About Composting
How long does it take your compostable products to breakdown？
Our compostable products break down in a commercial compost facility in fewer than 180days. Many of our products actually break down in as little as 45-60days, depending on the material type.
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) uses scientifically based standards to determine if a product is compostable in a commercial facility, so look for the words "BPI Certified" on our products and you can be confident that your product will break down quickly in a commercial facility.
Can I put your compostable products into my backyard compost?
We recommend disposing of PLA products in a commercial compost facility where they can be broken down, turned into compost and then returned to the soil. Home composting typically does not create the consistent composting conditions needed for our products, but commercial facilities can manage just fine.
Commercial compost facilities are expanding around the country and there may be one in your area. To find a compost facility near you, please visit the
US EPA website or check out
Find A Composter
Are your compostable products marine degradable?
No, our products are not certified as marine degradable and we strongly encourage everyone to keep all plastics out of oceans and waterways.
If I can't compost, what should I do?
For disposal, naturally we recommend composting if it's available, but if not, please dispose of all foodservice items responsibly. Even if these items head to the landfill, this is preferred to leaving items to escape as litter into the environment. There is still an important environmental benefit to choosing Eco-Products items over traditional foam or plastic items that contain no recycled content or renewable materials.
Some of your products are compostable. Is that the same as biodegradable?
The terms “biodegradable” and “compostable” are not equivalent or interchangeable. “Biodegradable” simply means something will be broken down by microbes over time, which is true for most materials on the planet. An aluminum can is “biodegradable”… if you wait 200 years. Since this term applies to almost everything, it is a pretty meaningless claim and one that has been significantly abused through greenwashing. In contrast, “compostable” means something will break down in a reasonable amount of time, leave behind no toxic residue, and safely become an additive to soil.
Our products are certified compostable by a third-party organization called BPI, and they meet the strict third-party standards for each material type. That's why our products are labeled "compostable" and not "biodegradable". In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes the "Green Guides" that outlines the rules for environmental marketing claims. All of our claims of compostability are in compliance with the FTC’s Green Guides. For more information: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/truth-advertising/green-guides
Do your compostable products breakdown in a digester or accelerated composter?
PLA items do not breakdown well in most digesters. Technology is always changing, so we hope that more digesters can work with PLA in the near future. For now, we recommend that PLA go into a land-based commercial compost facility only.
Do compostable products break down better if they are shredded or chopped into smaller pieces?
Not necessarily, PLA foodservices items will break down at about the same rate regardless of size (extremely large or dense items may take even more time). The composting process primarily depends on heat, moisture, and time, and even small pieces of PLA require the same conditions to start composting. Paper items may break down faster in smaller pieces, but commercial composters know their systems well and often will chop material into the ideal size for their needs.
Do compostable products break down when put into the soil, water, left outside, or stored on shelves?
No, they don't. Our sugarcane and Ingeo™ products need the right conditions to compost. They need heat, moisture and microorganisms to fully break down. Soil, water and retail shelves do not provide an optimum environment for composting.
Learn more directly from our Ingeo™ manufacturer NatureWorks http://www.natureworksllc.com/FAQs
Ms. Sally