FAQ

Alleen hogere temperaturen in combinatie met hoge vochtigheidsniveaus zullen leiden tot snelle compostering. Deze omstandigheden zijn aanwezig in industriële compostering en specifieke gemeentelijke faciliteiten.

Onder normale Europese weersomstandigheden duurt afbraak lang en hangt deze grotendeels af van de aanwezigheid van warmte, vocht en micro-organismen. Als een van deze drie elementen ontbreekt, verloopt de afbraak aanzienlijk trager.

Europese regelgeving met betrekking tot biodegradatie en compostering: de enige referentie is de Europese norm EN 13432, bedoeld voor biologisch afbreekbare verpakkingsmaterialen maar algemeen aanvaard voor andere typen bioplastics.

Sommige BIOCOVERS®-kwaliteiten zijn getest en dragen het OK Compost Industrial-label (TÜV AUSTRIA (voorheen Vinçotte) - een certificeringsinstantie erkend door European Bioplastics).

Deze kwaliteiten werden onderworpen aan 4 verschillende tests:

1. Test op biodegradatie (chemisch afbreken van het biopolymeer tot koolstofdioxide, water en biomassa)
2. Test op desintegratie (het fysiek uiteenvallen van het product in kleine fragmenten)
3. Test op ecotoxiciteit (testen of het gecomposteerde product geen negatief effect op planten uitoefent)
4. Test op zware metalen inhoud

"Biologisch afbreekbaar" en "composteerbaar" betekenen niet hetzelfde: een biologisch afbreekbaar product kan door micro-organismen worden afgebroken, maar dat betekent niet noodzakelijk dat het product wordt afgebroken tot hoogwaardige compost. Op deze manier kan een composteerbaar product nuttiger zijn dan een biologisch afbreekbaar product.

Composteerbaarheid hangt sterk af van de omgeving waarin het product wordt afgebroken. Aangezien elke omgeving (compost, bodem, water, …) verschillende temperaturen en micro-organismen heeft, kan de snelheid van het biodegradatieproces per locatie verschillen. Ook de dichtheid van de verschillende natuurlijke materialen leidt tot totaal verschillende levensduren.

• Bijvoorbeeld: in onze tuin kan wat plantaardig of boomachtig materiaal 10 of 20 jaar of meer aanwezig blijven.
• Hetzelfde plantaardig materiaal wordt snel gecomposteerd/biologisch afgebroken op een goed onderhouden gemeentelijk composteerterrein (temperatuur > 55-60°C + voldoende vocht) of in industriële composteerinstallaties. Door het succes van bioplastics groeit de ontwikkeling van dergelijke faciliteiten internationaal.

Aangezien onze biomatten zijn ontwikkeld voor langdurig gebruik en niet voor ‘kortere’ periodes zoals 1 of 2 seizoenen, zijn ze niet ontwikkeld voor het behalen van OK compost home (desintegratie van 90% van het materiaal binnen 6 maanden) of OK biodegradable soil (desintegratie van minimaal 90% van het materiaal binnen een periode van 24 maanden).

De kwaliteiten met het OK compost-label hebben een label + nummer.

EN 1. PLA is plant based. 

Plants need Carbon dioxide (CO2) 

- a primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities – as a raw material, they are build from it.

2. Creating Lactic Acid

The plants are put through a milling process extracting the starch (glucose). Enzymes are added to convert the glucose to dextrose via a process called hydrolysis. Microorganisms then ferment this dextrose into lactic acid.

3. Transforming Lactic Acid to Lactide

A proprietary two-step process transforms lactic acid molecules into lactide

4. Polymerizing Lactide into PLA

In the process of polymerization, the lactide ring is opened and linked together to form the long chain of polylactide polymer. These PLA granules are used in a wide-range of innovative products including coffee capsules, yogurt cups, baby wipes, agrotextiles, geotextiles...

The chemical process PLA granulate:

Production process Biofibres & biononwoven

•  For the production of PLA staple fibres and PLA nonwoven mats only energy, biobased colour additives, steam and water are needed. The main energy is electricity from own windmills.
• Biofibres and biomats can be produced on the same production lines as the ones needed for PP/PET/PA/PE… There is a low transition cost to switch the production from non-biobased to biobased products.
• All our BIOCOVERS® qualities are made of 100% biofibres PLA or biofibres PLA plus natural fibres (wool, hemp…). Given our production process there is no need of binders to turn these fibres into a nonwoven mat.

In quite some cases using biofibres and biomats means a responsible material choice and is mostly a step forward in the direction of a circular economy (cradle to cradle)

Biobased Polymer

A biobased polymer is produced from renewable raw materials (plant-based), meaning it is derived directly or indirectly from biomass.

• Direct: The biopolymer is made from plants rich in starch or sugar (e.g. sugar beets, sugarcane).
• Indirect: The biopolymer is 100% made from by-products or residual streams of the food industry.
  In practice, these residual streams are the most commonly used raw material.

In contrast, conventional polymers are derived from fossil-based raw materials, such as oil.

⚠️ Note: The term “bioplastics” is overly broad and potentially misleading.
We strongly recommend using the term “biobased plastics” instead.

Biodegradable Polymer

A biodegradable polymer is a material that is broken down in the soil by microorganisms.
The speed of this biodegradation depends on temperature, moisture, and soil conditions.

