COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING Understanding compostable plastic packaging
Environmental concerns surrounding unrecycled plastic waste have prompted a rise in alternative ‘sustainable’ solutions which look and feel like traditional plastic but can be composted at end of life, helping to combat excess waste. In practice, the solution is not so straightforward, with many now recognising that improper use of compostable plastic packaging could do more harm than good. Lee Metters, group business development director, Domino Printing Sciences (Domino), explains
recyclable waste around it. Just a small amount of compostable material can contaminate standard plastic recycling streams, leading to the waste of vast quantities of recyclable material. Given these issues, in January 2020, WRAP published new guidance to help businesses make informed choices when considering the use of compostable packaging.
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WHAT SHOULD BE COMPOSTABLE? The key to the successful use of compostables is finding areas where collection and recycling of single-use plastics is problematic and where compostable materials could help to divert food waste from landfills. For example, hard-to-recycle, heavily food-contaminated items do not currently have an ideal waste stream for disposal. Such items can cause issues when placed in traditional recycling streams and can contribute to methane emissions caused by the anaerobic breakdown of residual food waste if sent to landfill. This latter point is key to any discussion surrounding compostables – as methane emissions from landfill are a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with governments worldwide committing to the introduction of mandatory household food waste collections in a bid to curb this.
Upcoming regulations include: • European Directive (EU) 2018/851 – this directive mandates the introduction of separate collection of food waste as of 1st January 2024 within the EU
• UK Government Resources and Waste Strategy – this strategy pledges the introduction of separate collections for household food waste in the UK by 2023
As the scenarios below outline, these upcoming regulations
present a considerable opportunity for compostable plastic packaging when used correctly. 1. Heavily soiled pots, tubs, and trays One of the most cited scenarios where compostable packaging could come in useful is with food contact packaging, where the product is heavily contaminated by food waste and difficult for consumers to clean – such as microwavable ready meal trays. Instead, a compostable microwavable tray could be placed into a
food waste bin in areas where industrial composting facilities exist or, depending on the material, into a home composter. Any leftover food within the tray would then become compost rather than food
primary concern with compostable plastic is disposal – if a consumer incorrectly disposes of a compostable plastic container in a recycling bin, it can contaminate the
waste sent to landfill. This would also reduce the number of trays being sent to landfill and improve the quality of recyclables.
2. Flexible food contact packaging Flexible plastic wrap is a popular feature in food and beverage applications in everything from single-serve condiment sachets to prepacked, ready-made salads and convenience pouches. However, these materials can be challenging from a recycling perspective, as they can stick together and get tangled with other recyclables. Compostable plastics could have a role to play here – especially
where products are contaminated with food. In such a scenario, compostable packaging and any leftovers could be disposed of together into a food waste bin for collection and treatment.
3. Items destined for the compost pile Certain items regularly end up in home compost, or organic waste collection, despite containing conventional, non-compostable plastic. Such items include tea bags, which many consumers incorrectly assume to be entirely compostable, and fruit and vegetable stickers disposed of with fruit and vegetable peelings. In these instances, it makes sense to switch to compostable
alternatives to improve the quality of the final compost. Interestingly, WRAP highlights teabags as one of the only areas where compostable plastic packaging should always be used in place of traditional plastics because they are regularly placed within the organic waste collection.
GET THE LABELLING RIGHT Ensuring consumer awareness of correct disposal methods is of the utmost importance when considering the use of compostable plastic solutions. Manufacturers using compostable plastics should ensure that all items are clearly labelled to avoid the risk of compostable materials being disposed of inappropriately. WRAP advises that manufacturers consider labelling which informs consumers how items should be disposed of, rather than using statements, such as ‘100% compostable’.
CONCLUSION Compostable materials are an exciting development in the packaging market but careful consideration is required. All brands should partner with an experienced coding and marking provider who can support sustainability design with coding solutions for compostable plastics, advise on appropriate labelling choices, and help ensure products will be accepted by retailers, valued by consumers, and trusted by everyone with an environmental concern.
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