Compostable Plastic Is Garbage
​by Saahil Desai

Packaging Topic Brief:

• Dr Claire Sand from PTR was interviewed for this article given her expertise in food packaging.
• Compostable packaging is not as sustainable as it seems. While it has the potential to be better for the planet than traditional packaging, it is often not composted properly and ends up in landfills.
• There is a lack of composting infrastructure in the United States. Only a small percentage of compostable packaging is actually being composted, due to the limited number of composting facilities that accept it.
• The federal government is investing in composting infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $90 million to help build new composting facilities and expand existing ones.​
• The future of compostable packaging. As the composting infrastructure in the United States improves, the use of compostable packaging is likely to increase. However, it is important to ensure that compostable packaging is actually being composted properly, so that it does not end up in landfills.
• Even if compostable packaging actually was composted, this method of disposal is not as sustainable as first reducing and then either reusing or recycling options.
• Compostable packaging standards need to be improved to ensure that the compost generated does not contain chemicals of concern and micro-materials.

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View The Atlantic article >

The Atlantic  July 2023​ Planet Column - View Article

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This content is related to food packaging including:​​

1. Compostable plastic packaging
2. Plastic packaging and single use plastic 
3. Sustainability and recyclability as well as certified compostable products
4. Packaging material science
5. Technical specs like chemically manipulating plant sugars such as corn starch and sugar cane to achieve similar properties; the flimsier, cardboardlike compostable bowls are molded out of bamboo and other plant fibers; bagasse

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Related  

• Compostable
  
• Consumer Views, Trends, and Testing of Packaging (Sustainable)
  
• Leadership in Driving Research
  
•   Plastic 
  

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