Biodegradable Products 101
Everybody wants to be environmentally friendly these days, unless you’re a Republican… or Texan. The question is how do you do it when it’s not easy to see the wood for the single use plastic?
Well, I’m here to help. I’ve devised this little guide to help you find that inner eco warrior within so you can help protect the planet for future generations.
What exactly does biodegradable mean?
Biodegradable products are those that can be broken down into their individual components over time. Think of them a bit like Lego but with less impact on the environment… and less likely to be smashed in temper after five hours of putting together your child’s latest set only to find a piece missing and your child has moved out to start a new life with his wife and kids in Scotland. What I mean is they can be easily dissembled naturally when their usefulness has run its course… unlike Lego… or your children.
Biodegradable items are broken down organically by naturally occurring biological organisms and processes. Paper is a good example. Most paper and cardboard items will disintegrate if they are discarded and won’t clog up rivers or float around in the ocean for unsuspecting marine creatures to accidently read Batman comics.
Conversely, most plastics and products made from oil are some of the least biodegradable products you can buy. Which is a sobering thought when you consider that Donald Trump’s wig will probably outlast your entire family line. Consumer packaging and disposable wrappers are the worst offenders and it’s impossible to turn on documentary channels these days without seeing images of plastic floating in the sea and distressed animals bearing the brunt of our own neglect.
But the tide is changing, and people are starting to make waves by altering what they buy so they don’t leave future generations, and our beautiful planet, in deep water. It’s time for you to stop being wet behind the ears and throw water in the face of… okay I’m done… Just buy biodegradable products to keep this world safe and clean for our children, grandchildren and every other animal on the planet.
What are the benefits of purchasing biodegradable products?
If the impassioned snark of my opening gambit hasn’t persuaded you of the benefits of biodegradable products, then what the fuck? Seriously. Go watch the Discovery Channel for a week. Or even better head down your local beach and volunteer with the many groups dedicated to cleaning up our oceans. But I fancy myself as a bit of a Wordsmith so let me see if I can persuade you a little further with a few facts:
Biodegradable products take less energy to produce
According to recent estimates the making of biodegradable plastics takes 65% less energy to produce than oil-based ones. If you forego plastic altogether and go for products made from things like paper, starch-based wrappings, or BAMBOO then this can be reduced further. Less energy = less pollution = less impact on the environment = totally inaccurate use of the equals sign.
Biodegradable products create less pollution
Because biodegradable products break back down into nontoxic components, they don’t harm the environment, poison water, or pollute the air. It is estimated that most plastics take up to 1,000 years to decompose. That’s a long time and with more and more plastic being created every day, our great grandchildren could be forced to swim to school in a sea of happy meal toys if we don’t act now.
Compostability
Composting biodegradable products is easy due to the way they break down and the resultant humic material (WTF?) is apparently a great nutrient and water retainer for plants in your garden. Yeah, I have no idea what any of that means (I live in a single bedroom apartment whose garden is a windowsill that houses an almost dead Peace Lilly) but for the gardeners out there this is probably a great thing. Although, don’t Google ‘is poo compost’ (I wasn’t sure) because nobody wants to know the answer to that question.
What type of biodegradable products can you buy?
In short, most things. Nearly all plastics can be replaced with biodegradable alternatives, like BAMBOO. Things like toothbrushes, coffee cups, make up pads, earbuds, you name it. The trick is finding the products in the first place.
I’m not gonna lie to you. I’m a 6’2”, 20-year-old athletic gentlemen and lying isn’t in my DNA (okay, 45-year-old, 5’6”, ‘robust’ man). Throughout this article I’ve been subtly trying to manipulate you into thinking about a biodegradable alternative to plastic that is readily available right now. You may have missed my delicate prompts so take the time to read the article again. No, I mean it, read it again (especially if you’re reading on Medium cos I get paid every time you do).
Done it? Good. Then you know the mythical environment saver that I’m talking about is BAMBOO.
What are the benefits of using bamboo instead of plastic?
Bamboo has long been utilized in the making of tools and for the placating of large black and white bears. In tropical climates where it normally grows, it can be found in things like building, manufacturing, decoration, or even as a food source.
Now-a-days, bamboo is becoming more and more popular in the west where its strength and biodegradability make it a popular replacement for plastic. But how is bamboo better for the environment than plastic? Well:
Sustainability
Bamboo is a sustainable resource. It grows at an astonishing rate and can be safely harvested without destroying the crop. In contrast cutting down a tree will kill the tree and any replacement will take many, many years to reach maturity. Think of bamboo like your favourite child — old beyond their years and a benefit to society. Whereas wood is like your unruly child — they will take years to grow up and by that time you’ll be dead.
Strength
Bamboo, when compressed, has a tensile strength greater than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps in his Predator glory days. It isn’t made to break and has the ability to bend so it can withstand fierce storms without being destroyed.
Versatility
There’s are so many things that bamboo can be used for. It’s strong enough to be used in construction, bendable enough to be moulded into decorative items, and light enough to raise a cheer at a Weightwatchers weigh in. Hell, bamboo can be fashioned into wind turbines if you want to create sustainable energy.
Bamboo is Incredibly Green
Bamboo absorbs more CO2 and produces more oxygen than an average hardwood tree. It grows quickly and is completely biodegradable so it will disintegrate over time. I thought we’d already discussed this.
So, BAMBOO huh?
The long and short of it is, we must stop using single use plastics. If we don’t, we are going to cause irreparable damage to the wildlife around us, our oceans, our environment, and our world. Bamboo is just one of many alternatives to single use plastics you can buy today. The next time you head to your local shop, take a good look at what you buy. Ask yourself, is there a biodegradable alternative. If there is, do us all a favour and pay the little extra cost it may incur. Your world thanks you in advance.
