Everyone is becoming more aware about environmental issues. Whilst this is a positive for our country and environment it is only a positive if we act responsibly. Consumer concern about the environment has led to misinformation being disseminated through different industries. This misinformation may actually be more detrimental to our environment than current practice. We feel it is our responsibility to inform our customers so they can guide their customers responsibly both for the sake of the environment and also to protect their customers from prosecution from legal action from the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission). Refer to the links at the end of this article, where the ACCC has prosecuted companies claiming biodegradability of products that could never expect to degrade, making the product not biodegradable. The thrust of the prosecution from the ACCC is that even if a product is biodegradable if there is no chance for this process to happen you cannot make this environmental claim.

Key Questions and Answers to assist you to understand this emerging marketplace

What is the difference between Recyclable and Biodegradable Packaging?

Answer: Recycling is the act of converting waste into reusable material. Recyclable material can be recycled in Australia through well established systems and industry. Biodegradable refers to any material that can be decomposed by bacteria and micro-organisms and will, in a relatively short time, return to nature. Not all biodegradable material will biodegrade or is suitable for compost. Further explanations below.

What is wrong with biodegradable packaging for confectionery packaging?

Answer: Biodegradable packaging for confectionery sounds good but don’t be deceived and do not expose your customers to potential legal action. The biodegradable packaging environment, in Australia, is just not developed yet. Meaning the packaging may be biodegradable BUT the process to actually biodegrade/compost this packaging is not yet in place in Australia and cannot occur, making this packaging useless in its benefit to the environment. Anyone marketing or selling this type of packaging based on its environmental benefits are exposing themselves to legal action. Refer to the links at the end of this article.

Why won’t biodegradable packaging break down in home composting?

Answer: Most biodegradable food packaging requires a commercial composting facility. Compostable products require high temperatures, 50 degrees plus, and weeks to break down. This is achievable only in specialised composting centres. There are very few if any of these composting centres in Australia. If they did exist there is no council/bin service to get this plastic to them. Also to label something as biodegradable the printing inks, labels and adhesives would need to biodegradable, which mostly they are not. So with no clear method to identify biodegradable packaging through a sorting system that does not exist, makes this film worse for the environment, unless it is home compostable, which at the moment is most likely not the case.

Why won’t biodegradable packaging break down in oceans or lakes?

Answer: Biodegradable/Compostable plastic is well-intentioned but just wrong. A lot of plastics labelled biodegradable will only break down in temperatures of 50 degrees+. The ocean is not this hot. The packaging is also not buoyant, so it will sink, and will not be exposed to UV light so won’t break down.

What about biodegradable film that is certified biodegradable/ compostable - Is this good?

Answer: These bags are not as environmentally friendly as they seem. They are made from similar petrochemical-based materials to conventional plastic, only with compounds added that cause them to disintegrate gradually in the presence of heat, light and oxygen. They often then degrade into a sludge of toxic chemicals. Again, the theory sounds good but this sort of compostable waste will never be renewable like recyclable alternatives.

I have a piece of plastic that claims to be compostable if I put it in any of my home bins surely everything will work to plan and I can feel good about protecting the environment?

Answer: As mentioned before, unless the packaging is certified for home compost, home compost bins will not biodegrade your biodegradable plastic. The environment is just not right. The biodegradable plastic will most likely never make it to a commercial composting facility, as they do not exist in Australia. There is no system in place like there is for recycling to either deal with it locally or send it overseas.

How am I exposing my customers to Legal action?

Answer: When a client asks you for something that is Biodegradable or Compostable and you direct them to a product that makes that claim and they then make that claim based on your advice they will be breaking Australian advertising rules. Links to recent prosecution are at the bottom of this article. The people you are dealing with are generally marketing people. They are relying on information you have given them. Should they end up being prosecuted or having to retract misleading claims your customer is not going to be very happy with you.

What is the definition of biodegradable / compostable packaging and what labelling can I use?

Answer: According to Australian standards, for plastic to be labelled compostable, 90% of it must biodegrade within 180 days of being in compost, it must be made up of at least 50% of organic materials and it mustn't leave behind toxic residue once it has broken down. It would be illegal to advertise something as biodegradable or compostable if there is little likelihood it will ever make it to a facility that would enable this to happen. Too sum up the whole process has to be biodegradable in a set time period. This cannot happen in Australia, at this point in time, unless it is certified for home compost which most likely it is not.

In Australia today, what is more sustainable? Recyclable or Biodegradable Packaging?

Answer: At this point in time in Australia there is full cycle – start to end of life loop for recyclable packaging. At this point in time no such cycle exists for biodegradable product requiring commercial composting.

Current Industry Practice regarding SUSTAINABLE packaging

• Coles and Woolworths are pushing for all packaging used to be recyclable. Plastic recyclers can recycle most recyclable products but there is a preference for single polymer films (the material we use in our packaging). (Source www.redcycle.com.au)
• 100% of Coca-Cola packaging is 100% recyclable. The Coca-Cola system has spent many years working with the recycling and reprocessing systems to ensure all of their drink packaging from their plant is fully recyclable including bottles, caps labels ETC, (source www.coca-colacompany.com
• When plastic packaging is responsibly disposed of, it has a much lower environmental footprint than other materials and can be used again and again. Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) are working hard to ensure their packaging is as sustainable as possible. Today, all their packaging is 27% lighter, 100% recyclable, and uses more recycled material than ever before. Source Cocacola.co.uk
• According to Coca-Cola Australia and Coca-Cola Amatil, 70% of its plastic bottles manufactured for the Australian market will be made entirely from recycled plastics by the end of 2019. (Source Australian marketing mag.com.au)
• US based Just Water won a contract to supply Novotel Melbourne South Wharf with its packaged water, which has fully recyclable packaging made from 82 per cent renewable resources. (Source Australian financial review April 16 2019)

LINKS:

• ACCC legal action
• ACCC legal action case studies & ACCC article “Biodegradable, degradable, and recyclable claims on Plastic Bags”
• ACCC your consumer rights: Environmental Claims: Quote “A claim that a product is biodegradable is likely to mislead consumers if the product takes a very long time or requires quite specific conditions before it will degrade”.