Eco-Lingo: Biodegradable

Eco-lingo is being tossed around left and right these days. We're demystifying common terms to help you figure out which words are the real deal... and which are just green jargon.


Today's word: Biodegradable

Definition: Think about the last thing you threw in the trash: was it the remnants of a piece of fruit, or a glossy candy bar wrapper? If it was the fruit -- or any plant or animal matter -- it's biodegradable. If it's anything else, it's probably not. Biodegradable products are made of natural raw materials that can decompose or rot into the earth without hurting the environment the way a non-biodegradable piece of trash will.

But that doesn't mean you can throw your biodegradable waste everywhere. When placed in a landfill, the waste's breakdown produces landfill gas, which contains methane and is stronger than carbon dioxide. So the best thing you can do with anything biodegradable: compost it!

Now before you get too excited, hear this: there aren't any technical requirements for a product to be proven biodegradable, which means a lot of companies can take advantage of the buzzword and slap it on things that could take hundreds of years to decompose, or that break down into some toxins. So instead of paying attention to the words on the packaging, ask yourself: If it from any plant or animal? That way you'll be able to tell if it's green jargon right away.

Verdict: The real deal...most of the time. If you're seeking out biodegradable products, check out the Biodegradable Store, where the cups are made of corn and the plates are made of sugarcane.