Why Compostable Packaging Isn’t the Solution
November 04
As the world grapples with the environmental impact of single-use plastics, compostable packaging has emerged as a popular alternative. It’s marketed as a greener option, with the promise of breaking down naturally and leaving behind no harmful residue. However, while the idea of compostable packaging sounds like the perfect solution, it’s not without significant drawbacks. Here’s why compostable packaging isn’t the answer to our plastic waste problem.
1. Limited Composting Infrastructure
It is ‘compostable’ only under very specific conditions – it often requires industrial composting facilities to break down properly. These facilities provide the high heat and specific conditions needed for compostable materials to decompose efficiently. However, such facilities are not widely available, especially in many parts of the world. This means that most compostable packaging simply ends up in landfill or is wrongly thrown in recycling bins, which makes the recycling process more expensive and less efficient.
2. Consumer Confusion and Misleading Labels
The terms “compostable” and “biodegradable” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Compostable items are designed to break down into non-toxic components within a defined time-frame and in a very specific composting environment, and are subject to certification in Europe. Biodegradable simply means that the items have the ability to break down due to microbial action in unspecified conditions and over an indefinite period of time.
This confusion can lead to improper disposal. For example, consumers might throw compostable packaging into regular recycling bins, contaminating the recycling stream. Or they might assume that these products will break down in a backyard compost pile, when in fact, many require the conditions found only in industrial composting facilities.
3. Environmental Impact of Production and Disposal
Producing compostable packaging isn’t as green as it may seem. While they might use renewable materials, their production is resource intensive. In some cases, the carbon footprint of producing compostable packaging can be comparable to or even higher than that of traditional plastics, especially when considering the full life cycle.
Even when compostable packaging is properly disposed of in industrial composting facilities, the benefits are not always clear-cut. For example, the energy required to process these materials can be high, and the end product may not always provide significant environmental benefits.
Conclusion
While compostable packaging may seem like a step in the right direction, it is not a comprehensive solution to the single-use plastic problem. As things currently stand, compostable packaging can perhaps be considered part of the final tier in the 5 Rs of waste management – recycle. As consumers, we can already do our part by engaging with the top three tiers – refuse, reduce, reuse. TiffinTime lets you have your cake and eat it too – a delicious takeaway without the single-waste plastic – all the taste, without the waste!