Is Crayola Air Dry clay biodegradable? (5 ways to keep Crayola Air Dry Clay from disintegrating)

by

This article covers some important questions regarding Crayola Air Dry clay and addresses the following topics:

  • What is Air Dry clay and what are its uses?
  • Is Crayola Air Dry clay better than other similar products?
  • Is it a sustainable product?
  • Is it biodegradable?
  • Why should it be recycled and reused?
  • What is the difference between Crayola Air Dry Clay and polymer clay?
  • Is Crayola the best Air Dry Clay?
  • FAQS

Is Crayola Air Dry clay biodegradable?

Crayola Air Dry clay is biodegradable because it is made of natural ingredients which include cellulose fibres, sand, and plaster.

Polymer clay is made up of PVC which requires material extraction, heating, and conversion which will require large quantities of energy. Air Dry clay is a simpler product of natural ingredients. Which require less energy and water usage. Air Dry clay has more benefits than polymer clay. 

Crayola Air Dry clay is a much greener option than polymer clay because it does not harm human society and the environment (air, water, soil) in any way. It can be entitled as a green product. It is easy to handle and uses less or no energy. 

Although Crayola Air Dry clay packaging is recyclable, it is considered not a good option since the recycling of Crayola Air Dry clay consumes a significant amount of energy. 

What is Air Dry clay and what are its applications?

When we think of clay and its uses, the first thing that comes into our mind is brick. We know clay is used to make bricks and the basic process follows that clay is moulded by adding water and then it is baked at high temperatures in a kiln which gives the bricks a strong shape. The process requires a large amount of energy.

Air Dry clay is a type of clay made of cellulose fibres and sand. It is soft and does not require to be baked to make it firm. As the name suggests, it is an “air-dry” clay which means that it dries and solidifies by just sitting there. It usually takes 24-48 hours for air clay to dry and can take up to 1 week in case of larger amounts are used.

Air Dry clay is mostly used as a modelling agent due to its versatility and ease of use. It is used to make sculptures. Air Dry clay also is very popular as “Kids’ clay” as it is used by children to make different models in schools. It is non-toxic and safe for children to use.

What is the difference between Air Dry clay and polymer clay?

Polymer clay is made of synthetic materials like PVC and it requires baking at high temperatures to properly solidify because its water-proof which means that it cannot be used.

Air Dry clay on the other hand is made of cellulose fibres and does not require baking. In fact, baking Air Dry clay would most probably ruin its shape and it can be used any number of times by just adding water. Air Dry clay is porous and that is why it is not water-proof.

Is Crayola the best Air Dry clay?

There are multiple companies manufacturing air-dry clay and Crayola is one of the major producers of Air Dry clay. It depends on the composition of materials and the intended. The Air Dry clay prepared for children to use might be different from what is for professional sculpture makers which needs a little different composition.

Crayola has been listed as one of the top Air Dry clay producers for kids because of its ease of use and due to the fact that it dries very quickly in less than 24 hours which makes it ideal for school projects and that is why it is very popular among children.

Does Crayola Air Dry clay disintegrate? (5 ways to keep it from disintegrating)

Yes, it does disintegrate after some time but it is kept carefully that the process of disintegration can be slowed down and its usage can be prolonged. Here is how to keep it from disintegrating.

  • Do not use too much water during modelling
  • Do not put in outside
  • Do not put it near a wet area
  • Keep it enclosed in a box
  • Do not expose to external humidity 

Is Crayola Air Dry clay biodegradable?

Biodegradability of a product means that it is completely made from or most of its ingredients are made from natural substances that can be degraded in nature in less than a year, unlike synthetic non-biodegradable products which can remain on the planet for thousands of years and harm the environment. 

Yes. Like all Air Dry clays, Crayola Air Dry clay is also biodegradable because it is made from cellulose fibre and sand. So it does not create any waste that will remain on the planet for years to come.

Is Crayola Air Dry clay reusable?

Yes, this is perhaps its most important quality that it can be reused multiple times and for multiple purposes, unlike polymer clay which when moulded cannot be reused.

Air Dry clay can be moulded by adding water and once it has dried it can again be brought back to its original shape due to the fact that it is not waterproof and is porous so it can be used a number of times. 

Does using Crayola Air Dry clay generate any waste?

No, we have discussed earlier that Crayola Air Dry clay is non-toxic, biodegradable and reusable so it does not create waste in any form. The only concern remains with the packaging used by Crayola.

Crayola states that they use 100% recyclable packaging to package their clay but it has to be understood that clay packagings are so small that it becomes impractical to recycle them. It practically costs more to recycle than to make new ones because the materials used are cheap.

The only sensible way to use Crayola Air Dry clay is to not throw it away as it can be reused. One can save it for some other time, give it to a friend or even sell it! This way, a lot of waste products can be slowed down. 

Still the packages are so small that they do not significantly impact the environment if sent in a landfill due to the fact that Crayola Air Dry clay is not a daily-use product. Still, it would be better for Crayola to shift its packaging to biodegradable materials. That will not only enhance their image but will make their product 100% green and sustainable.

Is Crayola Air Dry clay a sustainable product?

Yes. As it happens Crayola Air Dry clay can be considered a sustainable product because it uses resources which are in abundant supply: sand and cellulose fibres and the fact that it does not cost a lot of energy in manufacturing and it does not actually alter the composition so it means that it still remains clay which is sent back to the planet.

These qualities make Crayola a safe, non-toxic, and sustainable product. So the next time you worry about using Crayola Air Dry clay whether it is safe for the environment. Use it with your mind at ease.

How to dispose of Crayola Air Dry clay properly?

The proper answer would be to “not” dispose of it. As discussed earlier, the product can be used multiple times and for different things. Throwing it away will do no good. It is not toxic and does not release any chemicals so it won’t hurt you to stay in your garage. But if you decide to throw it, throw it with your normal trash because it is safe to do so. 

Conclusion

It is concluded that Crayola Air Dry clay is biodegradable because it is made of natural ingredients which include cellulose fibres, sand, and plaster.

Polymer clay is made up of PVC which requires material extraction, heating, and conversion which will require large quantities of energy. Air Dry clay is a simpler product of natural ingredients. Which require less energy and water usage. Air Dry clay has more benefits than polymer clay. 

Crayola Air Dry clay is a much greener option than polymer clay because it does not harm human society and the environment (air, water, soil) in any way. It can be entitled as a green product. It is easy to handle and uses less or no energy. 

Although Crayola Air Dry clay packaging is recyclable, it is considered not a good option since the recycling of Crayola Air Dry clay consumes a significant amount of energy. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Is Crayola Air Dry clay biodegradable?

Is Crayola Air Dry clay better than polymer clay?

Yes, Crayola Air Dry clay is better than polymer clay because it is made of natural materials and that is why it is biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable. Also, Air Dry clay does not compromise on quality and utility too. 

Is it safe to throw Crayola Air Dry Clay in trash cans?

Yes, it is safe but not advised as such. The primary reason is that Crayola Air Dry clay can be reused and recycled and disposing it of will not cash these benefits. 

References:

Leave a Comment