Being Biodegradable

What's so great about our biodegradeable range?

First we tackled disposables. Now, we’re tackling reusables. Two years in the making, these innovative undies were designed to biodegrade, preventing textile waste from piling up in landfill. It's not magic, it's science.

  • The world’s first Biodegradable leak-proof underwear.
  • 97% biodegradable.
  • Lasts over 100 washes.
  • Completely disappears after 5 years, when buried in active soil.
  • Reusable, comfortable, effective, biodegradable and better for the planet.
Reuseable
Biodegradable
Effective

Made with 97% Biodegradable Materials

Wondering what our new Biodegradable Briefs are really made of? This world first innovation was created using a blend of TENCEL™ and Merino wool, scientifically proven to break down into nontoxic substances at the end of their usable life. They’re super soft, and all materials are STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified and can be washed over 100 times. That’s more than 8 years of periods when washed once a month!

500 years is a long time to live in landfill

At least we think so. Our Biodegradable Briefs aim to reduce the impact of disposables and textile waste on our planet. Made from TENCEL™, Merino wool and bamboo, the main brief will begin to decompose within just a few weeks. The elastics in landfill take a little longer - around 3-5 years - but they'll get there too!

The biodegradeable lifecycle

We might be biased, but we think our Biodegradable Briefs have a pretty interesting life. Once buried, these clever undies break down and blend seamlessly back into the earth. This process leaves no harmful toxins behind and creates an environment for the cycle to start again.

How to bury your Biodegradable briefs

Bye old undies!

If your undies have reached the end of their wearable life they’re ready to bury!

Get prepped!

Cut off the elastic and discard in regular waste to biodegrade.

Time to go!

Bury the main pant in active soil - soil full of bugs and microorganisms.

Watch the magic happen!

Sit back and watch science happen. They’ll start to biodegrade within a few weeks.

Bye old undies!
Get prepped!
Time to go!
Watch the magic happen!

FAQs

Biodegradable means that in the right conditions and presence of microorganisms, or bacteria, the garment will eventually break down to its basic components and blend back into the earth, thereby avoiding pollution. We have used a combination of natural textiles and bioengineered synthetic textiles that have been scientifically proven to break down into non-toxic substances at their end-of-life and when they are eventually thrown away, thus reducing waste and pollution.

The underwear is 97% biodegradable. The waist and leg elastic contain a small amount (less than 3% of the total garment) of elastane that is not biodegradable. The tiny amount of elastane will eventually degrade however it will take a longer time than the rest of the garment. You will be able to see the garment start biodegrading in active soil within weeks, however, the elastane will take up to 3-5 years. 

When your underwear arrives it will come in a FSC recycled kraft envelope and compostable satchel both which are 100% biodegradable. 

This depends on the care of the product.It will last the same amount of time as our original Modibodi® underwear if you follow the suggested care instructions. We’ve lab tested the brief to maintain quality format with at least 100 washes, but many of our customers have washed and used their Modibodi® undies for much longer!

Our Biodegradable underwear has been tested at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) using the ISO 11721-1:2001, Biodegradable Test. RMIT Is a globally recognised institute that performs research and testing through the School of Fashion and Textiles. 

After 9 weeks of biodegradation, the pants had begun partial biodegradation. The main fabric of the pant TENCEL™ and Merino wool had clear signs of degradation with holes from microorganisms present in the soil. The gusset’s first layer, Merino wool had begun degrading, the middle layers of bamboo terry and the waterproof layer had not yet begun degrading at 9 weeks based on a visual test.  

Biodegradability test determines the resistance of fibres to microorganisms present in the soil. The ISO standard states the specific soil composition, water holding capacity and temperature that should be used to simulate environmental conditions for biodegradation.  By burying separate fabric samples and the full biodegradable pant, RMIT was able to determine the trajectory of degradation over time by measuring the strength and weight loss of the fabrics and visual observation. 

The waist and leg elastics are a combination of enhanced biodegradation Amni-Soul Eco polyamide yarn and a small percentage of elastane. Their special composition allows bacteria in landfills to digest them, biodegrading into organic matter in about three to five years, unlike other fibers that take decades to decompose. Further information on their testing can be found here https://www.fulgar.com/eng/products/amni-soul-eco  

Our waterproof Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) layer is tested to degrade in 3 – 5 years. Further information on the Green Material can be found here.

Yes, they have the same wicking, absorbency and leak-proof strength as our original underpants, only now they are made from biodegradable materials. Our Biodegrable Modibodi underwear currently come in our Moderate-Heavy absorbency, which holds up to 15mls!

No. Just like your wool jumper or cotton t-shirt all made of natural biodegradable materials, they do not break down in the wash. Biodegradability requires the correct conditions to breakdown – nice active soil for the pant or anaerobic landfill for the elastic where microorganisms can do their work.