Recyclability vs. Compostability? Can’t we have both? In today’s world, most companies are adding new chapters in sustainability through packaging design, innovation and persistence to meet customer demands. There are two main paths that packaging is taking, recyclability and compostability. Both have their merits based on where you live and what type of packaging you are purchasing. The two are generally seen unnecessarily competing in the marketplace to increase their popularity, but actually they work both hand in hand, to provide the end user with multiple end of life options rather than choosing only one.
Recyclability vs. Compostability? Can’t we have both?
In today’s world, most companies are adding new chapters in sustainability through packaging design, innovation and persistence to meet customer demands. There are two main paths that packaging is taking, recyclability and compostability. Both have their merits based on where you live and what type of packaging you are purchasing. The two are generally seen unnecessarily competing in the marketplace to increase their popularity, but actually they work both hand in hand, to provide the end user with multiple end of life options rather than choosing only one.
As Metpack, we are working towards packaging solutions that can provide the best of both worlds, creating biodegradable, home compostable products that are also recyclable. This is not about a marketing perspective, it’s simply about creating a solution while simply avoiding a discussion. But why?
Recyclability is crucial in products with regular, efficient collection schemes. Europe has the highest rate of recycling in paper and paperboard based packaging. That being said, recycling numbers for most of the barrier coated packaging is exceptionally low. Of course the volumes are much less significant compared to conventional packaging, yet still we have to find an answer. No packaging should be left behind.
Compostability would need a compost of some sort, hence the name suggests. USA is leading in this field, though several European countries are getting stronger also. There are two composting options, industrial (Where you would need a specialized facility) and home (Where you can use it within your home/backyard compost). These are all made up of biodegradable materials that even if you do not compost, will degrade in nature. The further advantage of home compostable materials is they do not include any persistant microplastics. This is a crucial point (Possibly an indismissable one) due to the microplastics crisis we have today.
The hidden mutual advantage of both is circularity. We don’t discuss this much, but both are exceptionally virtuous circularity options. In one (Recycling), you recycle and give a second chance to the precious fibers. In the latter (Compostability), you compost and the much needed fibers go back to nature, right where they came from, the soil. Therefore a kinship is established at this point, no fibers go to waste.
There is one more important aspect to both of these end of life options, traceability. It is upto packaging companies, consumers and overall the public to check the validity of the claims. We have seen many times different versions of greenwashing or claims without any basis. Luckily for us, the world has many certification bodies that are meticilously checking the claims of different packaging materials. It is good to be buying a package with environmental claims on it (And feels fulfilling), though it is also important to check if they are valid. I can claim I’m Superman, but still you have to check if I’m really a man of steel.
Combining the strengths of the two options would strategically benefit the packaging companies, end users as well as the environment. End of life choices should not be limited for the packaging materials. We have to do all we can to increase them to provide the consumers the chance to choose without creating any further concern to the environment.
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