The Inconvenient Truth about Compostable Plastics

Bio-plastic is not a long-term solution for compostable products. It's simply not realistic. You need a very special industrial composting facility to make your compostable utensils truly composted. As soon as you toss them into the regular trash bin, the chance is, they are never going to be composted. 

Watch a youtube video on why composting sites are banning compostable plastics. 

Olga Kachook, senior managet at sustainable packaging coalition, warned the common misconception around bio-plastic-based compostable utensils.

"These materials are not tested for how quickly they break down in oceans. Consumers should not be led to believe that compostable plastics will break down more quickly in any environment other than a industrial composting system, and we should not encourage littering of compostable plastics"

Here we provide simple two steps solution around your disposables.

1. Reduce

Avoid using single-use plastic and compostable (bio-plastic) items. 

2. Use sustainably made utensils: Bamboo utensils

With all this in mind, the choice is clear: don't use compostable plastic. If you want to do your part to help save the environment, purchase bamboo utensils instead of plastic ones. And if you work somewhere that uses disposable utensils every day, throw your support behind the idea of moving to more eco-friendly options. Although opting for plastic is convenient and less expensive in the moment, the long-term costs may well be too high to pay.