It’s the question you’ve probably asked yourself: Is biodegradable Stretch Wrap compostable? You’re not alone. Whether you have a deep ecological commitment to reduce your carbon footprint or if simply looking for ways to make your life easier, it’s important to understand if the compostable stretch wrap is something you should be using.
What is a Biodegradable Stretch Wrap?
A biodegradable Stretch Wrap is a stretch film developed to degrade in landfills. The Wrap is made from a blend of polyethylene, polyester and a biodegradable additive called PLA (polylactic acid). As such, it will degrade in an industrial composting facility or commercial composter.
PLA has been approved for use as a food contact substance by the FDA. The PLA used in Biodegradable Stretch Wrap is manufactured by NatureWorks LLC using corn starch as its main ingredient.
Using a Biodegradable Wrap allows you to use less plastic for your packaging needs without worrying about what happens after it’s discarded. It offers all the benefits of regular plastic wrap but also helps reduce waste and protect the environment.
The difference between compostable and biodegradable
Biodegradable plastic is a misnomer because it doesn’t mean the material will biodegrade. It just means that the material is “made from renewable resources,” according to the Biodegradable Products Institute.
Biodegradable plastics are made from plant-based materials like cornstarch or cellulose, which microbes can break down into carbon dioxide and water over time. These plastics are considered compostable, not biodegradable.
Compostable plastics differ from biodegradable plastics because they’re designed to break down in specific conditions — in a commercial composting facility or at home in a backyard composter. These plastics are made from non-renewable resources like petroleum or natural gas, and they can take years or even decades to decompose in the right conditions.
Does biodegradable stretch wrap become compost?
Biodegradable is not the same as compostable. Biodegradable means that the product will break down into its constituent parts over time and become part of the earth. Compostable means that it will break down into compost, which can be used as fertilizer in agriculture or a mulch for gardens.
Biodegradable products like biodegradable stretch wrap are designed to break down in landfills. They cannot be used as compost because they don’t break down rapidly enough to be effective in creating topsoil or fertilizer.
Is biodegradable stretch wrap compostable?
Biodegradable and compostable are not the same thing. Biodegradable means breaking down in the presence of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. Compostable means that the product can be composted or used as mulch.
Biodegradable plastic is made from renewable resources like cornstarch, sugarcane, potato starch, tapioca roots and other vegetable starches derived from farm plants. The most common biodegradable plastics are made from polylactic acid (PLA) or polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).
PLA is derived from corn starch and is used to make plastic bags for food packaging. PHA is derived from plant sugars produced by the fermentation of sugars with genetically modified E. coli bacteria. This can be done using agricultural waste products such as corn stover or wood pulp waste from paper manufacturing processes. These materials may also be blended with other natural fibers such as cotton linter for use as textiles for clothing applications such as uniforms for hospital workers or other medical staff who need to wear clean clothes every day but don’t want to spend a fortune on laundry costs!
What happens to biodegradable stretch wrap in a landfill?
Biodegradable stretch wrap is made from polyethylene that is derived from renewable sources. It can be recycled, but it’s not a compostable material.
In a landfill, biodegradable stretch wrap will break down over time and turn into methane gas, which is then captured and used for energy. The process can take up to two years. Even then, the plastic won’t completely disappear. It will just be broken down into smaller pieces that are less harmful to the environment. If you’re concerned about how your packaging will affect the environment, consider using paper or cardboard instead of plastic when possible.
Conclusion
Plastic wrap labeled “biodegradable” is widely available, but its true compostability depends on the specific material used in the wrap. The most frequently used biodegradable plastic wrap is made from a sugar-based polylactic acid (PLA) polymer. The molecules in PLA plastics are similar to natural molecules found in most plants, albeit in different arrangements. It’s also important to remember that biodegradable discs alone aren’t responsible for good compost quality—the entire packaging system and its effectiveness during the decomposition process play the most important role.
