Biodegradable vs Compostable Wipes: Does it make a difference?
Article 2 of 3. Please see the previous article for context before reading below.
As consumers, we are constantly fed information and rely upon the declared ethics and alignment of businesses to the highest standard of sustainability and quality assurance. But what if that is all a farce? How do we truly know whether products labelled ‘biodegradable’ are making a positive impact post-consumer aside from what has been marketed to us on shelves or across social media?
This second article explores the misconceptions of labelling products as biodegradable and the differences in post-consumer life cycle compared to compostable wipes.
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Now that we are clear on definitions, there are a few important points to establish. That is, the controversy and misinformation around biodegradable wipes and how they are used without concern.
Most worldly items are biodegradable, it is only a matter of time of when items revert to the Earth in the form of water, minerals and carbon dioxide. The reason why biodegradable wipes are not considered as a truly sustainable alternative is due to the rate of its decomposition and the by-products of the decomposition process.
For example, businesses selling biodegradable wipes encourage their consumers to responsibly dispose of their product into landfill. It is hailed as the more responsible alternative to non-biodegradable wipes (including its packaging) as the latter typically contain microplastics and/or harmful chemicals. What is omitted in brand marketing, advertising and product disclaimers of such items is the full journey and efficacy of waste breakdown.
Touted as a modern solution to pressing issues such as climate change and waterway pollution from plastics, biodegradable wipes have long been accepted as the only proper and socially acceptable solution.
Some businesses, and importantly their marketing teams, have cleverly guided public perception of plastic being the main culprit of pollutive consumer practices and redirected it to a new product market segment where plastics have no presence. This new market demand for supposedly sustainable and ‘eco-friendly’ wipes has been widely successful as they meet the two most important elements consumers are concerned about: environmental impact and durability.
Coincidentally last month, a supporting article published on The Conversation by Geographer Dr Randa Kachef, explored the futility of why banning plastics from wipes and substituting it with biodegradable alternatives will lead to more pollution. Kachef explains that “biodegradable wipes have contributed to a worldwide problem, from Canada to Australia” (3). When biodegradable wipes are flushed or disposed straight to landfill, they cause blockages and production of toxic, explosive gases as a process of biodegradation, primarily excess carbon dioxide and methane.
The release of methane in landfills is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide and is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (3). Wipes discarded straight to landfill ends up in an environment where biodegradation cannot fully take place. The process is slow, temperature-dependent and requires human intervention to ensure 100% biodegradation. Conventionally it only reaches 70% biodegradation before rotting and generating toxic gas emissions (4).
To make matters worse, approximately 90% of biodegradable wet wipes contains micro-plastics (1). This contributes to the inefficiency of its natural biodegradation – meaning that micro-plastics are leached into the environment and can take years to break down into smaller and smaller components. Over time, these wipes will fragment into minuscule fragments and are still molecularly intact, thereby harming wildlife and natural ecosystems due to the indigestible nature of plastic (2).
The misinformation and controversy from introducing biodegradable wipes as the environmentally friendly alternative are challenged by the following facts:
Product durability maintained for high quality means that biodegradable wipes take much longer to break down (over 90 days or over 2+ years) (5).
Durable biodegradable wipes can cause blockages in waterways and pile ups in landfills where there is partial biodegradation (5).
The clean-up and waste management for local & State authorities is extremely costly (upwards of $100,000 per year) (3).
Consumer demand for low-cost and convenient wipes further contributes to this problem.Biodegradable wipes typically contain chemicals which ensure its long-shelf life and excellent quality in cleaning and stain removal. As such, it presents the contradictory element of taking much longer to biodegrade, including needing more energy and heat to break down, thereby contributing to build-up of greenhouse gas emissions in landfill, or polluted sewerage systems.
It can be said that businesses selling biodegradable wipes, or any item marketed as such, are woefully contributing to the causes of climate change. That is, ever-increasing pollution based on overconsumption. Such businesses are consciously misleading and greenwashing their consumers to buy-in to a new market segment of their product offerings to remain relevant and to be recognised as a responsible company.
As an emerging influence in the cycling industry, that too within the segment of sports gear & maintenance, we have been deliberately conscious of our product design and whether it is truly making a difference across every aspect of its life cycle. It is why compostable wipes are currently the only acceptable alternative to offer as convenient and environmentally friendly cleaning wipes for bikes. In addition, the full range of our bike wipes are locally made, this saves freight emissions, water overconsumption, removes additional production costs and ensures its high quality.
Compostable wipes, unlike biodegradable ones, fully break down back into the Earth as its constituent elements (water, carbon, minerals, and gases) and contributes to life-enriching support for plants and ecosystems. Compostable wipes are broken down in controlled environments and have a much shorter decomposition process than biodegradable wipes – approximately 9-12 weeks (63-84 days) (6). It is this closed loop system that ensures that products can be transformed into non-toxic, natural elements which provides soil amendments (nutrients), and eliminates the prospect of leaving any trace of product waste (post-consumer waste).
For us, product design which ensures that post-consumer processes mitigate or eliminate waste as much as possible from our natural environments is synonymous with how we enjoy and value our cycling lifestyle; a lifestyle based on simplicity and zero-waste. For consumers, we wish to be open and transparent in communicating what works, what doesn’t and importantly what makes a difference to people and planet when buying cleaning products (to name one).
So, does it make a difference? In short, yes.
Biodegradable wipes can cause more harm to our planet, at both local and industrial scale. They are not a suitable alternative to conventional wipes due to presence of microplastics and the undetermined time it takes to properly break down, no matter the convenience of price or accessibility.
As a company that is committed to sharing knowledge and being transparent with our sustainability practices, we will be exploring the full scope of biodegradable greenwashing and the benefits of composting through our articles. Our next edition will focus on flushable biodegradable wipes and its efficacy within Australia’s waste management systems.
List of references:
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721022142
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723035350