Food residue? Choose compostable plastics, advises UK WRAP

07 Feb 2020 --- Leader of the UK Plastics Pact WRAP has released new guidance to address confusion over compostable plastic packaging. WRAP states that compostable plastics could be particularly useful for flexible packaging which contains food residue, such as tea bags and fruit and vegetable stickers. Meanwhile, the organization limits its support for rigid compostables to ready meal trays and “closed system” events using items like cups. WRAP also calls for clearer consumer labeling and urges the avoidance of compostable plastics where there is potential for them to contaminate conventional plastics recycling.

Based on the products and infrastructure that are available to packaging designers and specifiers today, the guidance identifies key applications and opportunities for compostable plastic packaging. These are often items that are likely to have food residue on them and could potentially facilitate the recycling of food waste.

WRAP identifies the following key potential uses:

• Food caddy liners (and other bags such as carrier bags or fruit and vegetable bags that could be used as food caddy liners)
• Fruit and vegetable stickers
• Tea bags
• Coffee pods
• Ready meal trays
• “Closed loop” situations like festivals.

For an item to be deemed compostable in practice it must be certified to BS EN13432 (requirement for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation) or meet requirements of an appropriate home composting specification. It must also be widely collected and sent to appropriateorganic waste treatment sites for processing or be suitable for home composting, WRAP indicates.

Which bin?
Recommendations on how to communicate with citizens about appropriate disposal of compostable plastic packaging are also provided. Notably, by explaining whether the item can be composted at home or not and highlighting the importance of not putting them in the recycling bin with conventional plastics.

“We know from research that 77 percent of citizens believe that compostable plastic is better for the environment than other types of packaging. However, compostable plastic is still plastic and it is no silver bullet for solving plastic pollution,” notes Helen Bird, Strategic Engagement Manager at WRAP.

“Businesses need to be clear on when it is viable, given the complexities surrounding current treatment infrastructure. When it comes to recyclability, WRAP is clear that a claim of ‘recyclable’ should only be made if it can be recycled in practice. The same should be applied to compostable plastics. And it is critical that end markets for recycled plastics are not compromised; people need clear instruction not to place compostable plastics in the recycling bin.”

“But there are certain applications where it can be a helpful alternative to conventional plastics; absolute no-brainers include fruit stickers and tea bags. This new guidance will help steer decision-making on this complex and high-profile topic,” Bird explains.

The guidance highlights the importance of communicating with citizens to ensure they end up in the correct bin, but the challenges in doing so owing to the current infrastructure. Some instructional phases are suggested such as “place in your food or garden waste bin if your local council accepts it,” while also recommending statements to counter the risk that some people may see compostable plastics as a license to litter.

Bioplastics: Steady growth
In March, WRAP is launching a campaign aimed at citizens which will provide factual and balanced information about plastics, including compostable plastics.

It is estimated that compostable plastic accounts for around 0.5 percent of consumer plastic packaging in the UK, according to a recent WRAP study.

In December, European Bioplastics (EUBP) announced “dynamic growth” in the global bioplastics industry, in which packaging remains the largest field of application with almost 53 percent (1.14 million metric tons) of the total bioplastics market in 2019.

EUBP welcomed the communication on the recently-published European Green Deal, which maps out Europe’s mission to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Described by the European Commission as “the greatest challenge and opportunity of our times,” EUBP regards the bioplastics industry as crucial to achieving zero net greenhouse emissions. The Commission has put a special emphasis on the plastics industry and EUBP reiterates that bioplastics can be a key driver for sustainable innovation in this industry.

In other news, WRAP revealed that the UK has made significant progress in reducing its food waste with total food waste levels falling by 480,000 tons between 2015 and 2018 – a 7 percent reduction per person.

In November, WRAP issued new guidance encouraging retailers to sell more fresh produce loose and without Best Before dates. These changes could help reduce the UK’s annual food waste bill, including binned fruit and vegetables worth nearly £4 billion (US$5.1 billion), the organization says.

Edited by Joshua Poole