Compostable product labeling guidelines released

The US Composting Council (USCC), Raleigh, North Carolina, and New York City-based Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) have 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 comprised of both organizations’ members, including compostable product-makers, certifiers, municipal leaders, allied members of USCC and compost manufacturers.

RELATED: USCC releases updated guidance for compost infrastructure | BPI petitions USDA to update compost feedstock definition

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 their manufacturers should be 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,” USCC Executive Director Frank Franciosi says. “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 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, such as “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 a 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); and
• exempting compostable products from using resin identification 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,” BPI Executive Director Rhodes Yepsen says. “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.”

USCC and BPI plan 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.

“The concepts in these guidelines began in Washington state where we worked years ago to begin addressing this issue in legislation,” says 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-changer for compost manufacturers.”