Seeing the forest for the trees: what materials are there?

In the packaging industry, increasing attention is being paid to material use, origin, recycling and reuse. Customers are looking for materials with specific properties and for new possibilities for recycling or reuse. In this context, terms such as compostable, bio-based and biodegradable are often used. We explain the differences between these terms:

Biodegradable

A material is “biodegradable” if microorganisms such as bacteria can break it down to its elemental constituents (e.g., carbon and minerals). How long the organisms take to do this depends on the composition of the material and the conditions under which the breakdown process takes place. Biodegradability depends primarily on the chemical structure of the material rather than the raw material from which it is produced. Fossil substances can also be biodegradable due to their chemical structure, while some natural substances are not. If a material has good biodegradability, it can be certified. Certification ensures the utmost transparency – not only for the end customer, but also for companies that depend on reliable information from the manufacturer.

If a material is certified biodegradable, however, that does not mean that the materials can be thrown onto a household compost pile. Here the conditions for successful composting may not be optimal because, for example, the required decomposition temperature is not high enough. Certification of a material in terms of biodegradability therefore assumes a professional degradation process. A prerequisite for the actual recycling of the material is that a sufficient quantity of the used material is collected that makes recycling economically worthwhile. As long as the quantities are insufficient, biodegradable materials are processed with the residual waste and, at most, used for energy generation.

‘Bio-based’ material

Bio-based materials are made wholly or partly from raw materials of biological origin, such as wood, sugarcane or other plant-based raw materials. The term bio-based does not in itself indicate a fixed percentage of bio-based content; the relevant product specification or certification should be consulted for the exact composition. However, bio-based does not automatically mean that the material is biodegradable. Some bio-based plastics can be processed through existing recycling streams, depending on the type of plastic and the available local collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure.

Compostable

Compostable means that microorganisms break down the material under certain conditions within a certain time. In other words, a biological degradation process takes place. However, the conditions for this process are optimized and standardized (EU standard EN 13432): Something is considered compostable if it is at least 90% converted in an industrial composting plant within a maximum of six months. Industrial compostability is characterized by specific and controlled conditions in terms of humidity and temperature. Whether compostable materials are actually processed in an industrial composting facility depends on the available local collection and treatment infrastructure.

Note that products labeled “compostable” do not belong in household compost, because in most cases the backyard compost pile does not have the ideal conditions to compost properly.

Recyclable

Recyclable means that a material can technically be processed into raw material for new applications. Whether this actually happens in practice depends, among other things, on collection, sorting, material combinations and the available recycling infrastructure. Composite packaging can be more difficult to process than packaging made from a single material type. Glass packaging can be collected and processed through the appropriate glass recycling stream; always follow the local waste separation rules.
The same applies to compostable, bio-based and biodegradable materials: their actual processing depends on the available collection, sorting and treatment infrastructure.

Materials in our range

At unieketiket.nl, we aim to provide clear information about the composition, origin and specific properties of our label materials. Our range includes, among other options, materials containing recycled or plant-based raw materials and materials carrying an FSC® claim.

• One of the materials in our range is grass paper. It consists of 30% sun-dried grass fibers and 70% wood-based paper and carries the FSC® Mix Credit claim. The visible grass fibers give the paper its characteristic structure. The material can be processed and used for labels in a similar way to conventional paper.
• We also offer bio-based PE film. In this material, part of the fossil-based raw materials is replaced by raw materials of biological origin. Please consult the current product specification for the exact composition and bio-based content.
• For applications where the label and packaging need to be separated after use, we also offer removable labels and paper with alkali- or water-soluble adhesive. These properties can make it easier to separate the label from the packaging before further processing.
• Of course, it is also possible to order other materials on request. Please contact our customer service. We will be happy to give you information about the possibilities.

We continue to follow developments in materials, printing technologies and recycling processes and adjust our range when new material options become available. On our labels with recycled and plant-based materials page, you can find current information about the properties and composition of the materials we offer.