Discover Your Guide to Compostable Plastic Packaging
Discover Your Guide to Compostable Plastic Packaging
Compostable plastics share qualities with biodegradable plastics and synthetic plastics, but their end-of-life scenario is quite different from both. While synthetic plastics end up in landfills, and non-compostable biodegradeable plastics decompose over an unspecified amount of time, compostable plastics can be broken down and turned into compost within 6 months.
The food and beverage industry has long been in the hot seat for the amount of plastic waste they send to landfills. Compostable packaging might be the best solution to alleviate those concerns and provide a green solution. In this guide, you are going to learn what compostable plastics are, how they differ from recycled plastics, and how they stack up as a viable environmentally-friendly solution to standard plastic packaging.
What are Compostable Plastics?
Compostable plastics are typically made of plant-based materials designed to break down into compost within a specified period of time. That time period is typically up to 180 days, after which the compost can be used as a soil conditioner.
Unlike food waste, which can break down into organic matter in a simple backyard composting system, compostable plastics require a very specific industrial process to break down into organic matter. If they are not put through that process, they too are much like standard plastic and can sit in landfills for hundreds of years.
What Is Compost?
Compost is a nutrient-rich type of soil that improves the health of regular soil. It is made from the breakdown of organic materials like leaves. Typically, insects like caterpillars shred up the organic matter, and then bacteria and fungi break it down into compost, which then fertilizes the soil.
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Types of Compostable Plastics
There are four big players in the compostable plastics material space.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
This might be the future of plastics. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)are the bio cousins of polyesters. They are produced when microorganisms break down carbons like sugar or vegetable oil. These PHAs can biodegrade in a variety of environments, like marine environments, unlike other compostable plastics.
Polylactic Acid (PLA)
Polylactic acid (PLA) is made through a fermentation process involving plant sugars. Those plant sugars are typically made of sugarcane or corn, and that sugar is then fermented and turned into lactic acid. The lactic acid molecules are then chained together to produce PLA.
While the original natural matter is biodegradable, once it is turned into PLA, it requires a very specific set of conditions for it to decompose and turn into compost. PLA is often used to make things like cold drink cups for coffee and juice.
Starch
Compostable plastics can also be made of starch from plants. However, it cannot be used alone because it would be too brittle as well as water-soluble. Starch is mixed with other compostable materials like glycerin to get a final compostable plastic product.
Cellulose
Cellulose from wood and cotton can be used to make plastics when that cellulose is combined with other materials. Often, chemicals are required to break down the structure of the cellulose so that it can be moldable. While it is compostable, the chemical levels in the treatment process can affect what type of environment it needs to break down.
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How Does Compostable Plastic Turn Into Compost
Compostable plastic requires microbes and very specific conditions for it to break down into organic material. Temperatures must be high, and oxygen and moisture levels must be controlled. These specific conditions speed up the decomposition process so that compostable plastics can typically break down within 90 - 180 days. Plastic can only be called compostable if it breaks down within a set period of time.
At a Glance
- At high heat up to 55–70°C (131–158°F)
- Controlled moisture levels
- Controlled oxygen levels
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Why Compostable Plastics Can’t Break Down In Home Composts
Home composting systems are designed to compost food waste naturally with the help of microorganisms. Those microorganisms can break down food waste, but not compostable plastic made for packaging. That’s because compostable packaging has certain design elements that are useful for the food and beverage industry, but those same design elements prevent microorganisms from breaking down the compostable plastic.
Special Case: Food and Beverage Industry
Compostable plastics are designed to be used in a variety of ways including for the food and beverage industry. In order to be used within that industry, the compostable plastic must withstand certain temperatures, bacteria, and moisture. And for that very reason that simply putting them in a compost will not trigger a breakdown process. Instead, the compostable plastic will act much like standard plastic and remain intact for a long time if left in a backyard compost.
To overcome the limitations of compostable plastic, it is engineered in a way that allows it to be composted under specific conditions that only an industrial process can facilitate.
The Difference Between Compostable and Conventional Plastic
Compostable plastic is usually made out of plant-based materials or out of materials that are designed to break down. Conventional plastics are usually made out of fossil fuels. Compostable plastic will break down into non-toxic organic materials, while conventional plastics can decompose but never fully break down.
The Difference Between Compostable and Biodegradable Plastic
The biggest difference between compostable and biodegradable plastics is the timeline in which they break down. Biodegradable plastics can break down into natural materials with the help of organisms. However, the timeline for how long that will take is not predefined. Compostable plastics also break down with the help of microorganisms, but the timeline for that breakdown is specific.
