Compostable plastics are the next generation of plastics- they come from renewable materials and break down through composting.

Instead of using plastic made from petrochemicals and fossil fuels, compostable plastics are derived from renewable materials like corn, potato, and tapioca starches, cellulose, soy protein, and lactic acid. Compostable plastics are non-toxic and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted.

Don’t get confused- compostable plastics are not the same as biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, or bio-based conventional plastics. Some of the first alternative plastics were hybrid plastics made of both petroleum-based and plant-based resins. These hybrid plastics were not truly compostable because they contained petroleum.

What is compostable plastic made out of?

Compostable plastics are made from polylactic acid (PLA). PlAis made from dextrose, a sugar produced by plants. Currently, the most common raw material for PLA is field corn, although other plant sources may be used in the future. On average, the production of PLA resin uses about 52% less energy than the production of petroleum-based resins. Similarly, manufacturing PLA resin produces 80% less greenhouse gases than traditional petroleum-based resin (Source).

How do compostable plastics compare to traditional plastics?

Our BPI-certified compostable plastics are an environmentally preferred alternative to traditional plastics like polyethylene and polystyrene for a number of reasons:

 

Benefits

· Made from plants instead of petrochemicals from fossil fuels

· Manufacturing uses less energy and creates fewer greenhouse gas emissions

· Tested to be non-toxic

· Freezer safe

· Certified to break down in commercial composting facilities in 3 – 6 months

Do compostable plastics biodegrade on their own?

Compostable plastics will not fully break down on their own, as litter, or in marine environments. They need to be composted at commercial composting facilities that have the equipment to grind up and compost material for a longer period of time, since it may take up to 180 days for compostable plastics to break down. There are over 85 facilities in the United States that openly accept compostable plastics, and more that accept it on a case-by-case basis.

 

Finally, if you are choosing between certified compostable bioplastics that cannot be composted and traditional plastics, the life cycle analysis data shows that products made from a renewable resource, not petroleum-based plastic, are the most sustainable choice. This is true even if no composting option is available and the item must be sent to the landfill.

Instead of using petroleum-based plastics that create toxicity and environmental pollution, organizations and consumers can choose products made from compostable, renewable, and non-toxic bioplastics like PLA.