Preparations are underway for the development of a new standard for "compostable" packaging that could be dealt with by home composter units, writes Emily Ross.

The use of compostable packaging for retail products is growing in popularity among major retailers, particularly those who have committed to cutting packaging waste under the voluntary agreement with Defra (see letsrecycle.com story).

Retailers are beginning to see "compostable" packaging as a good way to cut the amount of waste ending up in shoppers' bins

Although compostable packaging waste included as a possible input material under the new Quality Protocol on Composting (see letsrecycle.com story), it is not accepted by most commercial composters at present.

Retailers see home composting as an answer, with some major supermarkets now deciding that home compostable packaging should be preferred for their bottles, above steel, aluminium, glass and non-compostable plastics.

Companies like Sainsbury's now see the term "compostable" as more useful to their shoppers than "biodegradable".

In the light of this popularity among retailers, the Composting Association has revealed that the current European compostable packaging standard EN13432 is to be reviewed this May.

The standard currently requires that plastics must achieve 90% biodegradation within 90 days. Emily Nicholls, technical manager at the Composting Association said: "The review of the EN13432 will establish whether the testing procedure is appropriate to the context of home composting and if necessary, a home compostable standard will be established."

Review
The Composting Association will lead the review with input from WRAP and members of the UK Compostable Packaging Group administered by the National Non-Food Crops Centre.

Ms Nicholls said: "This new standard could be a vital step towards the home composting of compostable packaging. At the moment retailers are using a narrow range of compostable packaging, however the potential introduction of a home composting standard and the development of the waste management company to recover these products may help to influence further introduction."

In the UK there are already 6.5 million homes with home composting bins and the idea of the home composting standard has attracted significant interest from retailers such as Sainsbury's because of the potential to encourage consumers to deal directly with their packaging.

Commercial composters like the idea of taking in compostable packaging, but have concerns about the rise in contamination levels that could go with it.

Trelawney Dampney, managing director of Dorset-based Eco Composting, said: "In principle the industry likes the idea of compostable packaging as it means more material can come our way. In reality it is going to lead to more contamination in our plants from plastics coming in which aren't compostable, but we will just have to charge higher gate fees to sort this out."

Speaking to letsrecycle.com last month about the issue of compostable packaging as he discussed the publication of the Quality Protocol for Compost, Dr Richard Swannell, director of organics at WRAP, warned that there would be a "serious risk" of contamination "if we aren't very careful".

He said of a possible move to encouraging the use of compostable packaging that "communications would need to be clearly thought through by all stakeholders."

The "compostable" packaging symbol owned by European Bioplastics

Symbol
To avoid confusion and to help customers easily see which packaging is suitable for home composting, a logo is likely to be developed. European Bioplastics own the existing 'compostable' seedling logo and are considering whether to create a modified version for home compostable packaging and plastics.

The Composting Association has been discussing this possibility with European Bioplastics.

Ms Nicholls said that local authorities were 'well placed' to disseminate information to help the public understand which type of packaging can be composted. Retailers have also suggested using their in-store magazines to increase familiarity with their symbols whilst simultaneously demonstrating their social responsibility.

Certain food types are well suited to being packed in compostable packaging such as fruit and vegetables, as well as products with a short shelf life and a high level of moisture.

Ms Nicholls said that at the moment the waste management industry doesn’t have the facilities to deal with compostable packaging but: "Local authorities and waste management planners could usefully start to look at this now, so new systems can be put in place to process these types of wastes."

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Compost Association

In-vessel composting systems are likely to be the most appropriate facilities to deal with compostable packaging, as this type of packaging tends to be used to package food and therefore needs to be treated in the same way as food waste.

The scope of packaging certification has also been widened with the development of the EN14495 – the equivalent standard of the BSEN1432 for compostable plastic. This new standard will include plastic caddy liners, collection sacks, and agricultural mulch films.