Sustainability
Biodegradable packaging: what the word means and doesn't
Biodegradable packaging is made from material that microbes can break down, but the word promises less than it sounds. The FTC's Green Guides treat an unqualified biodegradable claim as saying the whole package will completely break down and return to nature, and they set a reasonably short period for solid waste at one year.
Almost nothing headed for a landfill breaks down in a year. So for most boxes, recyclable is the claim that holds up, and biodegradable is the one that gets companies in trouble.
By Talha LoneUpdated
What biodegradable means
Biodegradable means a material can be broken down by living organisms such as bacteria and fungi. The trouble is time and place. Paper breaks down in a compost pile or soil, and plastic marketed as biodegradable may need specific conditions that a landfill doesn't have.
The FTC's Green Guides say items headed to landfills, incinerators or recycling facilities won't degrade within that one year, so unqualified biodegradable claims shouldn't be made for them.
Biodegradable vs compostable vs recyclable
| Claim | Means | Proof to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Biodegradable | Breaks down by natural processes. No set time unless qualified | Evidence it fully breaks down, in what time, where |
| Compostable | Becomes usable compost, safely and in a similar time to other compost | A third-party mark, and a facility that accepts it |
| Recyclable | Collected and processed into new material | Access: qualify the claim if under 60 percent of consumers can recycle it |
Compost is covered in compostable packaging. Recyclable is the one most boxes can say honestly. The EPA's paper and paperboard data puts paper and paperboard at 68.2% in 2018 and corrugated boxes at 96.5%.
What to choose for a printed box
For a paper box, choose the claim you can prove. Recyclable paper with water-based coating is a plain statement with evidence behind it. Our paper-first materials are 100% recyclable, and aqueous coating recycles with the box. Lamination and window film add plastic, so skip them if you want the claim to hold.
- Use paper and board. Kraft boxes and cardboard boxes recycle in the same stream as other paper.
- Skip the plastic extras. Use a die-cut hole instead of a clear window.
- Say recyclable, not biodegradable. Unless you can show the whole box breaks down.
- Ask about certified fiber. FSC certified packaging covers what the labels mean.
The broader picture
Biodegradable is one of several ways packaging can claim to be better. Eco friendly packaging compares them all and shows what to claim.
When not to claim biodegradable
- Your box ends up in landfill. The FTC one-year test is unlikely to be met.
- Your box has lamination or film. Those layers don't break down like paper.
- You need a certified compostable food container. That's not what we make. Ask a food-service supplier.
- You need fewer than 50. Buy stock boxes with a printed sticker.
If recyclable paper fits, send the product's length x width x height. We draw the box for free and tell you before the proof if a finish would add plastic.
Frequently asked questions
What is biodegradable packaging?
Packaging made from material that microorganisms can break down. How long that takes depends on the material and where it ends up.
Is biodegradable the same as compostable?
No. Compostable items must become usable compost safely and in a similar time to what they are composted with. All compostable packaging is biodegradable, but not the reverse.
Can I put biodegradable on my box?
The FTC says an unqualified claim means the whole package completely breaks down within one year, which items sent to landfill generally won't. Say recyclable if that's what you can prove.
Is cardboard biodegradable?
Paper-based board can break down under the right conditions, but its best end of life is recycling. The EPA reports corrugated boxes at 96.5% recycled in 2018.
Are your boxes biodegradable?
We say 100% recyclable about our paper-first materials, with the caveat that lamination and window film add plastic.