Compostable Packaging

In 2015 a New Zealand standard for compostable film (AS 4736) was agreed upon and any council looking at setting up a kerbside organics collection and permitting compostable bin liners has agreed to use that standard. Learn more here.

Standards for compostable packaging and food service ware.

To date there is no agreed New Zealand standard for compostable packaging and food service ware. In the absence of a New Zealand composting standard there are several overseas standards that are recognised in Aotearoa:

Commercial composting standards and verifying organisations:

Home composting standards and verifying organisations:

To determine if a product genuinely meets a standard you can check the following databases. If the product is certified compostable, it should be listed in the relevant database.

AS4736 https://www.bioplastics.org.au/certification/who-is-certified-in-aus-nz/

EN13432 http://www.dincertco.tuv.com/search/categories?category_id=442&locale=en

ASTM D 6400 and En13432 https://www.bpiworld.org/CertifiedCompostable

If you have any questions about these standards, please contact jenny@wasteminz.org.nz

The Packaging Forum established an independent technical working group (Compostable Packaging Standard Adoption Working Group (CPSA-WG)) comprising composters, manufacturers, waste industry, central and local government and research institutions which met in 2018 to assess existing international composting standards and determine whether a separate New Zealand standard is necessary. For the results of that working group, please email lynmayes@madworld.co.nz

Paper packaging and products

Generally it is only compostable plastic packaging and products that require certification (including paper based coffee cups or takeaway containers that have a PLA lining). For paper only packaging and products the Australasian Bioplastics Association notes:

Paper, being wood-fibre based is accepted as a natural material and presents no environmental hazard. However, additives and coatings may affect the rate of disintegration and biodegradation or toxicity in the final compost, as can residue from the paper manufacturing process, colorants and printing inks. For this reason, some have applied to have their paper and other natural fibre based products verified to meet the requirements of one of the Australian standards as they believe that having that certification will be a marketing advantage. There is no regulatory or legal obligation to have a product  so certified, but if you are challenged to prove claims of compostability or biodegradability, having the certification may be of assistance.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment published an online resource in July 2018 on “Biodegradable and compostable plastics in the environment”, as the result of a small enquiry into claims being made about these plastics as “the array of environmental claims being made about plastic packaging might easily lead to misunderstandings.” Click here to view.

In June 2018 WasteMINZ convened an Advertising of Compostable Products Working Group (ACPWG). The ACPWG is made up of council and industry representatives and scientists and aimed to:

• clarify the terms used in the advertising of alternatives to plastic products
• identify where these products should be disposed of at their end of life
• ensure the credibility of certified compostable products is not undermined by products that make unsubstantiated claims of biodegradability.

This group has published 4 guides to compostable and biodegradable products. The  first 3 guides are aimed at consumers, retailers and businesses who are making decisions about consumables (including packaging and food service ware). 

“A Quick guide to environmental claims for plastic products and packaging” – which is aimed at consumers who want to know the difference between compostable, biodegradable and degradable plastics.

“It’s complicated: A guide to biodegradable & compostable products and packaging” –  which is aimed at manufacturers or retailers who need to understand the environmental claims of products they are being encouraged to purchase.  Environmental educators, sustainability experts council staff and consumers who want more details will also find it useful. 

End of life flowchart – which provides a pictorial guide to the different terms and their disposal options. The flowchart can be used on its own or to complement the Quick Guide and It’s Complicated. The End of life flowchart can be downloaded as a jpeg and embedded as an infographic provided that WasteMINZ is credited for the image.

These guides can be viewed here.

The fourth guide Best Practice Guidelines for the Advertising of Compostable Products was published in collaboration with Plastic NZ. These guidelines are aimed at manufacturers, distributors and retailers of compostable products and focus on the requirements of the Commerce Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority for claims (such as ‘compostable’, ‘biodegradable” or ‘degradable’). This guide can be viewed here.

If you have any questions about the advertising of compostable products, please email sarahp@wasteminz.org.nz

A list of facilities which accept compostable packaging can be viewed here.

WasteMINZ is also working with facilities who wish to trial taking compostable packaging.

If your facility is interested in trialling compostable packaging, please contact jenny@wasteminz.org.nz

The New Zealand Composting Industry met in July 2018 to discuss the future of compostable packaging from their perspective. Read their position statement here

In 2019 WasteMINZ and Plastics NZ released a guide to advertising the plastics used in compostable products and packaging. The aim of the guide is to provide clear guidance for consumers and product suppliers in New Zealand on these relatively new types of packaging.

WasteMINZ and Plastics NZ Guide to Advertising the Plastics Used in Compostable Products and Packaging was developed in collaboration with scientists, composting specialists and compostable packaging manufacturers. The guide tackles the myth that all plant-based plastics (bioplastics) are compostable.

The guide can be viewed here.