Biodegradable
Learn all about what it means for something to be biodegradable and why it’s better
for the environment.
What Does Biodegradable Mean?
When something is described as biodegradable, this means it can be broken down
naturally and return to nature without having a harmful impact on the environment. It
is more important than ever to make a conscious effort to use
biodegradable materials to make sure that we’re doing our bit to save the planet.
Here’s a few examples of materials that are biodegradable:
Wood
Paper
Food waste
When we say something is non-biodegradable, we are talking about materials that
can cause a lot of damage to the environment if they are not disposed of properly.
Synthetic man-made materials such as plastic, batteries and glass fall under this
category.
Plastic is everywhere. Take a look around the room and see how many objects you
can spot that are made of it. There’s a lot, right? Did you know that it can take up to
450 years for plastic to decompose? That’s more than four centuries. Learn more
about plastic pollution.
Biodegradable and Eco-friendly Products.
There are lots of eco-friendly alternative products out there that we can use in our
everyday lives. Have you ever thought about the impact that simple everyday
household items have on the environment? Take bin liners for example. If they’re not
disposed of properly, they can be extremely harmful to wildlife and their
surroundings. For this reason, biodegradable bin liners are a great alternative.
How to Dispose of Biodegradable Products:
Despite being better for the environment, biodegradable materials can still be
harmful if they are not disposed of correctly. You can drop them off at a composting
facility or at your local recycling plant.
How Can We Help Protect the Environment?
There are many ways we can do our bit to help protect the environment. Recycling is
a fantastic way to do this. Did you know that clothing can be made from old, recycled
bottles? That’s right! If we try to recycle plastic, it can be reused and turned into:
T-shirts
Jumpers
Jackets
Plant pots
Playground equipment
Paper can also be recycled and used for insulation to keep your home warm,
birthday cards or even as cat litter for your feline friends! Glass can be used time and
time again and turned into new jars or kitchenware, and even aggregate for road
bases.