Okuzeka
Environment & Climate vocabulary · Waste and Recycling

Biodegradable

Meaning in environment & climate, with examples

/ˌbaɪoʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbəl/adjectiveCommon term

In environment & climate, biodegradable means: Able to be broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi and other living things into water, carbon dioxide and natural materials.

In Turkish: biyobozunur, biyolojik olarak parçalanabilir

How it is used

Used on packaging, in product specifications and in waste policy: biodegradable plastic, biodegradable packaging. Specialists ask under what conditions and how quickly a material breaks down. 'Compostable' is stricter: the material must break down in a composting process within a set time.

Example sentences

  1. Biodegradable does not mean the bag will disappear quickly in the sea.

  2. We replaced the plastic film with a biodegradable alternative made from plant starch.

Common collocations

  • biodegradable plastic
  • biodegradable packaging
  • fully biodegradable
  • biodegradable material
  • compostingThe controlled natural breakdown of organic waste, such as food scraps, garden waste and some paper, into a dark, nutrient-rich material that is used to improve soil.
  • single-use plasticPlastic items designed to be used once and then thrown away, such as bags, straws, cups, cutlery and much of today's packaging.
  • microplasticsVery small pieces of plastic, less than 5 millimeters long, that come from larger items breaking down, synthetic clothing, tires or products such as cosmetics.
  • greenwashingMaking misleading claims that a company, product or investment is better for the environment than it really is, for example through vague labels or selective data.

More terms: Waste and Recycling

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: