Biodegradation is half the story. The other half is what the material turns into. Compost is meant to go back to soil, so anything that is left behind needs to be safe for the plants, animals and microbes that live there.
Why leather and its alternatives need checking
Every material carries some chemistry from its making. Natural fibres may have been treated, dyed or finished. Leather has been tanned. Newer biomaterials may include binders, coatings or plasticisers. When these materials break down in compost, anything that is not itself biodegradable stays behind, and sometimes becomes more concentrated as the bulk of the material disappears.
What an EcoTox test looks at
Our EcoTox testing quantitatively measures more than 200 components, including:
- metals
- volatile organic compounds
- phenols
- chlorinated and petroleum hydrocarbons
- nitrogen compounds
- pesticides
This gives a broad screen for chemicals of concern in the material and in the compost it produces, rather than relying on a short list of the usual suspects.
Context matters
A number on a report is only meaningful against a benchmark. Compostability certification schemes set limits for certain metals and other substances, and different soils and uses have their own thresholds. Part of interpreting an EcoTox result is knowing which of those comparisons actually matters for your product and your market.
Ecotoxicity is not the end of the story
Chemical measurements show what is present. They do not show what it does to a living plant. That is why we pair them with plant response testing, which asks the practical question directly: does a seedling grow normally in compost containing your material?
Better to find out early
Problems found in a laboratory are far cheaper than problems found by a customer or a certifier. If a material releases something unwelcome, there are often straightforward fixes, such as swapping a finishing chemical or changing a supplier, but only if you know about it early.
If you would like to know what your material leaves behind, get in touch and we will talk you through the options.
By Authenticae. Back to the blog