Compostable materials in the real world: Scion x WasteMINZ
Between the Plastic Packaging Declaration, the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan and our transition to a circular economy by 2050, there is an urgency to find ways forward to ensure the end-of-life for compostable products if we are to achieve these targets. This research conducted by Scion in coordination with WasteMINZ demonstrates that concern amongst organics recyclers that compostable packaging may negatively impact their operations or quality of end products are, in fact, operational processing variances from the Compost Standards. Here we discuss the findings and share strategies for a future that will see more composting, less landfills.
Why Scion's research is important
Certified compostable packaging allows for the maximum recovery of food scraps because, unlike recycling, there is no rinsing. The container and the food scraps are composted industrially and used as organic inputs to create compost. Our products, and others certified to globally accepted standards, are a circular solution.
For commercial organics recycling, certification and verification of conformance to the Composting Standards is vital for organics recyclers. Certification assures that technically compostable packaging materials will break down without interfering with normal operating processes and will not leave any physical or chemical residues in the finished organic product after processing.
The compostable certification standards
Where composts are processed to meet or exceed the standard, the likelihood of residual material derived from compostable products is minimised or entirely avoided. So when the composter does not compost to standard, you see residual materials. The leading certifiers of compostable products are:
* Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
* American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
* Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA)
* International Organization For Standardization (ISO)
DIN CERTCO is the certification body of TÜV Rheinland Group. TÜV Austria and DIN CERTCO are certification bodies internationally recognised to deliver compostability certification (e.g. home OK compost logo, industrial TUV compostable logo).
All Australian tests are carried out in accordance with and are based on EN 13432 standards and other international standards above, classified as 'equivalent'. The Seedling logo is a registered trademark owned by European Bioplastics and administered by the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) in Australia. It proves that the product’s claims of biodegradability and compostability as per Australian Standards have been tested (Australasian Bioplastics, 2017).
Testing for certification according to EN 13432 / EN 14995 encompasses:
* Chemical test: Disclosure of all constituents and threshold values for heavy metals are to be adhered to.
* Biodegradability in controlled composting conditions (oxygen consumption and production of CO2): Proof must be made that at least 90 per cent of the organic material is converted into CO2 within six months.
* Disintegration: After 3 months of composting and subsequent sifting through a 2 mm sieve, no more than 10 per cent residue may remain compared to the original mass.
* Ecotoxicity test: Examination of the effect of resultant compost on plant growth (agronomic test).
All tests, not merely individual sections, must be passed for the same material, and the tests must be conducted and approved by the same testing laboratories.
READ MORE: Breaking down composting
Scions’ research findings
In 2021, Scion and WasteMINZ undertook a practical study to investigate the degradation of different materials in industrial and home composting systems. The research was to determine whether packaging certified as compostable according to European Standard EN 13432 will break down in composting facilities within the required period without detriment to the final compost product. Scion’s research revealed variability in disintegration across and even within sites.
These key findings highlight why composters must adhere to the standards by which compostable products are certified:
* While all the materials were technically compostable according to laboratory testing, the conditions at each facility significantly impacted their disintegration rates.
* Factors such as time, temperature, mixing protocol, and shredding timings played a role, with moisture content emerging as a critical element.
Source: Compostable Materials in the Real World—Scion. Generally, compostable plastic materials disintegrated faster than compostable fibre-based materials.
It is important to note that organics recyclers have differing capabilities to process these compostable materials based on individual operating processes. This means that composters have come to believe that compostable products are not compostable, and this sentiment, combined with challenges regarding contamination and increased sorting and handling costs, has led to the majority of composters refusing to accept certified compostable packaging. You can read the full research paper, Compostable Materials in the Real World, (external link PDF download)—Scion.
How are we going to compost more?
The Government’s emissions reduction plan includes actions to support New Zealanders in reaching our emissions and sustainability goals. One way to reduce emissions is to make it easier to reduce waste and manage it responsibly. If we are to achieve these goals, organics recycling infrastructure needs to include contaminant management to produce quality output products for which there are markets. Adherence to the standards by which compostable products are certified is also required. There are a few things that need to happen for the potential of compostable packaging products to be realised in a circular economy:
Minimise collection contamination
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All compostable packaging must be certified to the relevant Standards and easy to distinguish, and all components of a compostable package must be compostable
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Identify problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic products for the government to phase out nationally by 2025. Only packaging suitable for material recycling or composting is allowed on the market
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Phase out the above-identified single-use plastic items that contaminate composting streams. Plastics that are no longer recyclable as per the February 2024 reform will be prioritised
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Phase out oxo-degradable (fragmentable) plastic bags often marketed as ‘plant-based’, which confuse customers leading to contamination of food scrap collections
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Work with councils to develop guidelines for closed-loop events where only certified compostable packaging is allowed on-site.
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Industry must work with MftE to create clear guidelines as to what is accepted and not as per the certifications
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Continue to educate customers to ensure that they use certified compostable packaging.
Label packaging for correct disposal
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Develop a detailed guide to labelling compostable packaging that would allow it to be easily differentiated from non-compostable, recyclable counterparts
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Run national advertising campaigns to advocate for better citizenship of waste disposal. General understanding amongst the public about the difference between compostable and non-compostable materials is lacking.
Increase collection of organics from the food service sector
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Provide support to the food services sector to encourage recovery of food waste and compostable packaging through education and engagement
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In collaboration with local councils, publish guides to compostable packaging and promote these guides to business owners and retailers on the suitability of packaging applications for composting
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Actively engage with our partners and customers to facilitate connections between food service and hospitality to collection partners and composters
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Develop a partnership project with targeted food service organisations, such as shopping and event centres, to promote food waste recovery. The focus will be on using compostable packaging to support food waste recovery. Create case studies to demonstrate the role of compostable packaging in the circular economy
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Use the information from the Scion research to develop a national standard that composters must be held accountable to
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Local councils to prioritise contracts for facilities adhering to standards that will accept certified compostable packaging and therefore contribute to council climate targets, reducing waste to landfill.
READ MORE: The future of convenience
Take action today. Work with us
Our nutrient-based packaging, made from abundant and renewable plant materials, can be returned to the earth and used within the soil ecosystem representing an infinite lifecycle. However,t out of approximately 100 compost facilities across Aotearoa, New Zealand, only seven accept certified compostable packaging. Compostable packaging has the potential to increase food waste recovery and reducing methane production. Yet Scion’s findings indicate that composters are not aligned with the global standards to which compostable products are tested. So, we see incomplete biodegradability within the 6-month time frame for industrial composts.
While the compostable packaging industry can join forces to educate its customers and work with the current infrastructure partners and the food service sector to divert food waste from landfill and increase composting capacity, without composter cooperation to work to the Standards and accept certified compostable packaging, infrastructure will remain an issue. Effectively closing the gaps between processing times within the Standards to which compostable products are certified and current real world commercial operating times will be a critical step in this next chapter.
Can you separate food scraps?
We understand it can be daunting to consider a new system or another cost, but the question soon becomes whether we can afford to change or not to.
If you are already a partner, for an overview of the current composting infrastructure, find a collection partner or email tracey@ecoware.co.nz who can advise on your disposal options.
To understand more about our products, their end-of-life and how our products can future-proof your business, contributing to the national Plastic Packaging Declaration targets and/or mandatory climate disclosures, please send an email to hello@ecoware.co.nz