The Difference Between Compostable and Recyclable Plastic
Recyclable plastics are designed so that they can be broken down and turned into new materials. Compostable plastics are designed so that they break down and turn into organic matter. Their end-of-life function is quite different from one another as one will be reused while the other will return to the earth.
Benefits of Using Compostable Plastics for the Food and Beverage Industry
There are a multitude of reasons why food and beverage industry owners can benefit from converting to compostable plastic packaging including
Real-life Green Application
While there are more and more items that claim to be recyclable and biodegradable, when it comes to real-life applications, they come up short. That means, oftentimes, while items are recyclable, when they actually enter the recycling waste stream, they are unable to be recycled. That could be for a variety of reasons like recyclable plastic may contain food waste, which then cannot be separated and sorted in a real-life recycling facility.
Compostable plastics can solve the problem of real-life applications because both the compostable plastic and the food matter are made of organic materials. That means, with the correct systems in place, they should be able to go through the waste cycle together with good results. That means when you as a business market list ecoconscious decision-making as one of your values, you are actually taking those steps in real life.
Reducing Use of Nonrenewable Resources
Compostable plastics are made of environmentally-friendly renewable materials like corn and sugarcane. Standard plastics, however, are made from fossil fuels which are composed of organic materials that took hundreds of thousands of years to be transformed into fossil fuel and therefore are not an immediately renewable source.
Costumer Appreciation
More and more consumers are getting on the eco-conscious bandwagon, and that means they are actively looking to spend their dollars with companies that reflect their values. Food and beverage companies that want to be a part of this movement and support customers on this path need to put their own dollars into practices that reflect those customers’ interests.
Clear Branding Message
When you use earth-friendly goods in your business, you are naturally reflecting your values as an organization without having to say a word. Since you already spend money on packaging, the change over to compostable packaging can be considered as much as a marketing expense as an operating expense. Instead of writing out your value statement, you can show it in your compostable packaging.
Planning for the Future
Governments are increasingly being proactive about ensuring that businesses comply with environmental regulations. For example, the EU will introduce strict packaging requirements related to recyclability for businesses selling in the EU. Those that don’t meet those standards will be unable to sell within their marketplace. This move by the EU signals what’s to come for markets around the world, and businesses that start paying to green their businesses now can avoid being stuck in limbo or racing to meet strict environmental deadlines in the future.
Compostable Plastic Applications
Compostable plastics are being used in a variety of ways in the food and beverage industries.
Food Uses
Clamshell food packaging and other takeaway containers are heavily criticized for the amount of waste they create. We’ve all seen big plastic clamshells and takeaway containers piled into trash containers at food courts and other public places. By using compostable plastic containers as well as cutlery instead, food businesses can do their part to reduce the negative impact takeaways have on the environment.
Beverage and Ancillary Packaging Uses
You can now purchase compostable plastic cups and lids for cold drinks, as well as compostable straws. Compostable plastic comes in the form of bags and films, too, so it is possible for businesses to provide a full compostable packaging experience for their clients.
At a Glance
- Bags
- Straws
- Clamshells
- Pods
- Cups
- Lids
- Films
- Takeaway containers
Why Ecoconscious Consumers Are Leading the Compostable Charge
If you are an environmentally-conscious consumer, then it surely breaks your heart each time you use a piece of packaging that you know will never be recycled. Previously, food and beverage businesses did not have options to provide certain things in more environmentally-conscious forms due to prohibitive costs or lack of availability, but now that’s not the case.
More and more options are available to help businesses go green, and eco-conscious consumers can support their green vision for the future by supporting businesses that champion low-to-no waste packaging solutions. By supporting businesses that choose compostable packaging, consumers can help reduce waste and, with that, greenhouse gas emissions. And by spending your dollars where you see businesses choosing the better green option, you are supporting sustainable habits.
As we move towards implementing truly circular recycling systems, consumers will be leading the charge through their own habits. It is consumers who will choose to frequent businesses that provide eco-friendly packaging, and it is consumers who must do the job of putting that packaging into the correct waste streams. Compostable packaging for food and beverages makes the implementation of real-life sustainable recycling and composting streams easier for both customers and businesses alike.
Challenges for Compostable Packaging Right Now
One of the biggest challenges for the use of compostable packaging is that this type of packaging requires very specialized processing. Facilities for such a type of industrial processing are not available everywhere. So that means a business may use compostable packaging and a consumer may choose to frequent a business that uses compostable packaging, but if there is no facility to process that packaging, it will end up in the landfill like standard plastic packaging.
