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Are cotton pads biodegradable? (5 green brands of cotton pads) 

By Our Lovely Earth
Page last updated: 12/26/2022 | Next review date: 12/26/2024
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Our Lovely Earth
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The article will discuss the biodegradability of cotton pads while also shedding light on topics such as:

  • Reusing
  • Recycling
  • Composting
  • Eco-friendly options 

Are cotton pads biodegradable?

Cotton pads may be biodegradable if they are made from organic cotton and processed without bleach or other chemicals. However, cotton pads made from chemical processing will not be degraded by microbes as the microbes can not get through the chemical layers.

Cotton pads are usually not accepted for recycling because cotton pads may be laced with either chemicals or contaminants. Most conventional cotton pads are intended for single-use only and are required to be disposed of which is not eco-friendly. 

In contrast to conventional, disposable cotton pads, there are greener options available. Those cotton rounds and pads are not only reusable (after wash) but also do include the use of more renewable raw materials such as bamboo or flannel (which is better than cotton in terms of water requirement and renewability).

Are all cotton pads biodegradable?

Most commercial cotton pads that are available in the market are not considered to be biodegradable because of the bleaching and synthetic processing that is done to achieve the utilitarian aspects of cotton pads. 

The materials a product is made from can tell a lot about certain environment-related aspects such as biodegradation, composting possibility, recycling, and eco-friendliness. 

When it comes to cotton pads, cotton pads are primarily made from cotton. Cotton is a natural, plant-derived material that is biodegradable as it has the necessary organic inside which can be ingested and processed by the microbes to degrade it. 

If we talk about simple cotton pads that are not processed or bleached chemically, such cotton pads will degrade in a matter of months and therefore, we will not be reluctant to term those pads biodegradable. 

However, the ground reality is not as simple as it may seem. Most cotton pads are bleached and processed with other chemicals that make the pads non-biodegradable as the microbes such as bacteria or other decomposers can not get through the chemical layer. 

Another possibility is that cotton pads may also come along with non-biodegradable materials such as plastics. In this case, too, cotton pads will not degrade by microbes as it is a known reality that plastic is a non-biodegradable material. 

Can you recycle cotton pads?

As per studies, it is not feasible to recycle cotton pads because of the use that cotton pads are made for. 

Cotton pads may be used for several purposes that do include factors such as use in hospitals, or use in health care procedures. Cotton pads may also be used for makeup application and removal. 

However, the catch here is that it is not advised to put cotton pads in the recycling bins because cotton pads may be contaminated. This can offer two major setbacks or disadvantages to the environment: 

  • Used cotton pads can damage or contaminate the recycling machinery 
  • Used cotton pads may contaminate the other recyclable materials 
  • The nearby workers may also be exposed to health risks and threats 

Therefore, the best thing to do with the waste from used cotton pads is to put them in trash cans. If the cotton pads are used in hospitals or healthcare procedures, then the waste will be categorised as household hazardous waste and you will need to treat used cotton pads accordingly. 

This includes the disposal of cotton pads in either red-coloured dustbins intended for hazardous waste or the disposal of cotton pads in hazardous waste management facilities. 

Can you compost cotton pads?

While it is entirely okay to compost cotton as it will act as a source of nitrogen, the composting of cotton pads is unfortunately not that simple and unequivocal. 

The possibility with used cotton pads is that the used cotton pads may be either contaminated or flooded with chemicals. In that case, it is not advised to put the cotton pads in the compost heap. 

However, if for some reason, you have unused cotton pads and you are certain that there are no other (non-biodegradable products) used and also that the cotton pads are not processed synthetically, you can opt for the composting of unused cotton pads. For this, you can rely on the following steps:

  • Find a suitable location in your home that is distant from your indoors but decently accessible 
  • You can compost either openly (compost piles) or in a compost bin. Both are fine. 
  • To initiate the process, make a heap made from compostable material 
  • Make sure to place the heap in a cool and dry place. Be sure to continuously and regularly mix it. 
  • Make sure that there is a decent ratio of brown and green matter. The brown matter will be the source of carbon whereas the green matter will be the source of nitrogen. Many suggest making the ratio 4:1. 
  • It is clear that dog hair will work as a nitrogen source whereas, you will need to add something as a carbon source 
  • Wait and let external conditions and microbes do the work 
  • The compost must be ready in 4-8 months 
  • Once the compost is ready, be sure to utilise it well and improve the soil conditions, produce, and fertility of your backyard or field.

Are cotton pads for single use?

It is not advised to reuse cotton pads because of the reason that cotton pads will be loaded with chemicals or contamination and reusing will put the health and the environment at risk. 

The best thing to do is to put the cotton pads in the trash cans. If the cotton pads are used in hospitals or healthcare procedures, then the waste will be categorised as household hazardous waste and you will need to treat used cotton pads accordingly. 

This includes the disposal of cotton pads in either red-coloured dustbins intended for hazardous waste or the disposal of cotton pads in hazardous waste management facilities.

However, one aspect that you can optimise from your end is to carefully use and utilise the cotton pads. The use of cotton pads can be optimised as such that there is less waste from the use of cotton pads. This can save the environment from a lot of environmental anomalies. 

Are cotton pads eco-friendly?

No, cotton pads can not be given the status of being eco-friendly because of the following reasons: 

  • Cotton pads may be made from non-biodegradable material (such as plastics) 
  • Cotton pads come in non-biodegradable, plastic packaging 
  • Cotton pads may be processed and bleached with chemicals
  • Cotton pads may not be recycled because of their use
  • Cotton pads can not be reused
  • Cotton pads can not be composted in most cases
  • Cotton pads are made from cotton which is a thirsty crop. However, most cotton pads are used for a single time only

What can you prefer instead? (5 green options) 

Owing to these factors, a greener switch is not just mandatory but inevitable. Therefore, you need to prefer eco-friendly alternatives to cotton pads that may be reused and made from eco-friendlier raw materials such as bamboo. 

When it comes to the use of cotton pads for personal purposes such as make-up, here is a list of eco-friendly cotton pads that may be preferred to redeem the negative effects curated by the use of conventional cotton pads:

  • EcoRoots organic cotton rounds
  • Kitsch cotton pads 
  • LastRound Organic cotton pads and rounds
  • Marley’s monsters
  • Seek bamboo 

The main catch here is that these cotton rounds and pads are not only reusable (after wash) but also include the use of more renewable raw materials such as bamboo (which is better than cotton in terms of water requirement and renewability). 

Conclusion 

It is concluded that cotton pads may be biodegradable if they are made from organic cotton and processed without bleach or other chemicals. 

However, cotton pads made from chemical processing will not be degraded by microbes as the microbes can not get through the chemical layers.

Cotton pads are usually not accepted for recycling because cotton pads may be laced with either chemicals or contaminants. Most conventional cotton pads are intended for single-use only and are required to be disposed of which is not eco-friendly. 

In contrast to conventional cotton pads, there are greener options available. Those cotton rounds and pads are not only reusable (after wash) but also do include the use of more renewable raw materials such as bamboo (which is better than cotton in terms of water requirement and renewability).

References

  • Ben. (May 11, 2022). Why Are Cotton Pads Bad for the Environment & What Are The Alternatives? Retrieved from: https://www.tinyecohomelife.com/are-cotton-pads-bad-environment