic items still intact after 50 years, and estimates suggest these materials could persist for 400 to 1,000 years or more. Some biodegradable plastics don't fully decompose at all—instead breaking into smaller fragments called microplastics that persist in the environment and harm wildlife.
This gap between expectation and reality has opened the door to greenwashing—the practice of making misleading environmental claims to appear more sustainable than a company actually is. Recent studies have found that nearly half of green claims on plastic products could be misleading to consumers, with many lacking proper evidence or third-party verification.
The tactics vary, but they all share a common thread: they tell us what we want to hear without giving us the full story. A product might be labeled "eco-friendly" or "made from plants," leading consumers to believe it's better for the environment. But without clarity about how and where it will actually break down, these claims can be virtually meaningless.
Consider this: a material might be certified as industrially compostable, but if your community doesn't have access to industrial composting, that certification doesn't help. And even if there is a composting facility nearby, it likely won't accept the "biodegradable" bioplastic because of the extended decomposition time that disrupts their operations and profitability. Or a product labeled "biodegradable" might only break down in soil or marine environments under conditions that may never occur in practice.
This isn't just frustrating for environmentally conscious consumers trying to make good choices. It's actively harmful. Greenwashing delays real climate action by creating a false sense that the problem is being solved. It undermines trust in genuinely sustainable alternatives and allows the continued production of problematic plastics under a green veneer.
The consequences of greenwashing extend beyond consumer confusion. When products falsely marketed as biodegradable end up in landfills or the natural environment, they contribute to the very pollution crisis they claim to solve. Marine wildlife ingests these materials, mistaking plastic fragments for food. Soil ecosystems are disrupted by persistent plastic particles that take decades to break down, if they break down at all.
From a broader perspective, greenwashing also hinders the development and adoption of truly sustainable solutions. When inferior products dominate the market through misleading marketing, genuinely innovative materials struggle to gain traction. Investment flows to companies making bold claims rather than those doing the hard work of creating products that actually deliver on their promises.
So what should we look for? Truly biodegradable plastics meet rigorous, third-party verified standards that prove they will break down in real-world conditions—not just in a laboratory setting or under ideal circumstances rarely found in nature.
Several key certification standards exist globally. In North America, ASTM D6400 sets the bar for industrial compostability, requiring materials to biodegrade at least 90% within six months under controlled composting conditions. The European standard EN 13432 follows similar principles. For materials that break down in home composting, certifications like OK Compost HOME establish that products will decompose in the lower temperatures and less controlled conditions of a backyard compost bin.
Perhaps most importantly, certification for soil biodegradability ensures that a material will naturally break down where many products are actually used—like plant pots in gardens or agricultural films in fields.
Here's what genuine biodegradability requires:
The bar is high—and it should be. These requirements exist to protect both people and the planet from products that promise sustainability but fail to deliver.
One of the most frustrating aspects of the biodegradable plastic landscape is how poorly it's regulated. Currently, there's no comprehensive EU law applying to biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics in a comprehensive manner. Even within regions, regulations often contradict each other or leave significant gaps.
In Europe, while the EU has established standards for industrially compostable packaging through EN 13432, there's currently no harmonized standard for home composting, despite strong consumer interest. The European Commission has called for the development of home compostability standards by 2026, but that leaves years of continued confusion.
The situation is even more fragmented in other parts of the world. In the United States, regulations vary significantly by state, with California and Washington requiring compostable products to meet ASTM standards, while other states have few or no requirements at all. Some countries have taken the bold step of banning biodegradable plastics entirely from their single-use plastic bans—recognizing that without proper infrastructure, these materials don't solve the problem they claim to address.
What's particularly concerning is the lack of clear definitions. Terms like "natural polymers" and "chemical modification" remain undefined in many regulations, creating interpretative challenges for manufacturers trying to develop innovative bio-based materials. This regulatory ambiguity makes it difficult to distinguish between genuine solutions and greenwashed products, leaving consumers to navigate a confusing marketplace largely on their own.
Without stronger, harmonized regulations and robust enforcement, the biodegradable plastics market will continue to be plagued by misleading claims and underperforming products.
The path forward requires all of us—consumers, companies, and policymakers—to demand more. As individuals, we can start by looking beyond buzzwords and seeking out products with legitimate third-party certifications. We can support companies that are transparent about their materials and how they break down.
For businesses, the opportunity is clear: there's a growing market for products that truly deliver on their environmental promises. The companies that invest in rigorous testing, honest marketing, and materials that work in real-world conditions will earn consumer trust and loyalty in the long run.
Most importantly, we need to remember that truly sustainable solutions exist. Materials that break down in soil, home compost, and industrial facilities are being developed and refined. Products that leave no microplastics behind and return only nutrients to the earth are possible. The technology is here—we just need to ensure it's the standard, not the exception.
At Compostify, we believe in a future where "biodegradable" means what it should: materials that genuinely disappear, leaving behind only fertilizer that nourishes the earth. That's not just a marketing claim—it's our commitment, backed by third-party certification across multiple environments and rigorous testing that proves our materials work where they're actually used.
The conversation about biodegradable plastics doesn't have to be discouraging. Yes, there's greenwashing. Yes, the regulatory landscape is messy. But there's also real innovation happening, genuine solutions being developed, and a growing movement of people and companies committed to getting this right.
Together, we can build a world where the products we use today truly become tomorrow's soil—no fine print required.