Lack of Compostable Education
Another big challenge is that consumers often confuse compostable packaging with recyclable packaging. Those two things are very different and must enter separate waste streams in order to be processed. When consumers throw compostable packaging in with their recyclables, the compostable packaging not only does not get composted, but the recyclable batch also becomes unrecyclable. It is not the fault of consumers, as there isn’t a lot of education about compostables vs recyclables.
Quality
Compostable packaging is not perfect yet. What that means is that it doesn’t perform at the top-tier level for certain applications. Some compostable packaging is not the best when it comes to high heat and high moisture applications. That’s why it’s always better to get a sample before implementing a new type of packaging in your business.
Costs
As compostable packaging has yet to go mainstream, the costs of introducing compostable packaging into a small business can be high. When a business is looking at its bottom line, sometimes a more expensive option for packaging does not seem palatable. As compostable packaging becomes more mainstream, costs will go down. In order for it to become more mainstream, more businesses need to invest in it, and so we come to a circular problem. This circular issue, however, will likely be upended by sweeping environmental regulatory requirements that make eco-conscious packaging a must rather than a nice-to-have.
How to Know if Packaging is Compostable
It is not easy to identify something as compostable by simply looking at it. What you need to look for are certification classifications on the packaging, like ATSM D6400, which indicates that the material can break down and turn into compost within 180 days, or the BPI certified compostable logo. Outside of North America, there are equivalent classifications that will indicate specifically that the material is compostable at an industrial facility.
Additionally, you will discover that compostable plastic is not as rigid as standard plastic. That’s not to say that it doesn’t hold its form, but rather that it feels somewhat softer or more malleable. However, in order to be sure, it is best to check for certifications even if the packaging feels different to you.
Good Alternatives to Compostable Plastic Packaging
If you are located in an area that lacks an industrial composting facility, then there is no logical reason to use it. There are several other earth-friendly packaging options you can use instead that are more likely to be easily processed in most areas.
Recyclable Plastic Packaging
Recyclable packaging is a great alternative to compostable packaging, as it also ensures that packaging does not end up in landfills. Recycling collection systems are fairly common in cities, and consumers are generally educated about recyclable goods. That means they know which waste stream to place their recyclables in so that they are processed correctly. That also means you, as a business, are putting your money into an eco-friendly packaging system that is practical rather than theoretical.
The one challenge for food and beverage businesses is educating consumers about how to dispose of the recyclable packaging, as packaging that contains traces of food can muddle up the recycling stream, so further education in that aspect is needed, as well as better systems that can figure out better ways to remove food contaminants before processing.
Paper Packaging
Packaging made out of paper, which is made out of wood pulp, is recyclable and promotes the use of renewable materials for packaging. However, some paper packaging can come with coatings that are designed to prevent grease or moisture. These coatings can make the packaging non-recyclable, as recycling systems often don’t have the ability to separate the coating from the paper. So, if you are serious about green packaging, then it's best to ask your packaging supplier about the different types of paper packaging available.
Reusable
While we mention reusable packaging as a great alternative to compostable packaging because clearly it is the best environmental choice, it is not cost-effective for most businesses. What is possible is to consider offering a discount to customers who bring in their own reusable containers to your food business. That allows you to reduce packaging costs while also encouraging environmentally-friendly practices.
The Best Approach to Compostable Packaging
Compostable plastic packaging is a great alternative to standard plastic packaging. However, it only does its job if there is infrastructure available to process compostable plastics. Luckily, there are a variety of environmentally-friendly packaging options on the market. When deciding on which type of eco-friendly packaging you’re going to use, make sure the waste infrastructure in your region supports it so you can make a practical difference, not just a theoretical one.
FAQ
Can I compost plastic in my home compost?
No, you cannot compost compostable plastic in your home compost because your home compost does not have the right environmental conditions to compost compostable plastic. Compostable plastic can only be composted under very specific conditions that most home composters don’t have the ability to recreate.
Why don’t compostable plastics break down naturally?
While compostable plastics are made from plant-based materials, those materials have been manipulated to withstand usage. That means their durability itself makes it so they don’t decompose in natural conditions. That’s why you need abnormal conditions to break them down.
Can you throw compostable plastic packaging in your recycling bin?
No, compostable packaging cannot be placed in your recycling bin. Recyclable items are those that can be broken down and reengineered to create a new material. Compostable packaging is not turned into a new material; it is broken down into organic matter to be used as a conditioner for soil.
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