US Composting Council, Biodegradable Products Institute, industry, and civil society organizations collaborate on publishing principles to guide policymakers; suggest requirement for third-party certification of compostability claims; present clear rules for labeling and product design
August 28, 2023
Consumers perceive compostable packaging as most sustainable, report says
McKinsey report investigates consumers’ attitudes toward sustainability in food packaging; finds hygiene & food safety, as well as shelf life are most important aspects to consumers; consumers think compostable and plant-based packaging is the most sustainable, metal containers among least sustainable
July 18, 2023
U.S. consumers confused about compostable and biodegradable food packaging labels
Half of surveyed people have difficulty with the difference between compostable and biodegradable; 50% of participants fail to dispose of packaging correctly; report suggests better standardization and consumer education needed
June 6, 2023
Biodegradable polyactic acid does not degrade in marine environment, study finds
Scientists test polylactic acid (PLA) plastic advertised as biodegradable along with standard polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics for degradation in real marine environment; no signs of degradation found after 428 days; researchers say biodegradable might be misleading term
November 9, 2022
Stakeholders discuss waste management challenges of plastics
Publications from government, academia, civil society organizations, and consultancies paint problematic picture of a circular plastics economy; plastic packaging waste per person found to increase over last decade; low percentage of plastic produced is effectively recycled; pyrolysis (a type of chemical recycling) of plastics produces 9x more emissions than mechanical recycling; “biodegradable” and “compostable” plastics found to not break down in home compost systems
March 7, 2022
What are bioplastics? New fact sheet answers common questions
Food Packaging Forum publishes fact sheet about bioplastics; clarifies the meaning of the terms “bio-based” and “biodegradable;” discusses aspects of bioplastic production, chemical safety, and implications for bioplastics use and disposal
January 25, 2022
Public consultation on bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics
European Commission (EC) opens a public comment period on biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics; consultation will advise EC during development of new policies for these plastics; three areas of particular focus: sustainability of feedstocks, verification of biodegradation claims, and “widespread confusion” among consumers on terms and proper disposal routes; comment period open until March 15, 2022
July 15, 2021
Third episode of ‘Unwrapping Food Packaging’ video blog released
Food Packaging Forum publishes third episode of video blog; discusses the presence of non-intentionally added substances in food packaging and the safety and circular economy challenges they pose; reviews the limited enforcement of known chemicals in marketed food packaging, challenges posed by biodegradable packaging, and the approach of prioritizing the most hazardous chemicals
June 11, 2021
SAPEA investigates consumer perceptions of biodegradable plastics
Multidisciplinary panel by Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) discusses how consumers perceive biodegradable plastics; reviews how communication can support management and proper disposal; identifies market and policy options to increase awareness
June 9, 2021
Reviews examine biobased polymers
Several recent reviews examine the value chain of biobased polymers; discuss clarification of terms such as biobased, degradable, biodegradable, and compostable; define “biotechnological recycling (bio-recycling)” as the use of enzymes and microorganisms in a technological setting to biodegrade polymers; three biodegradable polymers assessed in marine field trials
