What Is Biodegradable Packaging? A Practical Guide

What is biodegradable packaging, really? I’ve sat through enough supplier meetings in Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Los Angeles to know that the label can mean very different things depending on who is using it, where it ends up, and how fast you expect it to disappear. A compostable mailer, a kraft paper carton, and a PLA-lined food tray can all be described as eco-conscious, but they do not behave the same way once they leave your warehouse. I remember one buyer in Guangzhou looking me dead in the eye and asking if a cellulose pouch would “just vanish” in a week. I nearly spilled my coffee.

That distinction matters more than most brands realize. If you are building custom packaging for e-commerce, retail packaging, or subscription product packaging, the material has to protect the product first, then support your sustainability goals second. What is biodegradable packaging is not just a vocabulary question. It affects cost, shelf life, print choices, shipping damage rates, and even the claims you can safely make on the box. Honestly, I think a lot of packaging headaches start because people fall in love with the word “biodegradable” before they’ve asked what the box actually has to do.

I’ve seen brands spend three weeks perfecting package branding on the outside of a box, only to discover the interior coating made the whole structure harder to dispose of responsibly. Honest confusion is common. Bad claims are common too. So let’s break down what is biodegradable packaging in plain language, then get into the details that actually change outcomes. A 10,000-unit run can look brilliant on a quote sheet and still fail if the adhesive, coating, and disposal route are mismatched. The fun part, if you can call packaging regulations that.

What Is Biodegradable Packaging? A Definition That Actually Matters

What is biodegradable packaging? In simple terms, it is packaging designed to decompose through natural biological processes, usually with the help of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, until it turns into substances like water, carbon dioxide, biomass, and other natural compounds. That sounds neat and tidy on paper. In practice, the speed and completeness of the breakdown depend on the environment, the material mix, and the way the package was made. A 250gsm uncoated paper sleeve will not behave like a 1.2mm molded fiber tray, even if both are sold as “green.”

Here’s where people get tripped up: biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, and bio-based are not interchangeable. Bio-based means the material came partly or fully from renewable feedstocks such as corn starch, sugarcane, or wood pulp. That says nothing about how it behaves at end of life. Recyclable means a local system can collect and process it into usable feedstock again. Compostable means it is designed to break down under specific composting conditions within a defined period, leaving no harmful residue. Biodegradable packaging may eventually break down, but not always quickly, and not always in the places consumers expect. A carton made from 350gsm C1S artboard can be recyclable in one city and rejected in another if the coating or ink stack changes the category.

Honestly, I think this is the biggest communications failure in packaging design right now. Brands use “eco-friendly” as if it were a technical specification. It isn’t. A package can be biodegradable in theory and still sit in a landfill for years if the conditions are dry, compacted, and oxygen-poor. I’ve stood beside a converter press in Shenzhen while a buyer from Toronto asked whether a cellulose-based pouch would “just disappear” in a week. That’s not how chemistry works, and it’s not how waste systems work either. Also, if packaging could vanish on command, my inbox would be much less full.

What is biodegradable packaging in business terms? It’s a tool. Brands use it to reduce visible waste, support sustainability goals, and align with customer expectations, especially in categories where custom printed boxes, kraft mailers, and molded pulp inserts are part of the unboxing experience. But the packaging still has to survive distribution. A box that collapses in transit from Foshan to Sydney is not sustainable. It is a return, and a return often costs more than the box itself.

One client meeting still sticks with me. A small cosmetics brand in New York wanted premium-branded packaging with a matte finish, soft-touch feel, and a clear biodegradability claim. We tested three structures: 350gsm SBS with water-based ink, kraft paperboard with a thin aqueous coating, and a molded fiber tray sourced from a supplier in Dongguan. The prettiest option was also the most complicated to dispose of. The most honest option was the one that matched their product protection and disposal pathway. That lesson comes up again and again when people ask what is biodegradable packaging without asking what happens after delivery.

“A material can be biodegradable on a technical sheet and still be a poor environmental choice if the disposal route is unrealistic.”

That’s the real answer to what is biodegradable packaging: packaging engineered to break down biologically, but only under the right conditions and within the limitations of its material structure. It is not magic. It is not automatic. And it is not the same thing as “made from plants.” A 5,000-piece order of plant-fiber packaging can still miss the mark if the glue line, coating weight, or print treatment blocks decomposition.

