Compostability

Biodegradability is an advantageous characteristic in a product. But it can be only a partial solution and it may take a long time. When something is biodegradable, it relies on factors like temperature and the presence of bacteria to achieve success. Most biodegradable materials need to be processed in specialized facilities to fully degrade, not in the open environment. Industrial compost needs facilities to provide an adequate environment, such as elevated temperatures, for biopolymers to decompose.

In the past, the holy grail for plastics replacement was to increase bio-content and to have it be biodegradable, but today it is the ability to include on the package that it is ‘home compostable’ without having to include any caveats for specific conditions. aPHA (amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate)  is TUV OK-certified home compostable and can act in synergy with many other biopolymers, enhancing the biodegradable profile. It is sourced from renewable material and can be responsibly disposed of after its use, making it possible for manufacturers to develop a truly circular packaging solution.