Our US team expert Winn Cowman, who owns her own community-scale composting facility, discusses the complexities that compostable packaging can cause for composting facilities and what a more collaborative future could look like.
In the bid to manage organic waste better, particularly food and yard waste, compostable packaging offers a promising alternative to currently non-recoverable plastic waste. At least that’s the idea. In reality, the experience of composting facilities tells a more complex story, in which there is a need to hear from composters and look more closely at compost quality.
Compostable products are showing up more and more, especially in food service settings. But for compost facilities, packaging is just one part of a broader system that’s largely built around organic materials. The arrival of novel materials, even well-intentioned ones, can add complexity. Is the item actually compostable, or just labelled that way? Will it break down fully? Could it affect the quality of the compost produced?
Let’s take a closer look at what’s really happening beyond the bin, and how we can better bring composters into the conversation.
The reality in the ground
Most compostable packaging is tested under controlled lab conditions. But in practice, composting facilities operate in very different environments to one another, with varying conditions like temperature, aeration, processing time, equipment, and input mix. What breaks down neatly in a lab doesn’t always behave the same way elsewhere.
Composting facilities have to tackle complications like some items taking longer to decompose, particularly if they end up near the edges of a pile where temperatures are cooler. In some cases, this means more manual sorting or reprocessing, and that comes at a cost.
That’s not to say these compostable materials don’t work, but they may not work predictably across different composting sites. When composters are already balancing operational pressures, any uncertainty or extra burden can make it harder to accept compostables at all.
Do labels do enough?
Adding to the challenge is the language used around compostability. Terms like “biodegradable,” “breaks down,” or “plant-based” often appear on packaging, but not all of them mean the item is truly compostable in a commercial facility.
Many packaging products are certified for composting, and that’s important progress. But even with certification, behavior in the field can vary, and composters are the ones who feel the difference. Meanwhile, consumers may struggle to recognize which labels are meaningful, leading to contamination in the compost stream. As a result, even well-labelled materials can create headaches if the system isn’t joined up.
It’s not just about whether they disappear
One thing compost is hailed for is the fact that it disintegrates. So far, most research has focused on this strength. But composters are also thinking about what gets left behind after these products disintegrate. Could certain packaging ingredients affect the nutrient value of the finished product? Might they leave chemical residues that impact soil health?
One particularly prudent issue receiving more attention is PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a ‘forever chemical’ sometimes used in food packaging for grease and water resistance. While many compostable products now avoid PFAS, and some bans are in place, concerns remain. For composters trying to sell a clean, trusted product, even small risks can still present challenges.
There’s a clear need for more research into how compostables influence compost quality, especially over the long term.
Bringing composters into the conversation
All of this points to a simple truth: compostable packaging doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It lives in a system, and if that system doesn’t support the material, the intended sustainability benefits can be lost.
Some composters have chosen not to accept compostables, not out of opposition, but because they need certainty that materials will work in their specific process and not create significantly more work for them. Without collaboration, both sides can end up frustrated.
That’s why research projects that take a “composter-considered” approach are so important. These facilities are on the frontline, managing contamination, and bearing the ultimate responsibility to provide a high-quality final product. Understanding their realities and designing compostable packaging accordingly is key to making the system work.
Compostable packaging manufacturers and brands seeking to make their packaging either 100% recyclable, compostable or reusable have helped push the market away from conventional plastic. Many have gone further, offering support to composters through funding or equipment. The challenge isn’t bad actors, it’s misalignment.
If we want compostables to succeed, we need a shared approach and a common understanding of what is and is not possible and why. To do this we need to build better feedback loops between those designing materials, those using them and those handling them at end of life. This means producers really considering what is best to be compostable and what is made recyclable, clearer labelling, more robust field testing, and research that looks beyond disintegration to long-term soil health.
