BIODEGRADABILITY
- What do we mean by the word biodegradable?
The ability for a material to be broken down naturally in an eco-system.
- What does 100% biodegradable mean?
Biodegradable refers to the ability of materials to break down and return to nature. In order for packaging products or materials to qualify as biodegradable, they must completely break down and decompose into natural elements within a short time after disposal – typically a year or less.
- Is Leather Biodegradable?
Yes, natural leather can be deemed biodegradable because it is primarily created from collagen cells. Most of these cells are derived from animal hides and are later tanned to limit and reduce the process of decay. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t decompose at any time. If you intentionally leave leather for rotting, it will eventually decompose.
Leather will only decompose under some specific environmental conditions. For leather and leather products to decompose faster, they need to be exposed to the direct ultraviolet rays of the sun. Additionally, they need a microbial and bacterial environment and plenty of moisture to rot.
After cowskin, sheepskin stands as a close second in terms of popularity for manufacturing. Many manufacturers choose to tan it with the fleece(wool). This makes way for easier draping and thus the product is ideal for our beloved UGG boots and décor for around the home.
The tanning process changes the chemistry inside the leather fibers. It makes it more difficult for the enzymes from bacteria and fungi to break them down. This also changes the speed of biodegradability of the material. Bondi UGG sheepskin uses an eco-tanning process which we will discuss in further detail in a future blog.
We specifically do not add an additional chemical treatment to make the sheepskin more water resistant also, so it is in a more sustainable natural state. You always have the option of using a water-proof spray on your boots if required.
- Biodegradable plastics including our packaging take three to six months to decompose fully. That's much quicker than synthetic counterparts that take several hundred years. Exactly how long a biodegradable bag takes to break down depends on various factors, such as temperature and the amount of moisture present.
- The outsole of your UGGS is made from EVA which is not biodegradable and is disposed of mechanically. It is better for the environment than traditional rubbers and PVC materials but unfortunately a large majority of EVA products do end up in landfill around the world.
RECYCLING
FOR CONSUMERS:
If the kids have grown out of their Uggs and they are still in good condition – charity is a great recycling method we promote to recycle your UGGS.
Adults can get much longer wear from their shoes and give their UGGS a makeover or replenish their life with a professional shoe repairer or a spruse-up at home.
We have another fun way of recycling our UGGs at the office and it is to create a succulent garden from our shoes. The EVA soles are a great base for our ugg-pots and the sheepskin is naturally porous to keep the moisture levels perfect for our succulent plants. Great creative craft project for the whole family!
FOR MANUFACTURERS:
Tons of leather scraps are discarded each year by manufacturers of everything from boots to hand bags. Those scraps often end up in landfills. We at Bondi UGG are finding innovative ways to recycle out scraps for example as additional stuffing for our pet beds.
EVA materials used to make up our outsoles do end up in landfill and this is due in part to a lack of knowledge globally regarding other disposal methods as well as a lack of technology and facilities to recycle it most effectively. Stay tuned in 2023 we have created an arts project to combat the recycling of our non-organic materials like EVA.