What does ‘biodegradable’ really mean? New soil data brings clarity for retail materials

Biodegradability is one of the most misused words in materials today. In retail, it often appears on packaging, fixtures, and hangers without clear evidence of what actually happens at end of life.

To address this, Candee.Bio has been working with its material partner to validate plant-based polymer performance using internationally recognised, third-party testing — not internal claims or marketing standards.

Independent testing carried out by Impact Solutions under ISO 17556:2019 evaluates how polymer materials biodegrade in real soil environments, measuring carbon dioxide evolution against a known natural reference: cellulose.

Two different biopolymer formulations were tested over extended periods, each using the same plant-based feedstock family but blended in different ratios. This variation was intentional — designed to test whether performance was dependent on a single formulation or consistent across material blends.

Both formulations exceeded the ISO threshold of 90% biodegradation relative to cellulose, confirming full aerobic biodegradation in soil conditions. One formulation reached this benchmark within 183 days, while the longer-running trial exceeded the reference material over extended testing beyond 550 days.

Crucially for retail, this demonstrates consistency. When materials made from the same feedstock family biodegrade reliably — even when blended differently — it gives confidence that downstream applications such as coat hangers, props, and display components will perform similarly at end of life.

For retailers navigating tightening regulation, microplastic concerns, and increasing scrutiny of green claims, independently verified data matters. Standards like ISO 17556 provide a common language — separating biodegradable materials that genuinely return to natural cycles from those that merely fragment or persist unseen.

As sustainability moves from aspiration to accountability, retail materials will increasingly need to prove what happens after use — not just how they perform on the shop floor.

Contact:
Website: www.candee.bio