How Biodegradable Packaging Works: The Breakdown Process

To understand what is biodegradable packaging, you need to understand the breakdown process. Microorganisms consume organic material by using moisture, oxygen, heat, and time to convert it into simpler compounds. If any of those inputs are missing, decomposition slows dramatically. If the material is coated, laminated, or heavily printed, microbes may have a harder time reaching the substrate. A 40-micron barrier film behaves very differently from a bare kraft sheet in a damp compost pile in Melbourne or a dry landfill in Phoenix.

Think of it like this: a piece of uncoated kraft paper left in damp soil behaves very differently from a multi-layer mailer with a plastic barrier, metallic ink, and pressure-sensitive adhesive. Both might be marketed as sustainable packaging, but only one gives microbes much of a chance to work. When buyers ask what is biodegradable packaging, they usually mean “How fast does it disappear?” The better question is “Under what conditions, and with what evidence?”

Environment matters more than marketing. Industrial composting facilities operate at controlled temperatures, oxygen levels, and moisture ranges, often around 55-65°C depending on the system. That can accelerate decomposition. Home composting is slower and far less predictable, especially if the pile never gets hot enough. Soil burial is different again. Landfill conditions are usually the hardest environment for degradation because waste is compacted, oxygen is limited, and moisture may be uneven. So yes, biodegradable packaging may break down faster in one system and barely move in another, even if the material spec looks identical on paper.

In my experience, this is where procurement teams need hard data, not adjectives. ASTM D6400 and related standards help define compostability, while other specifications and test methods can help verify how a material behaves. For broader context, the EPA’s recycling and waste guidance is a useful starting point for understanding how disposal systems differ, even though it does not certify packaging claims. If a supplier cannot explain the test method, the temperature range, or the conditions behind their claim, that’s a red flag. A factory in Ningbo that can show third-party test sheets is far more useful than one offering only marketing language.

Material family matters too. Common biodegradable packaging substrates include:

• Plant-based fibers such as molded pulp, bagasse, and unbleached kraft paper
• Starch blends used in some mailers and loose-fill formats
• Certain biopolymers designed for specific composting conditions
• Cellulose-based films in select barrier applications
• Corrugated cardboard structures with biodegradable fiber content, depending on coating and adhesive choices

But substrate alone is not the whole story. Thickness changes decomposition speed. So do inks. So do coatings. A thin uncoated paper mailer may biodegrade faster than a thick, heavily printed, laminated box even if both are described as sustainable packaging. I’ve seen buyers focus on the board grade and ignore the varnish. That’s like buying a car based on the tires and forgetting the engine. A 300gsm kraft mailer with soy ink and a water-based coating is a different object from a 420gsm carton with UV coating and foil stamping, even if the sales deck uses the same adjective.

There’s another wrinkle that often gets missed: adhesives. Pressure-sensitive labels, hot-melt glues, and specialty tapes can interfere with biodegradation. The same is true for barrier layers and metalized films. If a package uses a biodegradable substrate but non-biodegradable finishing components, the end-of-life story gets messy fast. That is one reason why packaging design has to be planned from the inside out, not just decorated from the outside. A supplier in Ho Chi Minh City may quote a beautiful shell, but if the adhesive is not compatible with the disposal route, the claim weakens immediately.

What is biodegradable packaging in practical terms? It is a system, not a single material. The paper, the glue, the coating, the ink, the label, and the shipping environment all affect the outcome. Ignore one part and the whole claim weakens. That’s why a 12-15 business day production timeline from proof approval can still be a bad outcome if the spec is wrong and the pilot run is never tested in real humidity or compression.

Key Factors That Decide Performance, Cost, and Claims

If you are comparing options and asking what is biodegradable packaging worth, the answer depends on four things: product protection, production cost, compliance risk, and disposal reality. That’s why the cheapest-looking quote is rarely the cheapest packaging in the full sense. I’ve watched brands save two cents a unit on substrate and lose two dollars a unit to breakage. The math gets ugly fast. A $0.15 per unit carton that crushes in transit is not a bargain if the replacement shipment runs $8.40 in freight and labor.

