A scientific study conducted by Chaire CoPack, in partnership with AgroParisTech and the University of Montpellier, has provided confirmation that certified compostable food contact packaging does indeed biodegrade in industrial composting facilities.
The composting test used 20 tons of food- and bio-waste collected from households, along with 323 kg of assorted certified compostable packaging. In parallel, a 'control' compost test was conducted with no packaging added.
The study was carried out over a four-month period from October 2022 to February 2023. It took place under real industrial composting conditions, without forced aeration, and was closely monitored by researchers from the University of Montpellier and AgroParisTech, in collaboration with the industrial composting platform of the Syndicat de Centre Héraut in Aspiran.
Next to to assessing the ‘real-life compostability’ of certified biodegradable, compostable materials, the study also aimed to establish the properties of the micro-fragments generated during the composting process and their fate in agricultural soil, and the impact of these materials on the quality of the final compost.
A number of different types of commonly used packaging in the European market were tested. These included compostable bags, film, food trays, and coffee pods composed of different resins certified for industrial composting (EN 13432) or home composting (NF T51-800). The products were made from biodegradable and compostable resins like PLA, PBAT, and complexed starch sourced from members of the French Association of Biobased Compostables, including Novamont and TotalEnergies Corbion.
Study confirms biodegradability of compostable bioplastic in real conditions
The start of the test (left): certified compostable shopping bags, trays, coffee capsules and films are mixed with organic waste at the. After composting ( on the right side) compostable plastics are disintegrated and biodegraded.
Regular checks were made and samples were taken during the composting process. The results showed:
- That the addition of certified compostable packaging:
- Positively affected the composting yield,
- Did not have any negative consequences on the agronomic quality of the final compost,
- Did not generate ecotoxicity to higher plants, earthworms, and daphnia,
- All tested materials fully met the decay rate requirements of the compostability standards.
- That, regarding the fate of residual compostable micro-fragments in the soil:
- Immediate further biodegradation of these fragments was demonstrated,
- The rate of biodegradation increased as the fragments spent more time in the compost.
"We are thrilled to see the findings of this study," said Paolo La Scola, the Public Affairs Manager at TotalEnergies Corbion. "The results send a strong signal to governments across Europe to grant certified compostable plastics access to biowaste collection and composting infrastructure."
He continued: “It is essential that all stakeholders along the value chain cooperate for the recognition of the benefits of compostable packaging in separate collection and recycling of food waste.”
The report is currently under review. View the preliminary report here.