I Bet You Didn’t Know About This!

I Bet You Didn’t Know About This!

Did you know that cellophane is biodegradable?

I loathe plastic, but some products really need to be packaged in a see-thru bag. That’s why I use cellophane. Some of my wax melts, shower steamers, and other assorted products are sealed in cellophane.

Cellophane is Plant-based

That’s right – cellophane is made from plants and even gets its name from cellulose, the structural component of plants. Cellophane can be produced from easily grown crops such as hemp or farmed trees.

Cellophane was made commercially available in 1912. It was extremely popular as a wrap until the 60's but then saw a decline due to the rise in production of petrochemical-based plastics like single-use plastic bags that consumers and businesses are now trying to avoid today.

Today’s modern bioplastics are also plant-based, but the difference is that they are primarily made from corn – a crop grown on land that could be better put to use being eaten. This then gives cellophane a strong advantage, as it can be made from crops like hemp that can be grown in the harshest of conditions, and on land that would be avoided for food production.

Cellophane is Compostable

Cellophane will biodegrade – the time it takes to break down will vary depending on whether it’s coated or not. Uncoated cellulose film only takes 10-30 days to degrade when buried, and if coated with nitrocellulose it will degrade in approximately 2 to 3 months. This really is a fast rate for a plastic to naturally compost and considering many people wouldn’t know that this was possible, it’s a far more ‘green’ and eco-friendly business option than people think.

Use Cellophane Instead of Traditional Plastic!

As a bioplastic, cellophane is 100% biodegradable so it’s easy to dispose of – simply put it in your home compost bin and it will easily degrade amongst your other composted items.