compostability
Ability to decompose
Compostability is the capacity of a material to break down into organic matter through natural decomposition.
The term appears most often in discussions of packaging and disposable products: The company touts the compostability of its new cups.
Something with high compostability will decompose relatively quickly in a compost pile or industrial facility, returning nutrients to soil rather than persisting in landfills.
Microbial breakdown of organics
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- rottingOrganic matter decomposing
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
microorganisms · bacteria · fungi · decomposers · aerobic · anaerobic · carbon cycle · nitrogen cycle
Discarded edible remnants
- kitchen scrapsDiscarded cooking byproducts
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
- banana peelsDiscarded yellow fruit casings
- coffee groundsUsed brewing residue
eggshells · cardboard · newspaper · sawdust · straw · wood chips · manure · tea bags
Regenerative resource management model
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- closed-loopSystem with feedback control
- regenerativeAble to renew itself
eco-design · lifecycle · sustainable materials · environmental impact · soil health · carbon sequestration
Able to decompose naturally
- greenwashingFalse sustainability claims
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- timeframeDesignated duration for something
- testingExamining to evaluate
biodegradation
Microbial breakdown of organics
humus · microorganisms · bacteria · fungi · decomposers · aerobic · anaerobic · carbon cycle · nitrogen cycle · soil amendment
food scraps
Discarded edible remnants
- kitchen scrapsDiscarded cooking byproducts
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
- banana peelsDiscarded yellow fruit casings
coffee grounds · eggshells · cardboard · newspaper · sawdust · straw · wood chips · manure · tea bags · paper towels
circular economy
Regenerative resource management model
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- closed-loopSystem with feedback control
regenerative · eco-design · lifecycle · sustainable materials · environmental impact · soil health · carbon sequestration
biodegradable
Able to decompose naturally
- greenwashingFalse sustainability claims
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- timeframeDesignated duration for something
compostabilitynon-biodegradability
Resistance to natural decay
permanence · indestructibility · persistence · imperishability · durability
compostabilityforever chemicals
Indestructible industrial compounds
disposability · toxicity · single-use plastic · ecological harm
composition, compost, composite, decompose, decomposition, decomposed, composting, composted, compostable