Materials Information
Bagasse
Bagasse dishware is made from residual fibers salvaged from the grinding and extraction of sugar cane juice. It stands as an alternative to plastic products while being 100% compostable and biodegradable.
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PLA
The polymer PLA (Polylactic Acids) is produced from corn starch and has characteristics very similar to those of traditional plastics.
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PLA-lined cardboard
100% recycled rigid cardboard is coated on the inside with a layer of impermeable PLA, a polymer made corn starch. Both materials are 100% compostable and biodegradable.
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UTENSILS
Biodegradable | 100% compostable | |
This utensil is made of 30% polypropylene and additives and 70% cornstarch to ease their degradation.
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Derived from a corn byproduct, compostable utensils offer a superior ridigity compared to disposable plastic utensils.
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This type of dishware must be disposed in garbage cans for landfilling after use and is not safe for composting. |
It must be ideally disposed of in a brown bin destined for commercial composting where it will be transformed into fertiliser after a few weeks. Where composting isn’t available, the product can be safely landfilled where its decomposition rate will be slower. |
Biodegradable and compostable: what's the difference ?
What is a biodegradable product ?
The term biodegradable applies to any substance or product that would be decomposed by living organisms. Biodegradation depends on environmental factors (temperature, humidity, pH, oxygenation) and the chemical structure of polymers. The degradation time can thus vary greatly, depending on those factors (product and environment). |
What is a compostable product ?
A compostable product is always biodegradable, but biodegradable products aren’t always compostable. Canada’s standard for compostability is labeled CAN/BNQ 0017-088: for a product to be certified compostable, it has to be tested for full breakdown by microorganisms under 6 months. The base material also has to be fully safe for the organisms in its environment (ex: contain no heavy metals or harmful trace elements). A compostable product is thus a much safer and more sustainable option than one that is only biodegradable. Look for this logo to find certified compostable products! |