What’s the Difference Between Recyclable and Compostable Packaging?

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials.

While some resources, like most metals, can be melted down and made back into the same material repeatedly, other materials, like many types of plastic, degrade each time they’re recycled.

A lot of plastic is actually "downcycled" into more durable items such as park benches and composite lumber. While the process of downcycling is better than nothing, it is not yet the ideal goal of recycling.

Even though most plastic can only be recycled a set number of times, that doesn’t necessarily mean that recycled poly mailers are bad for the environment. Ideally, we wouldn’t have plastic waste to contend with, but the reality is that we overuse plastics.

By purchasing 100% recycled poly mailers with 50% post-consumer plastic, you can ensure that plastic waste already in circulation is kept out of a landfill for as long as possible. Or, if you’re a plastic-free company, opt for 100% recycled kraft mailers or 100% recycled corrugated shipping boxes instead.

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Composting is the process of breaking down materials into nutrient-rich soil without producing toxic residue.

While organic materials, such as food or yard waste, are inherently compostable, bioplastics must pass specific tests to be deemed compostable. Specifically, 90% of the material must not remain after 180 days, and the resulting material must be below certain ecotoxicity and regulated metal constraints.

While organic materials, like food or yard waste, compost beautifully, human-made materials, like paper or bioplastics, can be problematic as they sometimes contain toxins that can accumulate in compost. This is why we avoid designing compostable packaging for eCommerce.

Source: Sway

The terms “biodegradable” and “compostable” refer to similar processes with some key differences.

Biodegradable materials naturally degrade from the action of bacteria, fungi, and algae. It makes no claims for the time it takes to break down or the attributes of the end product.

Compostable materials also naturally degrade, but their end is clear: in a short amount of time, the materials will add nutrients to the soil.

In short, all naturally compostable materials are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable materials are compostable. Some materials (including most compostable bioplastics) would compost in a controlled, industrial environment but would not biodegrade rapidly in a natural landscape.

Another key difference is that compostable materials are regulated while biodegradable materials are not. Therefore, unless the material is 100% organic, you should be wary of any biodegradable claims.

Let’s examine which types of items might be compostable or biodegradable.

• A large beam of untreated wood: Non-compostable, but will be biodegradable over many years. Even though wood takes a long time to biodegrade, it comes directly from nature and is typically not a material that generates significant concern as litter.

• EcoProducts PLA cold cup: Industrially compostable but not biodegradable. These cups should not end up as litter. As litter or in a landfill, they will behave similarly to other plastics.

• Hemp Twine: Accepted at only a handful of composting facilities, but readily biodegradable and not a material we generally worry about if it were to end up as litter. Hemp can take more than 90 days to decompose and has antimicrobial properties that may hinder the chemistry of composting.

• Cardboard box: Can be composted, but should be recycled. Is also readily biodegradable.

• Compostable Poly Mailer: Compostable as long as it is either BPI or CMA Certified, but unlikely to be readily biodegradable. No compostable poly mailers currently on the market have passed marine biodegradability ASTM testing.

• Compostable Poly Bags: Compostable as long as it is either BPI or CMA Certified, but unlikely to be readily biodegradable. Sway Polybags are a unique offering in that they are made with seaweed, plants & home compostable polymers, and are designed to decompose in home & industrial compost (certification pending). Responsibly farmed seaweed has the potential to be truly restorative to our planet.

EcoEnclose uses the term "Naturally Biodegradable" throughout our site to describe environmentally friendly packaging that will readily biodegrade in nature, including in the ocean. Companies seeking packaging that does not contribute to litter or ocean pollution should opt for these naturally biodegradable packaging solutions.

Read more: The problems with biodegradable mailers

Ideally, all organic matter—food waste, grass clippings, fallen leaves, weeds, manure—would be composted.

Composting these nutrient-dense items offers two benefits: they do not end up in a landfill where they will slowly degrade, releasing methane gas into the environment and leaching into groundwater, and they build soil amendment that can help make our lands healthier, more biodiverse, and more carbon sequestering.  

Everything else—packaging, toys, clothing, electronics, cars—should be designed to be recycled. Environmental experts have established a clear hierarchy of waste for non-organic items.

The waste hierarchy is a concept that ranks waste management from best to worst. It’s designed to help governments, individuals, and businesses determine the most eco-friendly way to dispose of their trash based on the type of waste.

The hierarchy is as follows, from best to worst: prevention → re-use → recycle → recover → disposal.

The goal of the waste hierarchy is to promote circularity. We should be using as many resources and materials already in circulation as possible before extracting virgin materials to produce new ones. With this in mind, recycling is superior to composting.

Although composting could technically be considered a form of recycling since it’s converting a material into another use, it can also be considered a form of disposal as it does not extend the life of the material.

Conversely, recycling materials turns an existing material back into something useful, extending the life of those raw materials and reducing the need for natural resources to be extracted. This results in an immediate benefit to the environment.

Additionally, composting non-organic materials creates a high risk of contaminating our soil and waterways. Many things that are now being designed to be composted, such as packaging, shoes, clothing, and phone cases, contain ink, adhesives, toxins, chemicals, and microplastics. These contaminants get into compost, which makes it harder for composting facilities to sell their output and seep into our lands, soils, and waterways.

Even if a non-organic item can be 100% free of contaminants, inks, adhesives, and other toxins, it does not bring any valuable nutrients into compost. Industrial composters find that packaging makes their output "wetter,” less nutrient-dense, and harder to sell.

Read more: The Challenges of Compostable Packaging

Source: EcoEnclose

When determining the impact of packaging, you must consider its entire lifecycle. Unfortunately, the end-of-life stage of your consumer packaging is entirely out of your hands; you must entrust proper packaging disposal to your customers.

However, there are a few things that you can do to improve the chances your packaging is recycled at the end of its life.

• Clearly display recycling instructions on the packaging.

• Offer discounts to customers who show that their packaging has been recycled such as posting a picture of the packaging in the recycling bin.

• Make sustainability a core tenet of your brand, promoting circularity on your website, packaging, social media channels, and more. Keeping sustainability at the center of your products helps your customers keep it in mind when it comes time to dispose of their packaging.

• When you can, invest in recycled paper boxes and mailers so that, even if they end up in a landfill, they will biodegrade eventually.

• If poly mailers make more sense for your products, invest in 100% recycled materials so that, even if they end up in a landfill, you know that the materials went through the loop at least twice before reaching the end of the road.

Source: Hargan Denim

EcoEnclose - along with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and Canopy - strongly recommends that you design your packaging for recyclability, not compostability.

We recognize that most companies seeking compostable packaging solutions are focused on ensuring their packaging does not contribute to litter or ocean plastic pollution. If that’s you, we strongly recommend looking for eco-friendly packaging that is recyclable and that will biodegrade in a natural environment. We also encourage you to avoid all plastics, including compostable bioplastics, and stick with paper and other naturally biodegradable solutions.

Check out our Plastic-Free Packaging Solutions to get started on your recyclable, naturally biodegradable e-commerce shipping strategy.

Additionally, we believe it is not enough for your packaging to be recyclable. Recycled content is critical to building a more circular packaging economy, especially when it comprises post-consumer materials. Luckily, EcoEnclose has recycled shipping boxes and recycled paper packaging.

Choosing sustainable packaging means making a lot of challenging decisions. That’s why we’re here to help. Contact us, and we’ll guide you toward packaging that aligns with your business’s sustainability goals.