Buying questions
Is biodegradable nonwoven really biodegradable?
PLA and viscose can biodegrade, but only under the conditions the standard specifies. A compostable label on a product that ends up in landfill is a claim, not a fact.
At a glance
Specification at a glance
| Material | Breaks down in | Certification route |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | Industrial composting, 58 °C | EN 13432, ASTM D6400 |
| Viscose / cellulose | Soil and water, slowly | Depends on chemistry |
| PBS / PBAT blends | Industrial composting | EN 13432 |
| PP / PET | Not biodegradable | Recycling only |
The condition is the claim
EN 13432 requires disintegration, biodegradation and ecotoxicity limits under industrial composting conditions. A PLA wipe in a home compost heap or a landfill will not meet those conditions, so it behaves like any other plastic for decades.
What to say on the pack
The defensible wording names the route: industrially compostable to EN 13432. Wording that implies the product disappears anywhere is the kind that draws a regulator.
Check the claim before it goes on the pack
Send the claim you want to make and the market it sells in. We reply with what the material can support and what it cannot.
Questions
Common questions
Does PLA cost more?
Yes, typically well above polypropylene, and the supply is narrower, so lead times are longer.
Can PLA be spunbond?
Yes, but the processing window is narrow and the web is stiffer than PP at the same weight.
Is viscose compostable?
Cellulose based webs break down in soil over time. Whether the finished product may claim compostable depends on every component, including the finish.