⚠️ Important considerations:

• Under European regulations, no specific time limit is defined — meaning the biodegradation process may take anywhere from a short to a very long time.
• In some cases, residues from the process may inhibit plant growth (e.g. certain residues from the citrus industry).

In other words:

• This is a vague and general term, and does not guarantee that the material is 100% biobased.
• In Anglo-Saxon countries, this term is often misused — for example, by claiming that PET is biodegradable. While PET may fragment, its micro-fragments will never fully biodegrade (or only to a very small extent).

Compostable Polymer

A compostable product is also broken down in the soil by microorganisms, but in this case, the end products include CO₂, water, and humus (compost) — a useful material for soil and plant growth.

Additional key aspects:

• The process must ensure no harmful substances remain. During plastic extrusion, additives such as stabilizers and colorants are often used — some of which may be harmful to flora and fauna. This is especially relevant in discussions about microplastics, plastic pollution in oceans, contaminated fish, and the declining fertility of marine species.
• The composted product must not negatively impact plant growth.
• According to European legislation, the speed of composting is a crucial factor.

Therefore, composting goes a step further than biodegradation and implies stricter and more useful outcomes.

To determine whether a biopolymer is compostable, four tests are required under the European composting standard EN 13432:

1. Biodegradation test (chemical breakdown into CO₂, water, and biomass)
2. Disintegration test (physical breakdown into small fragments)
3. Ecotoxicity test (ensures no negative effect on plant growth)
4. Heavy metal content test

Depending on the composting conditions and speed, products may receive certification such as:

• OK compost INDUSTRIAL:
  Requires 90% of the material to degrade within 6 months at 55–60°C and high humidity (>90% RH)
• OK compost HOME (soil):
  Requires 90% degradation within 6 months at 25–30°C

Regulatory limitations:

There is no existing “OK compost SOIL” certification that tests whether a biopolymer degrades over a period of 3 to 5 years or more.
Such long-term testing would be highly relevant for our applications (e.g. landscaping), but it is not currently feasible — mainly due to cost and complexity.

All compostable products are biodegradable,
but not all biodegradable products are compostable.

PS:

If insufficient oxygen is present during degradation (e.g. in old or sealed landfill sites), the process may result in the formation of methane.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping 23 times more heat than the same amount of CO₂.

Lifespan of Biocovers

How long does degradation and composting take?
(see also the section on composting)

• If the bio-nonwoven is stored in dry and cool conditions and does not come into contact with microorganisms, it will not biodegrade.
• When used in Europe, the biological degradation process will take a long time (>5 years), but not centuries as with conventional oil-based plastics such as PP, PET, PE, or PA.
• When used outdoors in tropical regions, where high humidity and elevated temperatures combine, biological degradation may occur within a few years or even faster.
• If composted at an industrial composting facility, the biological degradation/composting will occur within 6 months (90%).

Too long??
People often ask what the “right” lifespan of our biocovers is.
It turns out to be longer than initially expected — which, in landscaping and geotextile applications, is often more of an advantage than a disadvantage!

Sometimes it’s said that the fabric hasn’t composted after 5 or even 10 years — which to some, seems too long...

But let’s consider what we see in nature and rarely talk about:
In Europe, many types of wood used underground have a lifespan of 15 to 25 years, and when used above ground, they last even longer.
For example, a piece of oak lying in a garden can remain visibly intact for more than 20 years. These and many other European wood species only rot or compost after many years — sometimes after 20 years or more.
So, a long lifespan should not be taken as proof that a product cannot compost, nor should it cast doubt on its 100% plant-based origin.

According to the definitions in European regulation, we will never obtain an OK compost SOIL certificate — and that’s actually a good thing, since it would mean our product would compost within 12 months, which would be far too short for our intended use.

Many European wood types also take a long time to compost – see for example durability class 2:

The European standard EN 350-2 defines durability classes for most wood species used in Europe.
Each wood species is classified based on the natural durability of its heartwood (the central, dense part of the trunk), in terms of its resistance to rot and fungi.

The classification is based on a test where a 50x50 mm stake is placed into the ground. The longer the average lifespan of the wood, the higher the durability.
When used above ground, these wood types typically last about 10 years longer.

Testing is only done with heartwood, since sapwood is never considered durable and always falls into durability class V.

Wood Durability Class II:

• Lifespan between 15 and 25 years
• Examples: European Oak, Robinia (Black Locust), Chestnut, Western Red Cedar, and modified pine or spruce

- For the production of PLA granulate no other raw material than natural vegetal material and energy is needed
- The underlaying idea of biogranulate is ‘It comes from nature and it goes back to nature‘ :

•  For the production of PLA staple fibres and PLA nonwoven mats only energy, biobased colour additives, steam and water are needed. The main energy is electricity from own windmills.
• Biofibres and biomats can be produced on the same production lines as the ones needed for PP/PET/PA/PE… There is a low transition cost to switch the production from non-biobased to biobased products.
• In quite some cases using biofibres and biomats means a responsible material choice and is mostly a step forward in the direction of a circular economy (cradle to cradle)

1/ OK Compost label

Former: Vinçotte, now TUV (same European regulations)

3/Certification DS : OK Compost Industrial ( for all the 100% PLA qualities)