It’s an exciting time in foodservice ware as companies and consumers increasingly seek to reduce their carbon footprint and improve waste diversion. But with evolution there is often confusion, misconception and misinformation.
It’s commonly assumed that biodegradable and compostable are the same, but each has different meaning. The term “compostable” means a product can turn back into carbon dioxide, water or inorganic compounds, biomass at a rate similar to paper, disintegrate by at least 90 percent within 180 days, and leave behind no toxic residues in the conditions of a composting operation. Compostable products are often certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), a third-party certification system.