Plastic-free

Products made without petroleum-based plastic. Not the same as “biodegradable” or “bio-based”.

Three terms that get mixed up

Three similar-sounding claims sit side by side here:

Plastic-free: contains no petroleum-derived plastic
Bio-based plastic: made from plant feedstock — but not necessarily degradable
Biodegradable plastic: it breaks down — but not necessarily plant-derived, and breakdown needs specific conditions

“Plant-derived, therefore it returns to the soil” does not follow. Some bio-based materials persist exactly like conventional plastic. Conversely, some biodegradable materials will not break down in a home compost and need industrial conditions.

What to check

The conditions required for biodegradation: home compost, industrial compost, or marine
The bio-based percentage
Whether the packaging itself is plastic — the claim sometimes covers only the contents
Japanese municipal sorting rules often have not caught up with these materials