To help you with this question we have created the little info-graphic below to explain the difference between Biodegradable v’s Compostable. Here are a couple of other useful tips that you might find valuable as there are so many different kinds of plastics and it's very easy to get confused.
Some plastic bags labelled ‘Green and Degradable’ or ‘Naturally Degradable’ contain an additive which makes them break down faster into smaller fragments. But these bags are made from normal plastic (polyethylene), so they are not in fact ‘green’ at all. The correct term for these ‘degradable’ bags is ‘oxo-degradable’.
The only products that break down into organic compounds (not plastic fragments) are not plastic in the first place. Compost-A-Pak® products are made from corn, but are completely plastic free and compostable. They take as long as a corn cob to break down - into organic compounds (not plastic fragments or microplastics) as they are predominantly made from third grade corn. This corn is unsuitable for human or animal consumption, and so is a waste product normally left to rot by farmers. The corn is sourced from international GMO free regions in high rain fall areas to minimise any irrigation requirements, and is produced on equipment re-engineered to minimise electricity consumption.
Products that are compostable at home like our Compost-A-Pak bags, can literally be added to your home compost. Those that are industrially compostable must be sent to a commercial composting facility in order to achieve the right amount of heat and light to break down.
Hopefully, this will change over time as more Councils adopt Commercial Composting Facilities where all food, garden and dog waste can be processed. Companies including SoilCo (Port Kembla) have a Commercial Composting Facilities which are scientifically controlled and turn the waste into (safe) horticultural products. The mind shift has begun and is progressing, we are grateful for this and hopeful for the future.