Of all the plastic waste in Europe’s seas, how large is the share of wet wipes?
According to the „2017 Great British Beach Clean“ report wet wipes are responsible for up to eight percent of the plastic to be found in the sea at European shores. Apart from drink bottles and fishing nets, they make up a large part of the plastic waste in our seas.
According to research by Global 2000, half of the waste washed up on European beaches consists of single-use plastic in the form of wet wipes, cotton buds and similar products. This slew of plastic also has an alarming impact on the ecosystem of the sea and its inhabitants. Every year around one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals perish as a result of the effects plastic waste has on nature.
WHAT EFFECT DOES THE IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF WET WIPES HAVE ON urban sewage sytems?
Wet wipes, which are not specifically designed to be disposed of in the toilet, can lead to blockages in waste water pumps. They can easily lodge on uneven parts in the sewage system acting like nets catching everything that goes into the waste water: hair, food remains, fats, papers, etc. Cleaning the pumps and pipes can – depending on the rate of contamination – culminate in expensive service and repair work.
Different countries, different customs:
Even with disposable wipes, country-specific peculiarities have to be considered. There are countries, where even conventional toilet paper has to be disposed of in the waste bin – and the same is decreed for wet wipes.
Are all biodegradable wet wipes suitable for flushing down the toilet?
The one and only answer is: no. Biodegradable only means that the product can be decomposed by microorganisms. Flushable, moist toilet paper on the other hand is made of extremely short cellulosicfibers.This is why moist toilet paper begins to disintegrate into small pieces during the flushing process and is then, in the next step, completely biodegraded by microorganisms.
How long does it take for wet wipes made of cellulose fibers to be biodegraded?
There is no single answer to this since a range of factors are decisive for biological degradation. For complete degradation it is, however, important that the wet wipes do not contain any fossil-based synthetic fibers so that no microplastic can make its way into the environment. Cellulosicfibers are among other things extracted from the renewable raw material, wood, and are – just like leaves - biodegradable.
Wood-based cellulosicfibers can decompose completely in the soil at warm temperatures, for example in the spring and summer, in only a few weeks. If a wipe like this unintentionally gets into waterways, then wood-based cellulosicfibers need around six weeks in fresh water at 21° to be biodegraded. In salt water, the decomposition process sets in at a water temperature of 30° taking around four weeks, so it is even faster. Many wet wipes are immersed in lotions and these care substances can have an effect on the biological decomposition process.
What does biodegradable mean?
A material is termed biodegradable when it can be decomposed into its basic components by microorganisms. Bacteria and fungi are the industrious little helpers in this process. The factors relevant for the process of degradation are: temperature, microorganisms, moisture and time. There are different methods and figures for measuring the biodegradability of a material. „Biodegradability“ is often confused with „compostability“, but there are distinct differences. Read more about this topichere.
How can i recognize what wet wipes are made of and whether they are biodegradeable?
At first glance it is often not evident what wet wipes are made of. Until now, there is no obligation to label wipes containing plastic, which makes it much more difficult for consumers to make a sustainable choice.
A rising number of companies are, however, aware of their role as responsible leaders when it comes to a clean environment. Production processes are therefore being increasingly designed in a sustainable way and an attempt is made to develop eco-friendly alternatives. One of these companies is the Austrian fiber manufacturer, Lenzing AG, who with their 100% biodegradable VEOCEL™-fiber offer both a sustainable alternative and direction. VEOCEL™-cooperation partners, such as the Dutch company Sweeps© or the German producers Kindoh™ can label their products with the VEOCEL™ logo. This label offers assurance that the customer is dealing with 100% biodegradable products of cellulose and it supports the consumers when it comes to making a conscious and sustainable purchase.
