Capable of being broken down by microorganisms. Breakdown products can often be re-used by other organisms as food and energy sources.
Capable of being broken down by natural chemical or biological processes into simple substances not harmful to the environment.
A material that breaksdown or dissolves biologically or by natural means.
Capability of organic matter to be decomposed by biological processes.
Material that over a period of time is gradually broken down and absorbed by the body
material which breaks down or rots when attacked by bacteria in the presence of moisture and air.
Compare? Capable of decomposing under natural conditions.
Able to be broken down by microorganisms into simpler forms.
Biodegradable means capable of being decomposed back into the soil by biological agents, especially bacteria. "Biodegradable" is often used to refer to items that are to be disposed of. Environmentally sound landscaping and gardening often takes into account whether materials are biodegradable. For instance, plastic might be rejected as a material for mulching because it is not biodegradable.
the natural ability of a chemical substance to be broken down into less complex compounds.
Waste material composed primarily of constituent parts that occur naturally, are able to be decomposed by bacteria or fungi, and are absorbed into the ecosystem. Wood, for example, is biodegradable, while plastics are not.
Material which is capable of being broken down by plants (including fungi) and animals (including worms and micro-organisms). In municipal solid waste, the property is generally attributed to the following fractions: paper and card, food and garden waste and a proportion of textiles.
capable of being broken down by air, water, and bacteria
Any material that is capable of being broken down rapidly by the natural processes of microorganisms.
Capable of being decomposed or broken by biological organisms or action. Generally refers to detergents and cleaners.
The ability of a substance to be broken down physically and/or chemically by micro-organisms. Many chemicals, food scraps, cotton, wool and paper are biodegradable; plastics and polyester generally are not.
Property which means a substance can be broken down by bacteria and other organisms.
capable of being broken down naturally into environmentally harmless products
capable of decaying and being absorbed by the environment.
Capable of being decomposed by the action of biological processes.
When a material is decomposable by soil life forms. Organic material is biodegradable.
when a substance is able to be broken down by microorganisms into basic elements like carbon dioxide and water. (See "decompose.")
materials that readily decompose to become soil over time.
A process by which large, complex organic molecules are broken down to smaller inorganic molecules through the action of microorganisms.
A material that is capable of decomposing in nature within a relatively short period of time.
ability to be broken down into natural water products.
capable of being broken down by living organisms, principally bacteria and fungi.
capable of being decomposed by e.g. bacteria; "a biodegradable detergent"
Capable of being broken down by bacteria into basic elements and compounds. "Biodegradable" plastics only disintegrate into smaller pieces or plastic dust.
Able to be decomposed readily by the action of micro-organisms. Biodegradation or biodecomposition is the process whereby micro-organisms utilise substance as a source of energy and bring about its destruction. Describes normal biological processes in soil, water and sewage.
Organic materials such as food scraps, paper and grass clippings that are capable of being broken down by microorganisms into simple compounds such as carbon dioxide, water or minerals.
material that will decompose under natural, biological conditions and processes
A material is said to be biodegradable when it can be broken down, within given parameters of time and environment, by naturally occurring bacterial into simple substances which do not harm the environment.
a substance that can be broken down by microorganisms into simple, stable compounds such as carbon dioxide and water.
Able to be broken down into nonharmful substances by the action of living organisms, especially bacteria.
A material that will decompose quickly as a result of the actions of microorganisms, sunlight, chemical attack, etc.
The ASTM defines biodegradable as "capable of undergoing decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic compounds, or biomass in which the predominant mechanism is the enzymatic action of microorganisms, that can be measured by standardized tests, in a specified period of time, reflecting available disposal condition." It is important to note that the definition of biodegredation should specify a time limit. If the biodegradation process is sufficient to mineralise organic matter into carbon dioxide or methane respectively, water and biomass, the material can be termed "biodegradable".
The ability of a substance or material to break down into harmless substances by the action of living organisms.
materials that can decompose, usually by bacteria or sunlight, into basic components. Most organic materials (paper, grass clippings, food scraps), under the right conditions, are biodegradable.
Products in wastewater that can easily be broken down or digested by, for example, sewage treatment.
A substance's ability to decompose naturally.
Material that will biodegrade, facilitated by the activity of micro-organisms.
A material that naturally breaks down in the body, such as the hyaluronic acid found in Puragen.
Material that can be broken down by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi; includes most organic waste.
A material capable of being broken down by microorganisms.
pertains to an organic material capable of decomposition as a result of attack by microorganisms.
The property of a substance allowing it to be broken down by microorganisms into simpler components (atoms, molecules, or compounds). The simpler components are later used by other organisms—usually plants, insects and microbes.
capable of being decomposed by organic processes into elements found in nature when under conditions that allow decomposition. The term may be used in marketing products, sometimes without relevance to whether available disposal methods will allow decomposition.
Any material that can be broken down naturally i.e. by bacteria, fungus and digestion.
The ability to dissolve by natural means.
A material that breaks down biologically in the body, such as the hyaluronic acid in RESTYLANE.
An organic materials capacity for decomposition as a result of attack by microorganisms. Sewage treatment routines are based on this property. Phosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT) are not biodegradable.
Capable of being decomposed by microorganisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic). Most organic materials, such as food scraps and paper are biodegradable.
A material that nature breaks down into small pieces and basic elements by rotting and bacterial action.
materials that can be broken down to simpler forms by bacteria and other organisms.
Capable of being biologically decomposed.
Able to be decomposed by biological agents, such as bacteria.
something that, after it is thrown away, can be broken down over time by living organisms into inorganic compounds. The rate of biodegradation depends on specific conditions such as the amount of air and moisture.