Material selection is the first cost driver. A molded pulp insert, a kraft paper mailer, and a custom printed box with specialized coatings all price differently because the raw inputs and manufacturing methods differ. A 5,000-piece run of a simple uncoated kraft carton might land around $0.18 to $0.32 per unit depending on size and print coverage, while a more complex biodegradable structure with custom die-cuts, multiple ink passes, and a certification requirement can push higher. A 10,000-piece run of a 350gsm C1S artboard folding carton with one-color water-based printing in Guangzhou may price differently from the same format made in Vietnam or Eastern China. That variation is normal. What matters is whether the package fits the product and the waste stream.

Print complexity is another big factor. A one-color water-based print on kraft paper is usually simpler than a full-coverage design with multiple PMS hits, matte varnish, and foil-like effects. The latter may look impressive in retail packaging, but the more layers you add, the more you risk reducing biodegradability or increasing costs. There is always a tradeoff between package branding and end-of-life performance. Usually, the more decorative the structure, the more expensive the testing. Which is exactly the sort of detail that gets left out of “green” sales decks. A supplier in Dongguan can quote a glossy finish, but the finishing line may add 7-12% to total unit cost.

Order quantity matters too. Small production runs usually carry higher unit costs because setup, pre-press, and tooling are spread across fewer pieces. For example, a 2,000-unit trial can cost noticeably more per box than a 20,000-unit run, even if the material is identical. Minimum order quantities vary widely by supplier, especially when you want custom packaging with certified biodegradable materials. If a vendor promises low cost without asking about size, artwork, and compliance needs, I’d ask three more questions before signing anything. A pilot in Ho Chi Minh City might start at 1,000 units, while a carton program in Shenzhen may require 3,000 or 5,000 pieces before pricing becomes meaningful.

Compliance is where many brands stumble. If you are making biodegradability claims, you need evidence. That often means test data, certification documents, and a clear explanation of the environmental conditions required for breakdown. For some products, third-party systems such as FSC certification can support responsible fiber sourcing, while FSC’s own standards and forest stewardship resources help verify claims around paper and fiber origin. FSC does not mean “biodegradable,” but it can strengthen the sourcing story for branded packaging made from wood fiber. A converter in Ningbo may provide FSC chain-of-custody documents, but that still does not answer the biodegradation question.

Also, do not confuse sourcing with disposal. A package can be made from responsibly sourced fiber and still be unsuitable for a biodegradability claim. Conversely, a biodegradable material might not be FSC-certified if it is not a forest-fiber product. These are different questions. That distinction is one of the main reasons why what is biodegradable packaging must be answered carefully, not casually. A 350gsm C1S artboard box can be excellent for print and terrible for compostability if its coating blocks the end-of-life route.

Shelf life and durability deserve more attention than they usually get. Some biodegradable materials are more sensitive to humidity, high temperatures, or long storage periods. A film that performs beautifully in a dry warehouse may curl, soften, or lose strength in a humid coastal facility. I’ve had a food brand in the Midwest switch to a biodegradable pouch, only to discover that summer storage in a non-climate-controlled room shortened seal performance by weeks. The packaging was not “bad.” It was just mismatched to the real operating environment. In Singapore, where warehouse humidity can hover near 80%, the same pouch might need a different barrier spec entirely.

Here is the short version: what is biodegradable packaging depends on what you ask it to do. If you want a retail-ready box with crisp graphics, strong stacking performance, and straightforward disposal, the substrate and finish choices must all support that result. If you want compostability, the claim needs testing. If you want lower cost, you may need to simplify the structure. There is no free lunch in product packaging, and there is rarely a true “eco” option that costs less, weighs less, prints better, and lasts longer all at once.

How to Choose Biodegradable Packaging: A Step-by-Step Guide

Start with the product, not the label. That sounds obvious, but a surprising number of teams decide they want biodegradable packaging before they know whether the item is heavy, fragile, oily, moisture-sensitive, or shipped long distance. What is biodegradable packaging if it cannot survive the journey? Not much. So begin with the product’s real needs: weight, temperature exposure, vibration, condensation risk, and how many times the package will be handled between packing and opening. A 400g candle does not need the same structure as a 2.8kg skincare bundle shipped from Los Angeles to Berlin.

Step 1: Map the product risk. If you ship glass skincare jars, your packaging needs crush resistance and edge protection. If you ship apparel, you may prioritize light weight and presentation. If you ship food, grease resistance and compliance can matter more than print beauty. The right structure for one category is wrong for another. A kraft mailer might be perfect for socks and terrible for fragile electronics. A molded pulp insert in 1.5mm wall thickness can be ideal for a bottle set, while a simple paper sleeve may be enough for stationery.

