Everything You Need To Know On Biodegradability

We get a lot of questions about biodegradability and biodegradable diapers – so let’s break it down for you by busting some of the myths and answering some of parents’ most frequently asked questions.

What does biodegradable mean?

Biodegradability is a biologically mediated process whereby microorganisms break down carbon containing materials. With oxygen, the initial material is entirely converted into water, carbon dioxide and biomass. Without oxygen the initial material is entirely converted into water, methane, and biomass. The evaluation of biodegradation is impacted by many factors such as the inherent properties of the material, the environment where the material will ultimately reside, and the microorganisms present.

Biodegradable products – are only made from plants & trees, right?

Not necessarily! “Biodegradable” simply means that a material can be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. Biodegradable products can be made by bio-based and/or non-bio-based materials, and, yes, even from fossil-derived materials.

I’ve been told that biodegradable materials and compostable materials are the same thing. Is this true?

“Biodegradable” and “compostable” are related but are not the same. “Biodegradable” means that a material can be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

“Compostable” means a product that can degrade by microorganisms into a humus-like material, known as compost, that is used to enrich soils. The term also refers to standardized testing established by organizations like ASTM International that is conducted using specific timeframes and environments.

Do you sell biodegradable Pampers?

Most diapers including ours are made with both biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials. We support biodegradability where it makes sense, but for diapers we believe it’s misleading. Let’s consider all facts together:

• We think it’s important that biodegradability is considered in the context of the specific environment where the product is disposed after use. Today diapers are disposed of together with residual household waste.

• Where residual household waste is sent directly to landfill, adding biodegradable waste directly to landfill will contribute adversely to greenhouse gas emissions (such as methane) which in turn can contribute to global warming.

• Where residual household waste is incinerated, nothing biodegrades because it is all burned.

And to our knowledge, no disposable diaper is fully biodegradable. This is because disposable diapers are typically made using a mix of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials”.

Can diapers be composted?

Composting is a great technology to treat organic waste, but it is currently not viable for diapers. Here is why:

• Most diapers are made with both biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials. Therefore, diaper waste is not accepted in household organic bin by regulators nor accepted in composting facilities by composters.

• Home composting of diapers is not recommended because they contain pee & poo, which increases the possibility of exposure to human pathogens, that will not be sterilized if the temperature of the compost is too low.

Here’s a quick summary on biodegradable diapers and biodegradability.

1. “Biodegradable” simply means that a material can be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. Biodegradable products can be made by bio-based and/or non-bio-based materials.

2. To our knowledge, no disposable diapers are fully biodegradable.

3. Even if a product claims to be biodegradable, it requires the right conditions to do so. In landfills biodegradation is not beneficial as the process generates greenhouse gas.