Is all cellophane biodegradable? (7 benefits of true cellophane) 

This article talks about the biodegradability of all types of cellophane. Other topics covered would include:

• Is all cellophane biodegradable?
• How long will cellophane take to degrade and biodegrade?
• Is all cellophane compostable? 
• How to compost natural cellophane?
• How to recycle cellophane?
• Is all cellophane recyclable?
• Which cellophane is more sustainable?

Is all cellophane biodegradable?

No. Not all cellophane is biodegradable. As it turns out, there are two types of cellophane out there. One is made from cellulose (a plant-derived material) but the other is made from plastic (called propylene). 

The former is called true cellophane as it is made from cellulose (hence the name cellulose) whereas the latter is made to look and feel like cellophane, but it is plastic instead. Hence, it is important to know the difference and choose accordingly. 

It is well-established in the literature that plastics are synthetic polymers that may remain in the system for up to a thousand years. These synthetic polymers do not offer any nutritional content that can be ingested by microbes and therefore, microbes can not break them down. 

By definition, biodegradation is the breakdown by the action of microbes in about 180 days. There are two factors that render a material biodegradable or not. These include: 

• The time taken by any material to decompose 
• The environmental impact of that particular material 

In our case, natural cellophane is eco-friendly and biodegradable but synthetic one is the one that concerns us since it has a significant impact on the environment. 

How long does cellophane take to degrade?

The answer to this question also varies on the type of cellophane discussed. As a general rule of thumb, naturally-derived cellophane will break down more readily since it is made from natural, plant-based materials. 

On the other hand, synthetic cellophane is made from synthetic polymers and therefore will not biodegrade readily. However, the said may degrade into microplastics within a decade or two. But this degradation will be of no benefit to the environment. 

The exact time will vary based on external conditions such as aeration, sunlight, microbes et cetera. Natural cellophane may degrade in about 30 days whereas, it may take several years for synthetic cellophane to decompose. 

Is all cellophane compostable?

Just like biodegradation, not all cellophane can be composted. Synthetic cellophane can not be composted because of its fervent artificiality and synthetic nature. 

However, the green cellophane (derived from cellulose or hemp) can be composted and the compost can be used as a natural fertiliser to improve the organic content of the soil and water retention profiles of the soil. 

When it comes to composting natural cellophane, there are two options that you may want to consider. One is to have the cellophane composted in composting centres. For this, all you have to do is to give your cellophane (and other compostable material) to these centres and the rest will be managed by them. 

However, you can also compost cellophane at home and here is how you can do that. 

How to compost natural cellophane at home?

Let us discuss some of the key actions and points you need to be mindful of to be able to compost natural cellophane at home. These include:

• Start off by making sure that what you have is true cellophane made from natural materials and that there is no addition of chemicals or synthetic materials whatsoever 
• 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 (including natural cellophane) 
• 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. 
• Wait and let external conditions and microbes do the work 
• Once the compost is ready, be sure to utilise it well and improve the soil conditions, produce, and fertility of your backyard or field. 

Is all cellophane recyclable?

No, here again not all cellophane can be recycled. Studies suggest that natural cellophane is less likely to be recycled as compared to propylene which is recycled more readily. 

Recycling is a process of reusing a material after due changes and modifications. It is an efficient process to ensure environmental benefits such as waste conservation, resource conservation, better energy management, and decreased impacts of non-biodegradable waste.

Since one form of cellophane is non-biodegradable, recycling really is a saviour here because by recycling this cellophane, you can ensure that there is no damage posed to the environment. 

How can all cellophane be recycled?

Therefore, let us talk about how all cellophane can be recycled. There is not much that you need to do but here are a few steps that you need to take to have your cellophane recycled. 

• You can dump the cellophane in recycling bins. These are green-coloured bins that are intended specifically for recyclable waste. 
• You can also drop the cellophane in recycling facilities. This way, you take one step further to properly ensure that the cellophane is recycled. 
• You can also have a pick-up appointment scheduled to have the local authorities collect cellophane (and other recyclable material) from your home 

Which cellophane is more sustainable: natural or synthetic? (7 benefits of true cellophane) 

Which type of cellophane is more eco-friendly? The answer, without question, is that natural cellophane is way better and more sustainable as compared to synthetic cellophane. The stance may be developed on the following points: 

• Natural cellophane is derived from bio-renewable material
• Natural cellophane is biodegradable 
• You can compost natural cellophane which can substitute synthetic fertilisers 
• Natural cellophane will not degrade into microplastics  
• Natural cellophane does not harm the ecosystems as is the case with synthetic cellophane 
• Natural cellophane does not require the expense of fossil fuels which release GHGs into the atmosphere
• If ended up in landfills, natural cellophane will not cause significant environmental degradation but its counterpart will be non-biodegradable while also emitting toxic fumes and materials into the environment and atmosphere 

Conclusion 

It is concluded that not all cellophane is biodegradable. There are two types of cellophane out there. One is made from cellulose (a plant-derived material) but the other is made from plastic (called propylene). 

The former is called true cellophane as it is made from cellulose (hence the name cellulose) whereas the latter is made to look and feel like cellophane, but it is plastic instead. Hence, it is important to know the difference and choose accordingly. 

Natural cellophane can be composted (if it is 100% natural) but you can not compost synthetic cellophane. However, propylene can be recycled which is the next best thing to do. 

Natural cellophane is way better and more sustainable as compared to synthetic cellophane because of aspects such as pollution, degradation, and composting.

References

Is cellophane biodegradable? Retrieved from: https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/is-cellophane-biodegradable.php#Is_Cellophane_Biodegradable

Schildgen, Bob. (October 12, 2017). Is cellophane better than plastic? Retrieved from: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2017-6-november-december/ask-mr-green/cellophane-better-plastic

Shavren, Lisa. (March 14, 2017). Four things to consider when choosing cellophane packaging. Retrieved from: https://www.transpack.co.uk/blog/four-things-to-consider-using-cellophane-packaging/