Step 2: Choose the end-of-life goal first. Decide whether you want biodegradation, compostability, recyclability, or some combination. Do not assume one term covers all needs. If your customers mostly live in urban apartments with limited compost access, a recyclable paper structure may be more practical than a compostable one. If your product is distributed through a closed-loop system with industrial composting, the answer may be different. What is biodegradable packaging becomes much easier to define once you know where the package will actually go. A brand selling in San Francisco will face different waste realities than a brand selling in rural Texas.

Step 3: Request samples and test them. I always tell clients to test the package the way it will really be used. That means drop tests, compression tests, seal tests, humidity exposure, and print rub tests. If you are sourcing custom printed boxes, ask for a production-grade sample, not just a hand-cut mockup. A sample that looks good on a desk can fail badly in a carton ship test. Packaging.org has useful industry resources around material choices and sustainability frameworks at packaging.org, and those kinds of references help keep the conversation grounded in standards rather than slogans. A 300-unit sample run can expose problems a 3D render never will.

Step 4: Confirm the disposal pathway. Ask a blunt question: where will this package likely end up? If the answer is landfill in most markets, then a biodegradation claim may be technically true but operationally weak. If the answer is curbside recycling, then a fiber-based structure might be better. If the answer is industrial composting, confirm whether the package actually meets the relevant standard. This is the part most marketing decks skip. It is also the part most consumers care about when they read disposal instructions on retail packaging. If your customers are in London, Melbourne, and Chicago, the same package may need three different disposal instructions.

Step 5: Compare suppliers on more than unit price. Ask about certifications, lead times, minimum order quantities, print capabilities, and scale-up capacity. One supplier may quote a lower unit cost but require a 14-week lead time and a huge order minimum. Another may be slightly more expensive but offer 12-15 business days from proof approval and a smaller pilot run. The real question is not “Who is cheapest?” It is “Who can deliver the right package consistently?” A factory in Shenzhen with a high-speed folding line may suit one launch, while a converter in Ho Chi Minh City may suit another.

I’ve negotiated enough packaging deals to know that the best supplier conversations are specific. Ask for exact substrate specifications, such as 300gsm kraft paper, 32 ECT corrugated cardboard, or molded pulp with a certain fiber blend. Ask about coatings. Ask about adhesives. Ask about whether the ink system is water-based or solvent-based. The more exact the answer, the more useful the quote. If a supplier mentions 350gsm C1S artboard, ask what the liner, coating, and finishing spec are, not just the board weight.

Also, keep your brand honest. If your packaging is biodegradable under industrial composting conditions only, say that. Do not imply it will vanish in a backyard compost heap unless you have proof. Smart buyers can spot vague claims immediately, and customers can too. Good package branding does not need exaggeration. A clean label with “industrial compost only” printed in 6-point type may not be glamorous, but it is better than a claim that collapses under scrutiny.

Common Mistakes Brands Make With Biodegradable Packaging

The first mistake is mixing up biodegradable and compostable. They are related, but they are not the same. If your customer-facing instructions say “compost this at home” and the material only breaks down in industrial composting, you have created a disposal problem. I’ve seen this happen on subscription boxes in London and Dallas, where the outer carton was fiber-based but the inner film was not appropriate for home composting. Customers were confused, and customer service paid the price. I still remember one support rep telling me, “We’ve answered the same question 87 times this week.” Nobody needs that kind of excitement.

The second mistake is choosing a material solely because it sounds green. I understand the temptation. Sustainability claims sell. But if the package fails in transit, the environmental benefit disappears into the returns pile. Damage rates matter. A 3% breakage rate on a 50,000-unit program can erase the savings from a “better” substrate. What is biodegradable packaging worth if product loss rises by 5%? Not much. A $0.22 carton that triggers a $1.80 replacement shipment is a bad trade, even before labor is counted.

The third mistake is ignoring inks, coatings, and adhesives. This one shows up constantly in supplier negotiations. A buyer specifies a biodegradable board, then adds a glossy lamination, an aggressive glue, and a plastic label. The result looks polished, but the package is no longer as straightforward at end of life as everyone assumed. If you want the package to break down, the whole structure has to support that outcome. A water-based ink on 300gsm kraft behaves very differently from a UV-coated carton with synthetic labels and hot-melt adhesive.

