How Long Do Scrunchies Take to Biodegrade? A Look at the Difference Between Conventional Scrunchies and SAGE, Our 100% Biodegradable Design
Scrunchies seem soft, simple and harmless, but most of them unfortunately are anything but.
Behind the pretty patterns and stretchy comfort, the majority of scrunchies on the market are made with synthetic fabrics and plastic-based elastics that can take decades, or even centuries to break down.
As a company passionate about circular design, we wanted to understand exactly what that meant. And more importantly: could a scrunchie be redesigned so that every part of it returns harmlessly to the earth?
The answer is yes and that’s how SAGE (sustainable, adaptable, green, eco-friendly), the Beautiful Benevolence 100% biodegradable, compostable scrunchie was born.
In this post, we’ll compare:
- how long conventional scrunchies take to decompose
- why their materials are such a problem
- how our biodegradable scrunchie behaves at the end of its life
- and why compostable design matters more than ever
Why Most Scrunchies Take So Long to Biodegrade
The typical store-bought scrunchie is made from two main components:
1. Synthetic Fabric (Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic, etc.)
These fibres are plastic. They do not biodegrade in any meaningful timescale. Most estimates show:
- 20–200+ years for synthetic textiles to break down in landfill
- Even then, they simply fragment into microplastics—they don’t return to natural cycles
2. Conventional Elastic
Most elastic is made from:
- rubber blended with polyester or nylon
- fully synthetic elastane (spandex/Lycra)
These materials also persist in the environment for many decades, and like synthetic fabric, they slowly shed microplastics as they age.
So despite being tiny, a single conventional scrunchie can remain in landfill for generations.
How SAGE, Our Biodegradable Scrunchie Breaks the Pattern
We wanted to see if a scrunchie could be truly circular, so we designed SAGE who is:
🌿 100% biodegradable
🌱 100% compostable
🧵 Made from Liberty of London Tana Lawn (a fine, lightweight cotton) or Liberty of London Silk
🕊 Finished with a 100% cellulose thread and an inner elastic core made from 40% organic cotton and 60% natural rubber
Why These Materials Matter
- Cotton Tana Lawn is a natural cellulose fibre. Under composting conditions it can break down in a few months to a year, depending on moisture, temperature, and oxygen.
- Silk is a protein fibre that biodegrades similarly to wool. In compost it typically breaks down within a few months, sometimes faster.
Because SAGE scrunchie is made entirely from natural fibres, including the stretch component, there are:
- No plastics
- No synthetic elastics
- No microplastic shedding
- No fossil-fuel-based components at all
When composted, SAGE scrunchie can return fully to the soil as organic matter.
Biodegradation: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Scrunchie Type | Main Materials | Biodegradation Time* | End-of-Life Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical High-Street Scrunchie | Polyester/nylon fabric, synthetic elastic | 20–200+ years | Leaves microplastics, persists for generations |
| “Elastic-Free” Eco Scrunchie | Natural outer fabric, synthetic elastic | Fabric breaks down; elastic persists for decades | Partial plastic pollution |
| SAGE – % Biodegradable Scrunchie | Liberty Tana Lawn cotton, real silk (outer + inner stretch core) | Months to ~1 year (under composting conditions) | Breaks down completely, no microplastics, no toxic residues |
*Biodegradation times depend heavily on composting conditions; natural fibres break down faster in warm, active compost and more slowly in landfill.
Why This Matters
Small items get overlooked, but they add up.
Unfortunately, hair ties and scrunchies are some of the most commonly lost textiles, ending up:
- in landfill
- flushed into wastewater
- in gutters
- on beaches
- or tangled in wildlife habitats
Designing them to be biodegradable ensures that if they are lost, they don’t become permanent pollutants.
Circular design isn’t only for big products, it’s for the everyday objects we touch constantly.
In Praise of Products That Return to the Earth
The Beautiful Benevolence biodegradable SAGE scrunchie is a tiny example of what’s possible when we ask:
“How can this object end its life gracefully?”
By choosing natural materials, eliminating plastics, and designing for compostability, we can make beautiful, functional products that care for the earth as much as they care for us.