The eco-friendly myth in the toilet
When municipal authorities reported that wipes accounted for 53% of pipe blockages, we urgently needed to uncover the scientific truth behind ‘flushable’ wipes.
I.Flushable ≠ Soluble
1. The Magic of Disappearance: Fibre Dispersion Principle
✅ Ordinary Wet Wipes: Long Fibres + Plastic Components → Like a Fishing Net Tangling Pipes
✅ True Flushable Wet Wipes: Short Fibres + No Plastic → Automatically Disintegrate in 30 Seconds When Exposed to Water
Key Test: Place the wet wipe in a glass bottle with water and shake 30 times; compliant products should break down into fluffy particles (Simulates GD4 standard test)
2. Nature's Decomposition Code
Aquatic decomposition: Passes standard test → 90% decomposes into CO₂ and water within 28 days
Soil decomposition: Complies with ISO 17556 standard → Biological degradation rate >90% within 6 months
II. Beware! The 4 major traps of ‘pseudo-dispersible’ wipes
❌ Trap 1: Misusing the term ‘biodegradable’
Biodegradable: Decomposes over several years under specific conditions
Dispersible: Must disperse immediately + rapidly biodegrade
Testing Tip: Request INDA/EDANA GD4 certification*
❌ Trap 2: Hidden plastic crisis
2024 University of California study: 41% of ‘eco-friendly’ wipes contain polyester fibres (coloured plastic threads visible under a microscope)
❌ Trap 3: Dangerous adhesives
Petroleum-based glue: Clogs pipes like ‘glue on a wall’
Cornstarch glue: Dissolves in water with no residue
III. Scientific purchasing guide (including self-testing methods)
✅ Three-step home verification method:
Soaking test: Soak the wet wipe in warm water and stir for 30 seconds; it should disintegrate.
Light transmission test: Hold the wet wipe up to a light source; if plastic reflections appear, it fails the test.
Burning test: Take a 1cm² sample and burn it; genuine eco-friendly products turn into greyish-white powder (plastic products form black, hardened lumps).
✅ Mandatory Certification Labels on Packaging:
[Certification Icon Set: GD4/FSC/OK biodegradable WATER]
IV.Key Science Summary
Common Misconceptions
|
Scientific Truths
|
Dispersible = Soluble
|
Both physical dispersion and biodegradation must be met
|
Pulp = eco-friendly
|
Fibre length determines dispersibility
|
Packaging just needs to be biodegradable
|
The entire product lifecycle must be eco-friendly
|
