In this article, we'll cover:
- What is BPI Compostable?
- What is BPI?
- What are ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards?
- What does commercially compostable mean?
- What is BPI-certified compostable packaging?
- Can you recycle BPI-certified compostable containers?
- Where can I compost BPI-certified compostable food packaging?
What is BPI Compostable?
"BPI Compostable" refers to products certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) as compostable.
A product's BPI certification mark signifies that it has been tested and complies with the ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards. These standards check how well a product breaks down in industrial composting facilities. This degradation process usually takes 90 days or less and should not leave harmful residues behind.
BPI’s rules require that all products and packaging be labeled with the BPI certification mark including their swirl design unless a product category level exemption is in place. For example, straws would be very challenging to add a BPI certification mark to. This labeling helps composters identify certified products and builds trust that these items mixed with other organics like food scraps will break down entirely and not negatively impact the quality of the compost.
What is BPI?
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), a North American non-profit organization, is a leading authority in providing certification for compostable products and packaging. BPI's certification program tests products and packaging to ensure they meet compostability standards like ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868.
Products that pass these stringent tests are awarded the BPI Compostable Certification label, representing that they can degrade in a commercial composting facility without leaving harmful residues behind.
BPI works with composters, manufacturers, and stakeholders in the waste management industry to improve the infrastructure and processes needed to handle compostable products.
They also help educate about the importance of compostable products and the environmental benefits of using materials that are designed to decompose in composting environments while advocating for adoption.
What are ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards?
ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 are standards developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to evaluate the compostability of products. Here's a breakdown of each:
What is ASTM D6400?
This standard specifies the requirements for labeling materials and products as "compostable" in commercial or industrial composting facilities. It is primarily used for bioplastics.
For a material or product to pass the ASTM D6400 standard, it must:
- Break down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass at a rate similar to natural compostable materials like yard trimmings.
- Physically decompose into small fragments to be indistinguishable from compost after 180 days
- After composting, the material should leave no toxic residues or high levels of heavy metals that would harm the resulting compost quality.
What is ASTM D6868?
This standard applies to products made of biodegradable plastics and other materials (such as paper or plant fiber) used for packaging. It focuses on items that combine compostable plastic films, coatings, or other plastic layers with different substrates.
For a material or product to pass the ASTM D6868 standard, it must:
- Meet the same biodegradability and compostability requirements outlined in ASTM D6400
- All coatings and laminated materials disintegrate and biodegrade entirely when placed in industrial composting systems.
Both standards ensure that materials will break down in a commercial composting environment within a specific time frame without leaving harmful residues. ASTM D6400 mainly applies to compostable plastics, while ASTM D6868 addresses compostable packaging materials that combine bioplastics with other substrates like paper or fiber.
What does commercially compostable mean?
BPI certifies that materials and products can break down completely in a commercial compost setting.
Unlike backyard or home composting, a commercial composting system is a large-scale facility designed to handle high volumes of organic waste and compostable materials. These facilities closely monitor compost material ratios and conditions like temperature, moisture, and airflow.
The number of commercial composting facilities in the U.S. has grown as interest in sustainable waste management increases and as states around the country pass legislation mandating composting.
As of recent surveys, there are approximately 4,914 permitted composting facilities in the United States.
Additionally, the number of U.S. composting facilities increased by 55% between 2016 and 2021, which was outpaced by an 83% increase in tonnage processed by respondents according to a survey done in collaboration between the Environmental Research & Education Foundation and the US Composting Council. The Pacific and the Southeast regions manage about 40% and 30% of all organics reported processed in 2021, respectively.
There is still a need for further growth in composting capacity nationwide.
What is BPI-certified compostable packaging?
BPI Certified Packaging, such as compostable bags, plates, and cling wrap, is a single-use food service item made from plant-based or biodegradable materials.
To be BPI-certified, packaging must meet specific criteria, including:
- Compostability: The packaging should decompose into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, leaving no toxic residue.
- Time Frame: It must break down within 90 days under industrial composting conditions.
- Non-toxicity: The materials used in the packaging should not leave harmful residues or contain heavy metals that could contaminate the compost.
Can you recycle BPI-certified compostable containers?
No, traditional recycling systems generally cannot recycle BPI-certified compostable containers.
BPI-certified compostable containers are often made from plant-based materials like PLA (polylactic acid) and plant fiber, which are designed to break down in composting environments, not recycling facilities. These materials need access to microorganisms, carbon, water, and oxygen to property biodegrade.
Recycling facilities, on the other hand, are designed to process plastics, metals, and paper for reuse, which require different equipment and processes. Compostable items can contaminate the recycling stream if mixed with conventional recyclables like PET, HDPE, or other types of plastic potentially causing even more waste to get sent to landfills.
Where can I compost BPI-certified compostable food packaging?
The best option to dispose of BPI-certified compostable containers in at an industrial composting facility. These facilities provide the necessary conditions for the containers to break down properly. You can use our list of composting facilities by state to locate a composter near you.
If you don't have access to industrial composting facilities, you should throw compostable containers into the trash. They'll break down the same way any other material in a landfill will.
Despite this fact, there are important upstream benefits of compostable packaging to consider. For example, compostable packaging is made from renewable, less toxic materials and often produce less emissions during the manufacturing process than petroleum-based disposables.
