Bio-based or biodegradable?

Considering important differences between these terms and why companies making such descriptions must be sure of their claims.

by Nicola Pichel-Juan

Image © iStock.com/Thibault Renard

The terms ‘bio-based’ and ‘biodegradable’ are often used to support claims about the sustainability credentials of materials and products. However, they are easily misunderstood. Although these expressions have quite distinct meanings, they are often used interchangeably, which can lead to confusion. This article will explain what each term means and why it is important to ensure that they are used accurately.

Definition time

‘Bio-based’ means that an item is derived wholly or partly from renewable biological sources, such as plants, algae, or microorganisms. In the footwear industry (and many others) there is a clear focus on moving away from fossil-based to bio-based materials as a way to reduce environmental impacts. Bio-based materials could include:

materials that have traditionally been used in footwear manufacturing (for example, leather, cork and cotton)
materials that repurpose waste streams, often from the food industry
laboratory-grown materials such as mycelium
materials produced from other inputs including sugar cane, algae, and castor oil.

The article ‘The use of bio-based plastics’ discusses some of these inputs in more detail.

In contrast, ‘biodegradable’ refers to an item which can break down through microbial activity under specific conditions into natural substances, such as water, carbon dioxide and biomass. ‘Compostability’ is a type of biodegradability – if something is compostable, it means that it can break down in conditions found in industrial and/or home composting environments.

What is the difference?

Bio-based materials are not always biodegradable, particularly within the timeframes specified in compostability specifications such as BS EN 13432:2000. As an example, one criterion for this specification is that a material must achieve 90 per cent biodegradation in a period of six months. This is determined through testing in a controlled environment. It should also be noted that not all ‘biodegradable’ materials are ‘bio-based’ – fossil-based materials can also be biodegradable, depending on their composition and the environment into which they are placed.

Clear and accurate communication required

The definitions above explain two quite different concepts. It is therefore vital to ensure that the terms are used correctly to ensure that consumers are correctly informed and to avoid ‘greenwashing’. Legislation such as the UK’s ‘Green Claims Code’ is intended to stop the use of incorrect and unsubstantiated ‘green’ claims.

Any organisations looking to make claims about a material or product being ‘bio-based’ or ‘biodegradable’ needs to be confident that the claim is correct, which may require evidence in the form of testing. There are tests that can measure the bio-based content of a material, as well as establish its ability to biodegrade.

How can we help?

Please contact eco@satra.com for further information on bio-based and biodegradable materials, as well as testing to verify these properties

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 4 of the March 2026 issue of SATRA Bulletin.