On July 11, 2024, civil society organization Beyond Plastics published a report investigating and providing an overview of compostable and biodegradable plastic food packaging. The aim of the report is to clarify misconceptions about these products and offer business owners and individuals guidance on how to navigate the decision-making process for finding plastic alternatives.
Beyond introducing basic terminology, regulations, and systems contexts, the report highlights key challenges associated with bioplastics from certification issues and concerns about toxicity, to complex waste management.
The lack of federal standards for defining and regulating bioplastics in the US leads to widespread greenwashing, the authors believe. While voluntary standards do exist, they are often overseen by industry groups creating conflicts of interest. “[T]he board of the U.S.’s lead certifier of compostable packaging, the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), includes executives from some of the country’s most powerful petrochemical companies, including BASF, Eastman Chemical Company, TotalEnergies Corbion, and Danimer Scientific,” the authors found.
Recent research indicates that some bioplastics can be just as toxic, or even more so, than conventional fossil-based plastics due to the various chemical additives used during production (FPF reported). The authors quote Food Packaging Forum scientist Lisa Zimmermann’s study from 2020, which shows that certain bioplastics exhibit baseline toxicity, oxidative stress, and hormone disruption potential. The chemical composition of these bioplastics often includes a mix of identified and unidentified substances, some shared with conventional plastics.
Composting bioplastics also presents some challenges. Many products labeled “compostable” require industrial composting facilities, which are not widely available. Additionally, the report emphasizes that incomplete degradation of bioplastics can lead to increased toxicity of the residual materials, potentially contaminating soil and water resources.
To conclude, the authors encourage transparency from suppliers and manufacturers about their products’ contents and ask for more independent certification. More importantly, however, they note that reusable containers made from inert and safe materials should be prioritized.
Accompanying the report is a short brochure explaining the key points and including a checklist for businesses with questions to ask their suppliers.
The Food Packaging Forum’s fact sheet on bioplastics is an additional resource that addresses common questions and mix-ups around bioplastics, and it can help consumers and retailers make evidence-based decisions.
Reference
Beyond Plastics (July 11, 2024). “Demystifying compostable and biodegradable plastics: Do safe and sustainable options exist?”
Read more
Beyond Plastics (July 11, 2024). “New Report Reveals Challenges of ‘Biodegradable’ and ‘Compostable’ Plastic, Provides Guide to Choosing Best Products.”
Cami Ferrel (July 11, 2024). “Bioplastics are inadequately defined, poorly regulated, and potentially toxic: Report.” Environmental Health News
