Biodegradable flags
A biodegradable flag from Better Flags is polyester made with CiCLO®, an additive built into the fibre. On the flagpole it performs like any polyester flag. Fibres that end up in seawater, soil, landfill or sewage sludge are broken down by microbes: 90 to 94% in independent ASTM lab tests, after 952 to 1,362 days.
What CiCLO® is
CiCLO® is an additive that goes into the polyester while the fibre is made. It is part of the fibre, not a coating. CiCLO® says its fibres only start to biodegrade after long exposure to moisture and microorganisms, and never during use.
So the flag on your pole behaves like the polyester flag you know: the same colours, the same print, the same behaviour in the wind. The difference starts where a fibre ends up.
The test results
| Environment | Test method | CiCLO® polyester | Untreated polyester | Test duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seawater | ASTM D6691-17 | 94.2% | 3.8% | 1,362 days |
| Biologically active landfill | ASTM D5511-18 | 91.1% | 6.2% | 1,278 days |
| Soil | ASTM D5988 | 91.1% | 0% | 1,170 days |
| Wastewater sludge | ASTM D5210-92 | 90% | 0% | 952 days |
These are lab tests that recreate each environment. They show what the fibre can do; real conditions outside vary.
What biodegradable does not mean
We'd rather you hear it from us.
- It doesn't fall apart on the pole. A CiCLO® flag flies, frays and fades like any polyester flag.
- It is still polyester: depending on the cloth, made from recycled PET or from new polyester. CiCLO® changes what happens to the fibres that escape, not what they are made of.
- It still sheds fibres while it flies. In the tests, those fibres broke down instead of staying.
- It is no reason to leave a flag outside. Send your old flag to Better Flags, Ronde Tocht 11, 1507 CC Zaandam. We collect returned flags and will share here how we process them.
Want no plastic fibres at all? Choose Hemptex®.
Biodegradable or recycled?
Recycled polyester, sold as rPET or PET flag, gives plastic bottles a second life. But a flag sheds fibres while it flies, and recycled polyester is still polyester. In the same tests, untreated polyester barely broke down: 0 to 6.2%. Recycling changes where the plastic comes from; depending on the cloth, CiCLO® polyester is made from recycled PET or from new polyester. CiCLO® changes what happens to the fibres that come loose.
CiCLO®, hemp or standard polyester?
| CiCLO® | Hemptex® | Standard polyester | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre | Polyester with the CiCLO® additive | 55% hemp, 45% cotton | Polyester |
| Plastic fibres | Yes, biodegradable in lab tests | None | Yes |
| Weight | 110 g/m² | 150 g/m² | Varies |
| Dye sublimation | Pigment, both sides | Dye sublimation | |
| Fibres that come loose | Polyester that biodegraded 90 to 94% in ASTM lab tests | Plant fibres | Polyester that stays |
| Choose it for | Polyester performance with a better ending | No plastic fibres at all | The lowest price |
Care
- Wash at 30 °C on a gentle cycle with mild detergent and no fabric softener. Washing does not start the biodegradation.
- No tumble dryer and no hot iron: heat can make a sublimation print bleed.
- Store it dry, and take it in during storms and from wind force 6.
Shop biodegradable flags
All twelve ready-to-buy flags come in CiCLO®. For your own design, choose CiCLO® in your quote: every custom type comes in CiCLO®, from mast flags and beach flags to banners, facade flags and bunting. The lead time depends on the production route.
Frequently asked questions
Sources: CiCLO® test results · The Myth of the Recycled Flag
