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biodegradable
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| LABEL REPORT CARD |
| How meaningful is the label? |
Is the label verified? |
Is the meaning of the label consistent? |
Are the label standards publicly available? |
Is information about the organization publicly available? |
Is the organization free from conflict of interest? |
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input? |
| Somewhat Meaningful |
No |
No1 |
No2 |
No3 |
No4 |
Yes |
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1. The label can have different meanings for different products.
2. There are no standards behind the label.
3. There is no independent organization behind the label.
4. The producer or manufacturer decides whether to use the claim and is not free from its own self-interest.
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LABEL CATEGORY:
General Claims |
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WHERE YOU'LL FIND THIS GENERAL CLAIM:
 CLEANING PRODUCTS
FLOOR, FURNITURE & WOOD CLEANERS
GLASS & METAL CLEANERS
KITCHEN & BATHROOM CLEANERS
LAUNDRY CLEANERS
OTHER CLEANERS
 PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS
BABY PRODUCTS
BATH PRODUCTS
HAIR CARE PRODUCTS
SHAVING PRODUCTS
SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
SUN PRODUCTS
 WOOD
PAPER
WOOD
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WHAT THIS GENERAL CLAIM MEANS:
There are no specific standards for the biodegradable claim. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued general guidelines on how the term should be used. According to their guidance, biodegradable should mean that a product is degradable when exposed to air, moisture, bacteria or other organisms and that the materials will break down and return to nature within a reasonably short time after customary disposal.
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WHO VERIFIES THIS GENERAL CLAIM?
There is no organization that verifies the use of the claim other than the company manufacturing or marketing the product. The FTC has issued guidance on how the term should be used, and took action in the early-mid 1990’s against several companies for making unsubstantiated, misleading, and/or deceptive biodegradable claims. But neither the FTC nor any other organization certifies that the claim is used correctly or truthfully.
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CONSUMERS UNION EVALUATION:
How meaningful is the label?
The “biodegradable” claim is somewhat meaningful but in some cases can be misleading. Biodegradable is a general claim that implies that a product or its packaging will break down and return to nature within a reasonably short time after customary disposal.
According to FTC guidance, the length of time it takes for a product to degrade may vary depending on where the product is disposed. For example, in landfills, where most garbage is taken, materials degrade very slowly, if at all. Landfills are designed by law to keep out sunlight, air and moisture, so as to prevent pollutants from getting into air and water.
On the other hand, a tree rootball container labeled “biodegradable” that is designed to be placed into the ground and which quickly disintegrates and biodegrades to allow the tree to grow would not be deceptive.
For products that go down the drain, such as detergents and shampoos, FTC guidance states that “a reasonably short period of time” would be about the same time that it takes for sewage to be processed in wastewater treatment systems. Most surfactants, the major components of cleaning products, have been tested by many and found to be biodegradable.
Of course, just because a product or ingredient is biodegradable does not mean it is healthy or safe for you or the environment. For example, DDT biodegrades to the compounds DDD and DDE, both of which are more toxic and more dangerous than the original DDT.
To learn more about what is meant by this term, as applied to a specific product, consumers must contact the manufacturer. If a manufacturer has solid scientific evidence demonstrating that the product will break down and decompose into by-products found in nature in a short period of time, then claiming that it is “biodegradable” is not deceptive.
Foods, drugs, and cosmetics are required to list their ingredients (with a few exceptions, such as fragrances in cosmetics), but household cleaning products are not required to disclose their ingredients (except for disinfectants or other ingredients considered to be antimicrobial pesticides).
Does an organization verify that the label standards are met?
No. The FTC can investigate labels after they have been put on the market if they feel they are deceiving the consumer, under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act to prevent deception and unfairness in the marketplace. However, the FTC does not routinely check or verify “biodegradable” claims.
Is the meaning of the label consistent?
No. The label can have different meanings for different products.
Are the label standards publicly available?
No, there are no standards behind the label.
Is information about the standard organization publicly available?
No, there is no independent organization behind the label.
Is the organization behind the label free from conflict of interest?
No. There is no organization independently certifying this claim. The producer or manufacturer decides whether to use the claim and is not free from its own self-interest.
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input?
Yes, the FTC sought public comments when its guidelines were developed.
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LINKS FOR MORE INFO:
Federal Trade Commission, "Sorting Out Green Advertising Claims"
Federal Trade Commission, "Complying with the Environmental Marketing Guides"
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