“BIO-WAD'S GREEN CREDENTIALS
Gamebore's Bio-Wad material is water soluble and fully biodegradable, conforming to the CEN 13432 European standard for compostability. This standard covers:
Ecotoxicity (does not impede plant growth)
Heavy metal content (does not contain heavy metals above the permitted level)
Biodegradability ISO 14851 (conducted in an aqueous environment)
Disintegration - Compost (breaks down passing through a 2mm sieve after 12 weeks composting)”
All sounds very good, but just because the material conforms to CEN 13432 does not mean the product will ie the wad Express we’re guilty of this with their earth wad.
Then the standard for compostability can mean industrial composting in an environment with high temperatures that we will never see in the countryside.
Then what of the material once it dissolves in water, my understanding is PVA which is used in some wads is toxic especially to fish.
The race to deliver eco friendly wads has resulted in the cartridge manufactures creating their own unique products, with the exception of Eley who use the wads made by a spanish firm who got millions of euros in grants to developer them. Is it not strange that the independent wad manufacturers like say Gualandi has so far stayed away from the producing any.
Plastic pollution is a major world wide problem, if it was simple to produce biodegradable plastic then an industry worth billions more that that of shooting would have do so. All we can do is use what’s on offer at this time.
Compostable and biodegradable are not the same,
Hence I believe as consumers the packaging should give far more information about the material used in the wad.
- Biodegradable
Materials that can break down into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass over time through the action of microorganisms. Biodegradable materials can be made from plant-based, animal-based, or natural mineral-based products. However, there's no time limit on how long it takes for biodegradable materials to break down, and they can take weeks, years, or even millennia. Biodegradable materials can also leave behind harmful oils and gases as they break down.
- Compostable
Materials that are designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass within a specific time frame and under specific conditions. Compostable materials are made from organic matter, like cornstarch, sugarcane, or potato starch. They are designed to be processed in composting facilities, where the right temperature and moisture conditions turn the materials into soil conditioner.
Compostable materials are generally considered a safer and greener option than biodegradable materials. However, compostable materials can't always be disposed of in home compost bins and need to be taken to special facilities.
To ensure that a product is truly compostable, you can check for compostable certifications. The Biodegradable Product Institute (BPI) and Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) are two organizations that independently verify that products meet compostability standards.
