The transparent sleeves our cards arrive in are biodegradable and compostable, they are made from renewable 'biofilm' which is a fancy word for vegetable starch, mostly potatoes!
Plastic sleeves used by other brands are thrown in the bin and stay around polluting the earth forever. Our biodegradable sleeves can be composted either in a home compost in the garden or the compost bin provide by your local council. They break down to CO2, H20 and biomass which can then be reused in the eco system to make new plants leaving no trace behind.
It took us a lot of research and googling to understand the different terms and products, so if you're anything like us you have a few more questions!
What is the difference between biodegradable an compostable?
Biodegradable is when a product will naturally break down in the right conditions over a period of time. Compostable is similar but it means that the product will break down in to biomass aka compost that can be used to help new things grow and won't negatively impact the environment.
Confusion comes from companies trying to create an environmentally conscious image but using biodegradable plastic which just breaks down in to smaller and smaller pieces of plastic but never actually goes away. These micro plastics ultimately end up in the sea causing problems for the planet and wildlife.
Can I but the compostable sleeve in a normal bin?
Placing the sleeve in a regular bin will mean that the conditions may not be right for it to break down quickly. Compost conditions are warm and damp allowing the sleeve to breakdown quickly, commercial composts have a much hight heat meaning that the time it takes to break down is much shorter than in a home compost.
Can I put the compostable sleeve in nature or the sea?
No, the sleeve can not be left out in nature because although it will biodegrade it could still be eaten by or cause problems for animals before it is completely gone.
Why use a sleeve at all?
We have tried using no sleeves but had reports of the cards getting damaged in the rain etc, replacements then need to be sent cancelling out the positive environmental impact, so we decided to go back to the compostable sleeves for that extra layer of protection. Our giant cards are sent naked in thicker recycled card backed envelopes, and you can request your regular cards to be send without sleeves if you wish.
What is the shelf life of the sleeve if I want to keep the card for a later date?
In a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight the sleeve should stay intact for approximately 12 months before starting to degrade. As this is a brand new and innovative product not enough time has passed to give a specific date.
I for one will be looking out for products with compostable packaging!
Hope you find the information useful and let us know if you have any questions,
Lydia X