Study finds compostable packaging can offer sustainable waste management solution for the packaging industry.
Compostable packaging certified with the EN13432 trademark does biodegrade in real-life conditions, a new French research study has found.
The research – carried out by French packaging company Chaire CoPack in partnership with AgroParisTech and the University of Montpellier – was designed to validate the biodegradation of compostable food packaging in industrial composting facilities, as certified by the EN 13432 standard.
Tested over a four month period starting in October 2022, 20 tonnes of household food- and bio-waste was mixed with over 300kg of assorted compostable packaging – certified EN13432 – in real industrial composting conditions, without forced aeration.
A compost test with no compostable packaging added was conducted in parallel as a control.
The preliminary report provides conclusive evidence that certified compostable packaging is a viable sustainable solution to waste management in the food packaging industry.
Test results showed that the addition of certified compostable packaging:
- Positively affected the composting yield
- Had no negative consequences on the agronomic quality of the final compost
- Did not generate ecotoxicity to plants, earthworms and daphnia
- Met the the decay rate requirements of the compostability standards
Regarding the fate of residual compostable microfragments in the soil, the study found that:
- Immediate further biodegradation of these fragments was demonstrated
- The rate of biodegradation increased as the fragments spent more time in the compost
“We are thrilled to see the findings of this study,” said Paolo La Scola, public affairs manager at TotalEnergies Corbion.
“The results send a strong signal to governments across Europe to grant certified compostable plastics access to biowaste collection and composting infrastructure. It’s necessary to reduce plastic waste mismanagement.”
“These findings are one of many reports that proves that compostable packaging is an essential tool for increasing the collection of food waste and enabling its efficient conversion into compost.
“It is essential that all stakeholders along the value chain cooperate for the recognition of the benefits of compostable packaging in separate collection and recycling of food waste.”
Compostable packaging has become increasingly popular in recent years, as consumers look for quality packaging choices offering a reduced environmental impact.
Leading UK manufacturer Polybags is at the forefront of the market, offering consumers a huge range of compostable packaging, including compostable mailing bags, packing bags, display bags, safety bags, waste bags and compostable carrier bags.
All of these products are certified to EN13432 standards. Just keep an eye out for the compostable logo – which denotes a compostable product – in Polybags’ online shop.
Image courtesy of TotalEnergies Corbion.
