Is biodegradable material really green?

Biodegradable material is one of the most misunderstood packaging options. Not because suppliers are lying, but because the terminology is truly complex and the actual processing infrastructure in Vietnam has not kept pace with the expectations set on packaging. Before deciding to label or choose a material, you need to understand three questions: what standard does the biodegradable material follow, under what conditions, and do those conditions exist in the market where you are selling.

Two different concepts are often confused

The first and most important confusion is between biodegradable and compostable.

• Biodegradable is an ambiguous term. Technically, most materials are biodegradable in a broad sense if given enough time, including petroleum-based plastics after hundreds of years. This term does not include timeframes or environmental conditions, so simply labeling packaging as biodegradable does not convey any meaningful information and is currently considered misleading according to the EU's Green Claims guidelines.
• Compostable has more specific standards. The EN 13432 standard requires materials to break down into small sizes within about 12 weeks and significantly biodegrade within about six months under industrial composting conditions. However, this standard is linked to industrial composting and does not automatically apply to home composting.

And within compostable, there is another layer: industrial composting requires high temperatures and controlled conditions, while home composting occurs at much lower environmental temperatures, requiring specific standards like OK compost HOME.

Add a confusing point: biodegradable does not mean compostable.

Bio-based plastics like bio-PE made from sugarcane have a molecular structure similar to petroleum-based PE. In terms of degradation, they can persist in nature for decades like conventional plastics. Plant-based raw materials do not equate to biodegradability. This is a common misunderstanding among customers when reading supplier documents, as the term "bio" appears in both concepts but has entirely different meanings. When cross-referencing information from material suppliers, it is advisable to seek additional neutral sources such as environmental agencies or academic literature for confirmation.

Deciding variable: infrastructure of the sales location

No matter how perfect the compostable materials are, without appropriate processing infrastructure, the environmental advantage is nearly nonexistent. Packaging that meets EN 13432 does not decompose faster than conventional packaging in landfill conditions.

The question Sinh Vũ always asks clients before advising on material direction is: After customers open this packaging, where will it go, specifically to which city or region, and is there a storage facility there?

Common mistakes when labeling

• Stating "biodegradable" without specifying conditions or time for degradation is the most common mistake and can easily be labeled as greenwashing.
• Achieving EN 13432 and labeling it as if it will decompose in the garden. This standard only holds value when it reaches an industrial composting facility.
• Confusing bio-based with compostable and then miscommunicating to the market.
• Do not check actual degradation conditions in the market before printing labels.

Risks are not only about bad reputation but also legal issues, especially when exporting to the EU, where regulations on Green Claims are tightening.

Labeling biodegradable without specific conditions is an unverified claim, and an unverified claim is not an environmental commitment.

EU Green Claims Directive (draft)

The viewpoint of Sinh Vũ

Sinh Vũ does not oppose biodegradable materials, but also does not advocate for greenwashing. For most Vietnamese clients selling domestically, Sinh Vũ often candidly states that using a single recyclable material (a type of material that is not combined, for easy sorting) or reducing the total amount of materials is a more practical direction with real impact, as recycling infrastructure, while not yet complete, is still more common than industrial composting infrastructure.

If you have a specific reason to choose compostable materials, for example, selling to a restaurant chain with a composting program, or exporting to a market with good infrastructure, then Sinh Vũ will assist in selecting the right standards and labeling according to the conditions. However, the standards for biodegradability are technical and legal areas that require material experts and testing units to confirm before going to market, especially for exports.