They sound like eco-twins. They’re actually more like cousins—related, often confused, and one is much better at making firm plans.
Picture two bags at a party. One says, “I’ll break down eventually.” Hero Bag says, “Council caddy or home compost? We brought certification for both.” We know which one is getting invited back.
What does biodegradable mean?
Biodegradable describes a process: microorganisms can break a material down into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide and biomass. Useful definition. Missing detail.
It does not automatically tell you how long the process takes, where it happens, or what conditions are needed. A claim can be technically true yet practically unhelpful if the real-world destination never provides those conditions.
What does compostable mean?
Compostable goes further. A compostable product must biodegrade within a composting environment, on a defined timescale, without harming the quality of the compost. Certification adds the pass marks and test methods.
Hero Bags are certified for both industrial and home composting. EN 13432 and Seedling are recognised by many UK food-waste systems. TÜV OK compost HOME separately proves the bags meet home-composting requirements.
| THE QUESTION | BIODEGRADABLE | CERTIFIED COMPOSTABLE |
|---|---|---|
| Will microbes break it down? | The word alone does not tell you enough | Yes. TÜV OK compost HOME certifies Hero Bags for home-compost conditions. |
| Is there a defined test? | Not from the word alone | Yes. Our certifications apply defined requirements and pass criteria. |
| Is compost quality considered? | Not necessarily | Yes. Compostability certification includes checks designed to protect compost quality. |
| Does “plant-based” prove it? | No | No. Our independent certification stack does. |
So how are Hero Bags both?
Because biodegradation is tested as part of compostability certification. Hero Bags pair EN 13432 and Seedling certification for industrial composting with TÜV OK compost HOME certification for home conditions. “Biodegradable” describes what microorganisms do. “Certified compostable” adds the destination, test conditions and pass criteria.
The certifications are doing the heavy lifting here. Without a named standard, a biodegradability claim needs a lot more explanation before it tells you anything useful.
Three myths for the compost heap
“BIODEGRADABLE” MEANS I CAN DROP IT ANYWHERE.
Nope. Litter is still litter. The right temperature, moisture, microbes and time matter.
COMPOSTABLE ALWAYS MEANS HOME COMPOSTABLE.
Also nope. The claims are separate. Hero Bags qualify because they hold a separate TÜV OK compost HOME certification.
PLANT-BASED AND COMPOSTABLE MEAN THE SAME THING.
They don’t. Where a material comes from and what happens at its end of life are separate questions.
The three-second shopping test
- Find the council credentials. In the UK, look for EN 13432 and the Seedling logo—not only the word “compostable.”
- Find separate home proof. For home composting, look for a specific certification such as TÜV OK compost HOME.
- Dispose of it correctly. Check your council for food-caddy use, or follow the product instructions for home composting. Never litter.
DON’T BUY THE ADJECTIVE. BUY THE EVIDENCE.
Hero Bags are biodegradable as part of a bigger, better-tested promise: certified industrial compostability for food-waste collections and separately certified home compostability.
FACT-CHECK CORNER
Receipts, because we like those.
Hero Bag certification references shown on this page: TÜV OK compost HOME S0329; Seedling 7P0477; AS 4736 ABAP 10056; AS 5810 ABAP 20016.
UK CMA: green claims across the supply chain ↗