{"id":4523,"date":"2025-04-19T21:46:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-20T01:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/?p=4523"},"modified":"2025-04-22T01:38:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T05:38:11","slug":"okie_harris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/2025\/04\/19\/okie_harris\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Compostable Packaging Isn\u2019t a Silver Bullet Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Suz Okie and Sydney Harris<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a trip to your local haunt, you may have noticed a rising trend: a growing number of coffee shops, caf\u00e9s, and food establishments across Maine \u2014 and indeed across the country \u2014 are distributing compostable cups, straws, and containers. 

With concerns escalating over single-use plastics and the limitations of our recycling system, it\u2019s no wonder that businesses large and small are looking for more eco-friendly alternatives. After all, packaging and plastic waste have become a ubiquitous and unwelcome part of our modern lifestyle. 

We now know that less than 9%<\/a> of plastic waste has ever been recycled, compared to the 91% that ends up incinerated, in landfills, or in the environment. And as plastic production grows<\/a> exponentially, recycling rates in the United States are dropping, rather than rising to meet the challenge.<\/a>

The sad truth is that even if we could recycle 100% of our waste, it would not be the climate solution we so desperately want and need. Recycling is costly and energy intensive. Even if run flawlessly across the nation \u2014 a likely unattainable aspiration \u2014  our recycling system could only reduce packaging sector emissions by 31%<\/a>. That\u2019s a far cry from the 90% reduction needed in that sector to live within our planetary boundaries<\/a>, as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  

With this knowledge, compostable packaging appears to be a cleaner, greener choice than the average single-use plastic. But while compostables have an important role to fill<\/a>, they are not a silver bullet solution to the single-use waste crisis. They are, after all, a single-use option themselves. Here\u2019s why the growing push for these products isn\u2019t the environmental fix we need: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Compostables Are Rarely Composted<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first major challenge is that compostables are rarely composted at all. 

Without federal regulations in place, packaging producers can freely label their products<\/a> as  \u201cbioplastic,\u201d \u201cbiodegradable\u201d or \u201ccompostable\u201d whether or not they can degrade. To combat this, a growing movement of certifiers \u2014 including BPI<\/a>, CMA<\/a> and OK Compost<\/a> \u2014 are reviewing and certifying truly compostable containers. But often these labels only verify that compostables will break down in the high heat or unique conditions of industrial composting facilities<\/a>. 

Compostable packaging is very rarely compostable in your backyard, which is why access to composting services is essential for compostables to work. Unfortunately, a vast majority of Americans do not have access to these services: just 12% of households<\/a> in the U.S. have municipally supported composting, and only a fraction of composters<\/a> accept any form of compostable packaging for fear of contamination<\/a> (see point 2).

More often than not, the compostables procured by our well-intentioned coffee shops are being sorted out of our recycling and composting streams and ending up in our landfills.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Compostables Have a Bigger Environmental Footprint Than You Think<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a common misconception that a compostable item \u2014 even if it ends up in a landfill \u2014 is better than most single-use alternatives. \u201cAt least they\u2019re breaking down,\u201d we think. Unfortunately, compostables rarely degrade in a landfill setting because a landfill doesn\u2019t emulate the conditions of an industrial compost facility. In the rare case they do break down, compostables can release methane<\/a> \u2014 a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent<\/a> than CO2. 

Beyond this, manufacturing compostables often comes at a greater environmental cost than the average single-use item. Consider that compostable food serviceware was found to have significantly increased impacts<\/a> across every<\/strong> environmental metric, from water consumption to ozone depletion to global warming, when compared to non-compostable alternatives.

Why is that, you might ask? The agricultural processes involved in growing the raw feedstock materials for compostables, like corn or sugarcane, require significant water, energy, and fertilizers. This can contribute to higher carbon emissions<\/a> and environmental degradation, all while placing additional strains on an already stressed food system. If the U.S. were to shift all single-use items to compostables, it would likely require large-scale monoculture farming \u2014 further exacerbating issues of soil depletion, pesticide use, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity. 

Last but certainly not least, many compostable products are treated with toxic chemicals like PFAS for durability and water resistance. This highly persistent group of chemicals \u2014 also known as “forever chemicals”\u2014 can leach into the environment and water supplies, posing long-term health risks to humans and wildlife. 

