Coffee pods, coffee cups, tea and coffee bags, film and paper packaging - more and more applications are being made from compostable materials and polymers. They are „Compostable by Design“, and in October 2023 an initiative of the same name was founded to promote the further development and establishment of large-scale organic recycling of compostable materials in the packaging sector. In an interview with Packaging Journal, Afsaneh Nabifar, Head of Global Advocacy and Sustainability for Biopolymers at BASF, and Henk Vooijs, Market Development Consultant at Novamont, give an overview of what this is all about and what the alliance aims to achieve.
By developing and using compostable materials, companies are responding to the increasing demand for alternative and sustainable packaging solutions. As part of a functioning circular economy, products should be able to be reused, recycled or composted. To solutions that can be processed and recycled or composted on a large scale. In order to ensure that the entire value chain can be realised, players along the entire value chain must work together. The main objective of the new initiative is to Bringing players together.
The two experts also recognise the important role that compostable solutions play and that the European Ordinance on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR) is confirmed. „The current version of the regulation contains a separate section on compostable packaging. This underlines their important role,“ emphasises Henk Vooijs. „The key to a clear end-of-life solution for packaging also lies in the Acceptance and recycling of compostable solutions. The PPWR proposal recognises this role of waste management. And this is also in line with the goals we have set ourselves with Compostable by Design,“ adds Afsaneh Nabifar.
Specifically, three working groups are looking at topics and solutions relating to compostable materials. Working group two, for example, is concerned with the creation of fact-based, scientific design guidelines. Overall, the initiative aims to achieve more Clarity and security for companies when handling compostable materials to create. „There are still some misconceptions surrounding the topic of compostable materials. We want to address and inform consumers as well as decision-makers from business and politics,“ explains Afsaneh Nabifar.
The infrastructure for the organic recycling of compostable materials is also an issue. As Henk Vooijs emphasises, the Level of recycling still very uneven within the EU Member States: „Countries like Italy are already very advanced when it comes to the separate collection of compostable materials. Italy can process and recycle the materials without any problems. The PPWR has so far defined three types of compostable packaging, but we believe that there could be other useful cases.“
„With Compostable by Design, we want to remove the barriers to large-scale organic recycling of compostable materials so that they can realise their full potential with their end-of-life solution. We want to be a platform for collaborative innovation around technologies and processes for compostable materials and provide proactive support. Innovation and clear communication are key here.“
Afsaneh Nabifar
The platform celebrates its first birthday in October 2024. „Our birthday also marks the deadline for the results of the three working groups. We are looking forward to the results and are planning a face-to-face meeting with all the sponsors and our fantastic network,“ says Afsaneh Nabifar. „We want more Inspire international players for our platform, which will be an important aspect of our work next year,“ says Henk Vooijs, looking to the future.