Able to be broken down by the body.
Capable of being decomposed by living organisms, especially by bacterial action
Able to be broken down by bacteria or other living organisms.
A material that is capable of decomposing naturally within a short amount of time.
Able to be broken down by organisms to become part of Earth's natural resources.
Capable of being readily decomposed by the action of microbes.
(BOD) - chemical substances which can be converted to materials harmless to the atmosphere by micro-organisms.
Capable of being broken down by the action of microorganisms or enzymes.
Capable of being decomposed ( broken down) by natural biological processes.
A substance that can be broken down into harmless products in the environment.
A substance which can be broken down in nature or by composting after use.
describes any material that can be broken down by biologic action.
a substance that is able to be broken down by a natural process.
Capable of being eaten or otherwise decomposed by some kind of living creature. Bacteria and fungi are the main culprits; we usually use the word edible for things that can be eaten by animals. It is important to consider the timescale involved - paper is biodegradable, but can kick around for a very long time before succumbing. Most synthetic polymers are not particularly biodegradable, but many are susceptible to breakdown by ultraviolet radiation from the sun and will crumble away in about the same time as an equivalent sheet of paper.
Able to be broken down into simpler products by microscopic plants and animals.
Subject to decomposition by biological means, especially by micro-organisms.
organic matter that is able to decompose or break down through natural bacterial action.
able to decompose by the action of microorganisms
Material that can be broken down into simpler substances (elements and compounds) by bacteria or other decomposers. Paper and most organic wastes such as animal manure are biodegradable.
Materials that have the ability to be broken down into simpler components by living organisms.
Subject to biological decomposition into simpler biochemical or chemical components.
Capable of being broken down (decomposed) by microorganisms.
the term given to a substance that can be broken down, i.e. biodegrades, by the natural processes of decomposition.
The ability of a substance to be broken down into simpler, smaller parts by a biological process. Many plastics are not biodegradable.
able to decompose naturally. Helped by soil chemicals.
items which decay and rot naturally into harmless substances through the action of the weather and living things. We often put biodegradable rubbish into compost heaps.
Capable of being broken down by living organisms into inorganic compounds. Ideally all waste should be biodegradable.
Capable of decomposing rapidly under natural conditions.
Has the capability of being decomposed by naturally occurring micro-organisms.
Material capable of being broken down, usually by microbes into basic elements. Most organic wastes are biodegradable. 'Organic' means material produced from living or once-living organisms such as plants or animals.
A substance that decomposes as the result of activity by bacteria and other living organisms.
Organic materials (such as paper, food scraps, leather, natural cloth fibres, grass clippings and wood) that can be broken down by naturally occurring bacteria and other micro-organisms, usually in the presence of moisture and oxygen, into simple, stable compounds such as carbon dioxide and water. Biodegradable plastic A plastic that can be broken down by micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi; as generally used, the term does not necessarily mean complete degradation into carbon dioxide and water.
Any substance which can be easily broken down by biological means. Most substances will only biodegrade quickly in the right circumstances, usually in the presence of air, not available in landfill. Products that biodegrade may also break down into toxic substances.
The gradual degradation of the integrity and molecular structure of materials provoked by ambient environmental agents such as sunlight, rain, earth-borne bacteria etc. Biodegradability is an inherent characteristic of starch and starch derivatives and has been exploited in the development of biodegradable detergent ingredients and thermoplastics based on starch.
Capable of being broken down by decomposers.
Capable of being broken down into non harmful products by the action of living things.
Such materials are any organic substances that can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler, more stable compounds. Most organic waste such as foods, paper, etc are biodegradable.
Capable of being decomposed by biological means (e.g. metabolic processing by microorganisms).
Able to break down or decompose rapidly under natural conditions and processes.
capable of decaying or being degraded through the action of living organisms
A "biodegradable" product has the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment.
degradable under natural conditions, e.g. in landfill.
Capable of being broken down by microbial action over time.
A material that will decompose into naturally occurring, harmless components with exposure to air, sunlight and/or moisture.
Able to decompose or break down through natural bacterial action: Substances made of organic matter are biodegradable.
A characteristic of materials that makes them capable of being broken down into harmless products by the feeding action of living things such as bacteria and other microscopic organisms.
The American Society of Testing and Materials defines biodegradable as "Capable of undergoing decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic compounds, or biomass in which the predominant mechanism is the enzymatic action of microorganisms, that can be measured by standardised tests, in a specified period of time, reflecting available disposal condition." For practical purposes claims about biodegradability of plastic should specify a timeframe.
Able to be broken down into simpler substances by the activities of living organisms and therefore unlikely to persist in the environment.
a product in wastewater is biodegradble if it can easily be broken down or digested by, for example, sewage treatment.
describes a substance that can be decomposed by microorganisms
Any material that can be broken down by bacteria in a natural way that is considered not hazardous to the environment.
capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other biological means. Board material: particleboard such as medium density fibreboard, chipboard and melamine faced chipboard which comprises wood fibres bound with a resin matrix
waste material composed primarily of naturally-occurring constituent parts, able to be broken down and absorbed into the ecosystem. Wood, for example, is biodegradable, for example, while plastics are not.
Any substance which has the capability of being decomposed by naturally occuring microorganisms.
Subject to degradation (breakdown) into simpler substances by biological action.
able to naturally decompose, usually refers to organic material.
capable of being broken down by natural means into reusable parts.
can be decomposed by living organisms.
Subject to degradation (breakdown) to simpler substances by biological action, such as the bacterial breakdown of detergents, sewage wastes and other organic matter.