On January 14, 2026, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) rejected the inclusion of synthetic polymers in organic compost.
The decision follows a petition by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) in 2023 requesting that the USDA update its compost regulations to accept compostable packaging. The proposed change would replace the wording “plant and animal materials” with “compost feedstock” that meets the compostability standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
In response to this petition, the NOSB decided to evaluate synthetic compost feedstock for eligibility on the National List of Allowed Prohibited Substances, which identifies the synthetic and non-synthetic substances that can be used in organic crop and livestock production and in processed organic products. The BPI states that this was not the purpose of the original petition and is a parallel process to amending the regulatory language.
Based on a commissioned technical report and public comments, the NOSB decided that synthetic polymers cannot be included in organic compost as they are not compatible with the current system of sustainable agriculture. However, it is open to evaluating new additions on a case-by-case basis.
The NOSB cited that compostable packaging made with synthetic polymers could have undisclosed additives that could make them incompatible with organic production systems, making it difficult to confirm their compatibility. Comments from the public also described the challenges of distinguishing compostable packaging from non-compostable plastic, resulting in their blanket removal from the waste stream.
The technical report also described how compost made with compostable packaging materials is higher in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS; FPF reported). However, the BPI states that there were omissions and errors in this report. For example, it claims that the report misinterpreted PFAS studies by not differentiating between compostable, eco-friendly, and biodegradable products.
The ruling has implications for California’s compostable packaging law, which was delayed from January 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, to allow for a federal decision. The law will prohibit companies from labelling products as compostable unless they are allowed under the USDA rules.
A group of associations, producers, and composters led by the BPI filed a new petition in response to the ruling requesting an interim rule in the Federal Register rather than individual evaluation of synthetic polymers for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The signees claim that the latter process is not feasible for compostable packaging made of multiple materials as it would require the filing of hundreds of national list petitions.
References
Dr Amanda Doyle (January 28, 2026). “Packaging cannot be used in organic compost, says US Department of Agriculture board.” Chemical Watch News & Insight.
Charlotte Miemiec and Dr Amanda Doyle (March 11, 2026). “Packaging round-up.” Chemical Watch News & Insight.