As previously mentioned, many composting facilities refuse compostable packages altogether<\/a> for this and many other reasons. . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Compostables Are More Expensive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Compostable packaging is often significantly more expensive than its traditional single-use or plastic counterparts. The financial burden of this higher expense falls disproportionately on small businesses and their consumers. 

While large corporations may be able to absorb the higher costs of compostable materials, many small businesses find that these products don\u2019t just cost more \u2014 they also present logistical and financial challenges. \u201cCompostable packaging creates a number of issues with regard to space in our bins as well as in the collection vehicle, which in turn can drive up the cost of a program\u201d shared Greg Williams, Director of Organics at Agri-Cycle, a food waste collection service and composter in South Portland. Without an effective composting infrastructure in place, businesses are left to foot the bill for packaging that ultimately ends up in the landfill. 

It\u2019s important to note that in some cases, compostable packaging does make sense. For example, certified compostable food ware can increase food scrap collection and reduce recycling contamination \u2014 particularly when composting infrastructure is available. But for many households and small businesses, it\u2019s a costly and ineffective solution. As Will Pratt, owner of Tandem Coffee Roasters in Portland, shared, \u201c[Compostables] give a business the feeling that they are making a difference when in actuality they might not be. Single use is single use.\u201d 

One thing is clear: compostable packaging isn\u2019t a reliable or universal fix to our waste crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Real Solution: Reuse<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If we\u2019re serious about addressing the environmental impact of single-use packaging, we need to focus on a solution that really works: reuse.

Studies show that reusable packaging could reduce emissions from single-use plastics by as much as 69%<\/a> \u2014 far more than compostables or recycling can achieve. And if we reused just 10% of plastic products across the globe, we could prevent 50% of ocean plastic<\/a> pollution.  In fact, reusable food serviceware can beat single-use alternatives \u2014 including compostables \u2014 on every environmental measure<\/a>.  

Reuse systems like reusable and refillable containers and cups offer the best path forward for reducing waste and cutting emissions. This is a solution that can make a real difference for the environment.

Across the world, cities and companies are beginning to implement reusable packaging systems with promising results. In Europe, for instance, reusable packaging models are gaining traction<\/a> and proving to be effective in reducing waste. If we prioritize reuse, we can achieve significant reductions in waste and emissions while building more resilient local economies with greener, cleaner jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Can Do<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that as a consumer, you have the power to drive change. Start by bringing your own cup to the coffee shop \u2014 it\u2019s a simple, effective way to reduce waste at its source. If your local caf\u00e9 still uses compostables, check if they\u2019re certified by BPI<\/a>, CMA<\/a> or OK Compost<\/a>. Better yet, ask your caf\u00e9 to provide reusable containers on-site and to encourage customers like you to bring in their own cups and containers for take-out! 

Reuse Maine<\/a> \u2014 a volunteer coalition advocating for reuse in the Pine Tree State \u2014  is calling on caf\u00e9s and businesses to display its \u201cBYO encouraged\u201d sticker as a signal to customers that they\u2019re welcome to bring their own cup or container. You can request stickers<\/a> and distribute them to your local caf\u00e9s to help spread the word. (FYI: Maine\u2019s food code already allows for this, so don\u2019t let anyone tell you otherwise.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Other steps you can take are supporting businesses with reuse systems in place and advocating for policies that encourage the same. Reuse Maine\u2019s longer-term vision is for all dine-in and take-out foodware in Maine to be served in returnable, reusable containers. As the customer, you\u2019d simply bring them back to any participating restaurant, hand them to your next delivery driver, pop them into a return kiosk while you\u2019re out and about, or even return them alongside your empty recyclables. (Reach out or get involved with Reuse Maine<\/a> to learn more about their vision for Maine\u2019s reuse economy!) 

It\u2019s time to move beyond the compostable packaging trend and focus on sustainable, long-term solutions. Reuse is the future, and we\u2019re looking forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Suz Okie and Sydney Harris \u00a0 On a trip to your local haunt, you may have noticed a rising trend: a growing number of coffee shops, caf\u00e9s, and food establishments across Maine \u2014 and indeed across the country \u2014 are distributing compostable cups, straws, and containers.  With concerns escalating over single-use plastics and the limitations of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2556,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spire-2025-issue"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Compostable Packaging Isn\u2019t a Silver Bullet Solution - 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