About this article
Food-contaminated packaging cannot be recycled, but certified compostable packaging offers a solution. Learn what makes foodservice packaging compostable, how to recognise certified products, and proper disposal methods.
Why compostable food packaging matters for your business
In foodservice settings like cafeterias, event spaces, and takeaway operations, separating clean packaging from food waste simply is not realistic. Think takeaway containers with food scraps, coffee cups with residue, and trays stained with sauce. None of these products can be recycled due to food contamination and end up in landfills.
Certified compostable food packaging offers a practical end-of-life solution. This type of packaging can be collected together with food waste and processed at industrial composting facilities, turning both into usable compost. This guide offers those in foodservice an understanding of what makes packaging compostable, how to identify certified products, and proper disposal methods.
What makes packaging compostable?
The term composting refers to the recycling of organic matter back into soil or fertiliser through controlled decomposition. These basic principles also apply when referring to compostable packaging, specifically the ability to break back down into natural, non-toxic residues within a defined timeframe.
This is fundamentally different from conventional plastics or packaging materials that do not break down in composting systems and can even contaminate compost if added, rendering it unusable.
True compostability requires that every component of the packaging, from material to glues to inks, must fully decompose into organic matter suitable for soil or fertiliser.
Importantly, compostability is not simply a marketing claim, it is backed by a certified standard that products must meet through rigorous testing, including specific requirements for breakdown timeframes, conditions, and end results.
Salad containers, plates, cutlery, meal boxes, trays, and cups that are certified compostable are designed specifically for scenarios where food or liquid residue makes traditional recycling impossible. Where recyclable packaging requires clean, dry conditions, compostable packaging is designed to handle food contact and break down alongside organic waste.
However, not all compostable packaging is created equal. Most certified compostable food packaging requires industrial composting facilities to break down properly and should not be placed in home compost bins unless it carries a specific home compostable certification, such as TÜV Austria’s OK Compost HOME label.
How compostable packaging is processed
Your customer has just enjoyed their drink or meal, but what comes next? Certified compostable food packaging should be added to the organic or bio-waste stream where it is collected for further processing at an industrial composting facility.
- Industrial composting occurs in specialised facilities that maintain high temperatures (50–65°C or higher) while carefully monitoring oxygen levels and moisture to accelerate breakdown. This is where certified compostable packaging is designed to decompose alongside food waste. High heat and optimised conditions ensure materials biodegrade within the required timeframes, typically at least 90% breakdown within 12 weeks.
- Home composting operates at much lower temperatures (up to 45°C) and can process relatively small amounts of garden or food waste. These conditions are insufficient to break down most compostable packaging, which is why packaging certified only for industrial composting must go to proper facilities and not household composting bins. If packaging is certified as home compostable (carrying specific certifications like TÜV Austria’s OK Compost HOME), then it can break down in typical home or garden composting conditions.
- Anaerobic digestion is a third composting method used by some industrial facilities. Here, organic matter is broken down without oxygen. This process has the added benefit of producing biogas that can be captured as renewable energy while the remaining material is composted. Certain certified compostable packaging can also be processed at anaerobic digestion facilities.
Compostable packaging certifications explained
Certifications verify that packaging will compost completely without harm or residue when disposed of properly.
EN 13432: The European standard
EN 13432:2000 is the European standard for industrially compostable packaging. It specifies the following requirements for each product:
- At least 90% of the material must break down within 12 weeks.
- Full breakdown into organic substances within 6 months.
- No harmful effects on compost quality.
- Heavy metal content must remain below specified limits.
Products certified to this standard are designed for industrial and commercial composting systems, not home composting. In the Netherlands, this standard is also known as NEN-EN 13432:2000.
What certification guarantees vs what it does not
Recognising certified products
TÜV AUSTRIA is a leading certification body that awards the Seedling logo and OK Compost marks to products compliant with EN 13432. When you spot the Seedling logo on Verive packaging, you can be confident it meets these strict compostability specifications.Always verify that your waste management provider accepts certified compostable food packaging in its organic waste stream.
Compostable vs biodegradable: Why the difference matters
The terms “compostable” and “biodegradable”, while often confused, mean very different things.
Biodegradable simply means a product is capable of being broken down over time by bacteria or other living organisms. What it does not specify is how long this takes, what conditions are needed or what the material breaks down into.
This means a biodegradable product might take decades to decompose, require specific environmental conditions, or leave harmful residues behind. Because the term biodegradable lacks specific standards, it provides little to no reliable information about its environmental impact.
Compostable packaging, by contrast, must meet specific requirements certified by recognised standards. These specify breakdown timeframes (weeks and months, not decades), the conditions required (industrial composting), and the result (safe, usable compost with no harmful residues). Certifications like EN 13432 ensure these claims are tested and verified.
Verive is committed to using the term “compostable” rather than “biodegradable” when describing our products. We want to provide clear, verified information rather than vague claims. For more detailed information, see our articles on why we don’t use the term biodegradable and why biodegradable is misleading.
Understanding the limitations of compostable food packaging
To avoid greenwashing and set realistic expectations, it is essential to understand the limitations of compostable packaging.
✗ Compostable packaging will not break down if littered. These products are designed for controlled industrial composting conditions, not open environments. Littering compostable packaging causes the same environmental harm as littering conventional packaging.
✗ Compostable packaging will not break down in landfill. Landfills lack the controlled oxygen, moisture, and temperature conditions required for composting. When sent to a landfill, compostable packaging offers no environmental advantage over conventional materials.
✗ Compostable packaging requires proper collection and treatment. Without access to industrial composting facilities and organic waste collection systems, compostable packaging cannot fulfil its intended purpose.There is currently no certification that guarantees a product will break down in natural environments without controlled conditions. Be sceptical of any such claims.
Download our free compostable packaging factsheet
Find the right compostable packaging for your business
Verive supplies certified compostable food packaging designed for foodservice, catering and retail. Our plates, cups, takeaway containers, and tableware are all certified to EN 13432 standards and carry the Seedling logo.
Choosing the right packaging depends on what you serve, how customers dispose of it, and your local waste infrastructure. Our team can help assess which compostable food packaging fits your needs and guide you towards products that meet both your operational and sustainability goals.
Ready to explore compostable packaging options?
Browse our full range of certified compostable products.
Contact our team for personalised advice on the right solution for your business.
Stiina Ottender
“Good packaging shouldn’t be rocket science. I help make sense of the options so you can focus on what matters.”
