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With compostable food-contact packaging gaining traction as an alternative to single-use plastics, businesses and consumers have raised questions about whether this type of packaging successfully breaks down in commercial compost systems. Answering these questions calls for rigorous research, a vast network of experts and significant industrywide collaboration, which is why we took on the challenge with our partners at the Composting Consortium.
packaging units tested and measured for disintegration
types of composting technologies included in the field test
of compostable plastic broke down at the end of the composting process
of compostable fiber broke down at the end of the composting process
To deeply explore the question, we designed the largest known field test of compostable packaging ever conducted in North America. We recruited ten best-in-class composting facilities across the U.S., spanning a range of sizes, geographies and technologies, and embarked on an 18-month study to measure the disintegration of over 23,000 units of compostable packaging.
Commercial composting varies enormously across facilities so we built a methodology that tracked real-world composability of packaging along with the conditions and technologies used at each site. This comprehensive approach allowed us to measure packaging disintegration while also identifying the ideal conditions to support the composting of food-grade packaging.
Our analysis revealed that composable plastic packaging and compostable fiber packaging both break down successfully in commercial composting facilities where appropriate operating procedures are in place, that is where moisture, temperature and oxygen levels are maintained within reasonable ranges. Additionally, the results highlighted best practices for breaking down compostable fiber packaging, which disintegrates faster with the help of mechanical agitation and higher moisture levels. The research also illustrated how composability alone is not enough to recover these materials: there is work ahead to minimize contamination from plastic packaging and extend best practices for handling compostable streams.
We published the findings in a first-of-its-kind report that has helped spark new industry collaboration to divert compostable packaging from landfill and guide composters on how to successfully break down packaging in commercial facilities. As part of the Composting Consortium's mission to help keep more organics in circulation, we donated the data to the Compostable Field Testing Program, which enabled the launch of their data platform to help composters, policymakers, regulatory agencies, manufacturers, researchers and consumers evaluate composting opportunities. The study was covered by media extensively, including by Forbes, Recycling Today and Packaging Dive.
We are part of Closed Loop Partners—which includes the largest privately held recycling company in the U.S. and one of the largest circular economy capital management groups in the world—we’re uniquely positioned to bring research, design, and real-world implementation together.
