Biobased vs. Biodegradable
As sustainability of products becomes increasingly important, terms like "biobased" and "biodegradable" are gaining relevance. It is essential to understand the differences between them.
What does "biobased" mean?
The term biobased refers to products made from renewable raw materials. These raw materials come from animal, plant, or other organic sources. The biobased content of a product is determined using the radiocarbon method, which measures the proportion of carbon from biological sources present in the product.
What does "biodegradable" mean?
Biodegradability describes how well a product can be broken down into its basic components by bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Standardized tests, such as those following OECD methods, determine how quickly and completely a product decomposes after being exposed to microorganisms in a controlled environment. We use the OECD 301 B test method to assess our products.
Clear Differences
While the biobased content refers to the origin of the raw materials, biodegradability addresses the decomposition through microbiological processes. This distinction is important because not every biobased product is necessarily biodegradable. Additionally, products based on fossil raw materials can also achieve biodegradability.
Both biobased and biodegradable products have their place, particularly in oleochemistry. By choosing biobased and biodegradable solutions, we support the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
