To combat the take-make-waste model of the linear economy, where resources are extracted, transformed into packaging, and ultimately discarded, the circular economy aims to eliminate waste altogether. Though many innovators and thought leaders in the packaging industry focus on recycling conventional plastics as the primary path toward circularity, this approach may not be the most impactful. By reframing how the circular economy is approached and focusing on the three principles defined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, packagers can do more than simply reduce harm. From this perspective, the circular economy is centered on preventing waste and pollution, continuously circulating products and materials at their highest value, and, importantly, regenerating nature.
So, how can this industry work toward a circular economy if the focus is not solely on recycling and reuse? Many sustainability-minded leaders and companies developing next-generation materials believe compostable packaging materials represent an important pathway forward. Compostable alternatives help address plastic waste from the design stage, allowing a more circular end-of-use pathway for flexible and multilayered packaging while helping restore natural systems.
Instead of simply doing less harm, compostable packaging materials are designed to support and rebuild global topsoil, which has been depleted by decades of intensive agricultural practices. Healthy soil relies on organic matter from decomposing plant material, yet factors such as crop residue removal and increasing erosion continue to reduce soil quality. Because topsoil forms slowly, compost plays an important role in restoring stable organic matter.
By opting for compostable packaging that breaks down alongside bio-waste, the packaging industry can help increase the volume of compost available to replenish soil organic matter. Not only can compostable packaging materials help nurture the soil, but switching to compostable materials can also help reduce a prominent source of soil contamination; traditional plastic packaging. When non-compostable materials enter the organic waste stream alongside food waste, if they are not captured before composting, they will contaminate the final compost, which undermines the work other industries have put towards creating more sustainable farming practices. This highlights an often-overlooked aspect of circularity: designing packaging systems that work in harmony with natural cycles, not against them.
Though compostable polymers have been commercially available for many years, early solutions lacked the properties needed to protect and preserve many food applications, the largest segment of the CPG industry. Fortunately, this generation of compostable films and laminates offer improved mechanical and performance properties. Addressing several of the industry's main challenges, TIPA’s proprietary compostable packaging technology delivers the barrier, sealing, and performance properties required by demanding packaging applications while offering certified home and industrial compostability. TIPA’s innovations include small on-the-go formats, fresh produce labels, and other complex applications that are particularly challenging because they require compatibility with organic waste streams while meeting demanding performance requirements throughout their use cycle.