FAQ
What do those green / eco expressions truly mean ?
Compostable also means to be biodegradable, however, the opposite is not always true !
Most of the man-made products require centuries to degrade and eventually leads to the secretion of poisonous substances in the environment, with irreparable damages. The biodegradation of a product varies according to its percentage of degradable particles and its speed. Therefore, it is necessary to be very critical when the product is presented as “biodegradable”. Some products biodegrade very well but many do not.
Amongst biodegradable products there is a further differentiating factor for those showing a higher quality namely “the compostability”. This category is designated as “compostable”. The special compostable packaging is regulated under the EU standard EN 13432, which states that 90% of its mass ought to degrade within a period of 6 months.
Four tests are required to meet this standard (ecological compatibility test, biodegradation test, physical resolution test, absence of heavy metals).
The sub-category of compostability is divided into 2 areas:
compostable in the private garden compost
« I am compostable in your private garden compost »
I am up to 100% made of plant or animal origin raw materials. I degrade as a result of compostability: The collection of compostable elements in the private garden compost has the aim of upgrading the waste.
There is no maximum time limit for the degradation in the private garden compost.
compostable in public/industrial composting facilities
« I am compostable in an industrial composting facility »
I meet the EN 13432 standard that states that 90% of my mass must degrade within a period of 12 weeks in an industrial composting facility.
With their OK COMPOST label BioApply products are guaranteed to degrade in 12 weeks in a public facility and in 15 days in a biomethane centre.
Made from vegetable, animal or marine material
« I am biobased »
means that I am made of plant, animal or marine origin raw materials. In BioApply all of them are guaranteed biodegradable.
Attention: it is important to pay attention to the percentage of the plant raw material component of a product. Too low content is not ecological at all. BioApply certified the quality of the plant raw material by its label “BioApply biodegradable solutions”. They are enhanced through its energy generation (electricity and heat) in combustion.
“I am recyclable” is defined as a product which raw materials can be recycled in a “biomethane – production” cycle: an industrial process that consists of a series of decomposition stages for organic matter leading to its transformation into biogas with methane as the main component while the biogas is converted into heat or electricity.
What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable?
The compostability of a product is its ability to transform into compost. It can be our food and garden waste… which, after decomposition, turn into humus usable for cultivation.
Compostable also means biodegradable, but the opposite is not always true.
Where do I properly dispose of my compostable carrier bag?
What is the maximum life span of compostable carrier bag? Can they decompose?
Composting instructions
Start by getting a ventilated green bin for kitchen waste : La P’tite Poubelle Verte or BioBox are both available in our shop. Get rolls of compostable bags well suited for the green bins. You will fin EcoCompobag 7L in our store. Combined, they will insure an odorless and leakless process.
You may dispose of fruits & veggie waste, coffee, tea bags, food leftovers, bread… We recommend to dispose of the full bags once or twice weekly.
Once the bag is full, you may dispose of it in your garden compost or at the collection point for the industrial compost..
Should you have your own home compost, we recommend : Kitchen waste may be blended with garden waste. Once a week, ventilate & move the waste to let it breath.
The compost pile must be disposed of after 3 months. The compost obtained must be blended again. Handle the humidity if necessary. Well done !
Using EcoCompobag
What is compost?
Can you add a print on the bags ?
In Switzerland, the Swiss Compost Association recommends in addition the traditional white lattice or honeycomb print so that the bag can be reliably recognized as compostable.
Where are BioApply carrier bags being manufactured?
What is the composition for a colouring?
What are oxo-degradable carrier bags?
The oxo-degradable carrier bags are made of fossil raw material (crude oil) and are neither biodegradable nor compostable.