The fourth mistake is assuming the waste system will do the job for you. A package that biodegrades in industrial compost may still go to landfill if local infrastructure does not accept it. That gap between intention and reality is huge. In some markets, customers want sustainable packaging but have nowhere practical to send it. That is not their fault. It’s a systems issue. Your instructions should reflect the system, not wishful thinking. A brand selling in Paris may have better municipal compost access than a brand selling in suburban Atlanta, and the packaging instructions should acknowledge that difference.

The fifth mistake is treating packaging cost like a single line item. In reality, the cost of what is biodegradable packaging includes material, print, tooling, certification, sampling, compliance review, and sometimes artwork changes. If you need to redesign a carton twice because the first version failed humidity testing, that has a cost. If you need a legal review because your claim language is too broad, that has a cost too. Smart teams model total packaging cost, not just unit price. A project that starts at $0.19 per unit can land closer to $0.31 after samples, freight, and compliance work.

One factory visit in southern China taught me this the hard way. A buyer had pushed for an ultra-low-cost biodegradable mailer. The base material was acceptable, but the seal performance was inconsistent at higher heat. By the time we reworked the closure and retested the run, the savings had largely vanished. The lesson was simple: cheap packaging that fails is expensive. Always. I was annoyed then, and honestly, I’m still annoyed now because the fix was obvious in hindsight. The line in Dongguan had been set for a 5000-piece pilot, but the temperature swing in storage was never tested.

Expert Tips for Making Biodegradable Packaging Work Better

If you want biodegradable packaging to perform well, start by reducing material complexity. Fewer layers usually mean fewer failure points and a cleaner disposal story. A lighter structure can lower freight cost, reduce material use, and improve the odds that the package actually biodegrades under the right conditions. Honestly, I think many brands overbuild their packaging because they are nervous about damage. You can usually fix that with smarter structure design rather than extra layers. A 1.8mm molded fiber insert often does more than a decorative sleeve and a plastic tray combined.

Keep finishes simple. Avoid unnecessary lamination. Use water-based or low-impact print systems where possible. Choose coatings only when they solve a real problem, such as moisture resistance or scuff protection. A beautiful finish that blocks biodegradation is a bad trade if the product does not need it. This is especially true for custom packaging that exists partly to tell a sustainability story. If the story is true, you do not need to drown it in gloss. A matte aqueous coating on a 350gsm carton from Hangzhou can look premium without adding an extra plastic layer.

Label disposal clearly. Do not bury instructions in tiny type on the bottom flap. Use plain language: “Industrial compost only,” “Widely recyclable where paperboard is accepted,” or “Check local facilities before disposing.” Good instructions reduce confusion, and confusion is one of the fastest ways to destroy trust. That matters just as much for product packaging as it does for brand perception. A clear 12-point disposal note on the back panel is often more useful than a sustainability paragraph no one reads.

Test with real products, not just empty prototypes. A package may pass a bench test and still fail with weight inside. A 500g glass item behaves differently from a 500g filled pouch. Shipping stress, consumer handling, and warehouse stacking all reveal weak points that a spec sheet will not show. I’ve seen a molded pulp insert hold a sample beautifully, then crack during real fulfillment because the operator packed it faster than the prototype team had ever seen. Packaging, as it turns out, does not care about your deadline. A real pilot in Chicago or Rotterdam will tell you far more than a one-off mockup.

Balance sustainability with presentation. Biodegradable packaging does not have to look rough or unfinished. Clean typography, thoughtful color use, and precise die lines can make branded packaging feel premium without adding unnecessary complexity. I’ve seen kraft paper cartons with one-color printing outshine far more expensive retail packaging because the design was disciplined. The package looked intentional. That matters. A 300gsm kraft box with a sharp die line can outperform a fancier structure if the goal is both elegance and honest end-of-life behavior.

“The best biodegradable package is the one customers can use, trust, and dispose of correctly without needing a science degree.”

One more practical tip: ask your supplier how the package behaves under real logistics stress. Compression, vibration, humidity, and temperature swings all matter. If they cannot explain how the structure performs across those conditions, you are not buying packaging. You are buying a guess. A supplier in Ningbo should be able to talk about test cartons, burst strength, and transit cycles without reaching for vague adjectives.

