PRESS RELEASE

10/4/2023

CONTACT:

Frank Franciosi, Executive Director

Or Linda Norris-Waldt,

Director of Advocacy

Compostable Product Labeling Legislative Guidelines Released

Document Reflects Current Consensus by Affected Industries

The US Composting Council (USCC) and Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) today released a set of guiding principles to inform model legislation for labeling compostable products. The principles were developed after months of consensus-building by a task force composed of both organizations’ members, including compostable product-makers, certifiers, municipal leaders, allied members of USCC, and compost manufacturers.

Task Force members agreed that products should be labeled with distinguishing elements including tinting and striping and the use of certification logos, while non-compostable items should be prohibited from using identical labeling and misleading terminology. Additionally, all compostable items should be defined by required lab testing and are encouraged to consider field testing.

“The Compostable Labeling Task Force debated how best to communicate to policymakers the challenges involved in ensuring compostable products make it to compost manufacturers, are easily identifiable, and break down in compost facilities,” said Frank Franciosi, executive director of the US Composting Council. “Having representative voices at the table ensured that the principles reflect the real-world conditions and the business choices facing compost manufacturers. We hope product manufacturers, brands and regulators will quickly and voluntarily adopt these principles.”

While the few existing labeling bills include requirements for third-party certification and/or testing to current ASTM testing standards, additional principles include:

●       Limiting compostability claims to products that touch, contain or carry food products, scraps or other organic material accepted by compost manufacturers

●       Prohibiting misleading or unsubstantiated terms (“biodegradable,” “degradable,” “decomposable”)

●       Recommending field testing to ensure compatible facility conditions

●       Requiring compostable products such as produce and food collection bags, and other foodservice ware to be labeled “compostable,” carry a certification mark, and (product depending) distinguish themselves with green, brown, or beige color, tint, or quarter-inch stripe

●       Prohibiting non-compostable food packaging and food service ware from using identical compostable colors, labeling or marks

●       Restricting degradation claims to specific, intended environments (i.e., compost, agricultural soil)

●       Exempting compostable products from using resin ID codes to reduce consumer confusion

“With interest in both composting and compostable products increasing across the United States, we are excited to partner with USCC on co-branded labeling principles that will guide policies to combat contamination from conventional packaging, and boost confidence in accepting certified compostable products,” said Rhodes Yepsen, executive director of BPI. “Policies around compost infrastructure and compostable product labeling vary greatly from state to state, and consistent requirements are needed for both producers and receivers of compostable products to be successful.”

“The concepts in these guidelines began in Washington State where we worked years ago to begin addressing this issue in legislation,” said Susan Thoman, managing director of Compost Manufacturing Alliance, a Task Force member and a national field testing certification organization. “Having these adopted in a number of states, or nationally, would be a game-change for compost manufacturers.”

USCC and BPI intend to distribute the principles and the model bill that will follow through webinars, meetings and presentations to legislators, legislative staff, regulators, and industry and environmental advocacy groups. Other advocates are welcome to use them as well. The principles are meant to inspire legislation that will create uniformity across states, or national legislation to standardize labeling.

See the Compostable Labeling Principles here.

To date, compostable labeling laws that inspired and incorporate some of these principles have passed in Colorado, Minnesota, California, Washington State and Maryland.

Bob Yost A1 Organics

Leslie Rodgers Atlas Organics

Neil Edgar California Compost Coalition

Renata Neri Chick-fil-A

Kate Kurtz City of Seattle

Solange Ackrill Club Coffee

Susan Thoman Compost Manufacturing Alliance

Marisa DeDomenicis Earth Matter

Megan Jorgensen Eco-Products

Matt Cotton Integrated Waste Management

Lynn Dyer Pactiv Evergreen

Sridevi Narayan-Sarathi PepsiCo

Scott Gamble Waste Management

INFORMATION: Contact Frank Franciosi, Executive Director, ([email protected]) or Linda Norris-Waldt, Advocacy Director, [email protected].

About the U.S. Composting Council

The US Composting Council is a national organization dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the compost manufacturing industry. The USCC promotes best management practices, establishes standards, educates professionals and the public about the benefits of compost and compost utilization, enhances compost product quality, and develops training materials for compost manufacturers and markets for compost products. USCC members include compost manufacturers, marketers, equipment manufacturers, product suppliers, academic institutions, public agencies, nonprofit groups and consulting/engineering firms.

 The USCC is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization and is affiliated with the Composting Research & Education Foundation (CREF), a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, which promotes public and private compost research and education activities.