What to Do Next: Practical Steps to Start Using Biodegradable Packaging

Begin with an audit of your current line. List every component: outer carton, inner filler, labels, tape, inserts, overwrap, and shipping documents. You will usually find two or three components that can be changed first without disrupting fulfillment. Sometimes the easiest win is replacing plastic void fill with molded pulp or switching to kraft paper-based dunnage. On a 20,000-unit monthly program, that kind of change can matter more than a new logo.

Then build a shortlist of package formats to test. Compare them side by side using the same product, the same shipping lane, and the same fulfillment process. I like to compare cost, damage rate, print quality, and disposal pathway in a simple table. What is biodegradable packaging worth to your business if it improves one metric but hurts another? The data will tell you. A $0.24 unit cost that lowers damage by 4% may beat a $0.17 unit cost that creates returns.

Ask suppliers for samples, spec sheets, and proof of claims before you place a production run. If they offer a biodegradability or compostability claim, ask what standard it is tied to, whether third-party testing exists, and how recent the documentation is. If you are sourcing through a company that also produces Custom Packaging Products, ask how they scale from sampling to volume without changing the material mix. That transition is where many projects go sideways. A 3-piece sample made in one workshop does not always match a 5,000-piece production run made in another city.

Create internal language rules. Marketing, operations, customer service, and sales should all describe the package the same way. If marketing says “compostable” and operations says “biodegradable,” customers will notice the mismatch. That kind of inconsistency erodes trust faster than a packaging defect. A simple approved language sheet can prevent a lot of trouble. One page, reviewed quarterly, can save hours of back-and-forth over what the box actually is.

Finally, pilot one SKU first. A controlled launch gives you actual numbers: damage rates, customer feedback, unit cost, inventory performance, and disposal questions from buyers. Scale only after the pilot proves the material, the print process, and the supply chain all work together. That’s the difference between a sustainability idea and a packaging program. A six-week pilot in one market can reveal more than a six-month branding exercise.

I’ll add one more thing from experience: the best packaging teams do not chase trends. They test, measure, revise, and then roll out. That discipline is boring, but it saves money. It also saves a lot of awkward conversations with customers who expected a package to do something it never could. And if you’ve ever had to explain a failed mailer to a founder after launch week, you know exactly what I mean. A factory in Dongguan can produce a gorgeous box in 12-15 business days, but only if the spec is right before the order starts.

What Is Biodegradable Packaging? The Practical Answer

So, what is biodegradable packaging? It is packaging designed to break down through biological processes, but only under conditions that allow microbes, moisture, oxygen, and time to do their work. It is not identical to compostable packaging. It is not the same as recyclable packaging. And it is certainly not just “made from plants.” A pouch made from sugarcane-derived material in Vietnam may still need industrial composting to fulfill the claim responsibly.

The smart way to use biodegradable packaging is to match the material to the product, the supply chain, and the disposal system. If you do that, you can reduce waste, strengthen your sustainability story, and still protect the product properly. If you skip the testing, ignore the coatings, or overstate the claim, the package can become more confusing than useful. A 32 ECT corrugated carton with a water-based print system may be a better fit than a fancier structure that looks greener but behaves worse in transit.

In my experience, the brands that get this right ask better questions from the start. They want exact specs. They want honest timelines. They want to know whether the package will work in real shipping conditions and real waste systems. That is the right instinct. What is biodegradable packaging should never be answered with a slogan. It should be answered with data, samples, and a clear plan for what happens after the customer opens the box. If the quote says $0.15 per unit for 5000 pieces, good — but only if the spec, the print, and the disposal route all match the claim.

If you are considering a switch, start small, test hard, and keep the story honest. That approach is slower than a flashy sales pitch, but it holds up far better in the real world of product packaging, retail packaging, and custom printed boxes. A measured rollout from proof approval to production, typically 12-15 business days for simpler structures, is a far better foundation than a rushed launch backed by optimistic adjectives.

The actionable takeaway is simple: define the disposal route before you pick the material, then test the full packaging structure under real shipping conditions. If the substrate, coating, adhesive, and claim all line up, biodegradable packaging can do its job. If they do not, you are better off choosing a different format and being honest about why.