A new report from Beyond Plastics casts compostable bioplastics as “not ready for primetime”, yet it failed to contact key representatives from the largest organizations in the movement.
NEW YORK, NY: July 15, 2024 – The report "Demystifying Compostable and Biodegradable Plastics," recently published by Beyond Plastics, falsely suggested that certified compostable products are not properly tested as a way to cast doubt on their efficacy and even criticized the composition of the BPI Board of Directors, despite the Board’s commitment to BPI’s mission of diverting food scraps and associated packaging away from landfills.
“This report should be disconcerting to the public and to the funders and allies of Beyond Plastics,” says Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director of BPI. “It appears no effort was made to contact BPI, its Board Members, or the US Composting Council (USCC). If Beyond Plastics had conducted due diligence by contacting BPI, it would have discovered a highly collaborative and transparent organization dedicated to driving positive change for society and the environment.”
BPI's approach to systemic change involves collaborating with a diverse network of members and organizations beyond product companies to include composters, municipalities, restaurants, government officials, academic scientists, and consumer groups. Its certification is transparent, utilizing independent testing labs, ASTM/ISO standards, and a public set of certification criteria.
It is also fundamentally incorrect that BPI-certified compostable products are more toxic than traditional plastics. In addition to baseline requirements that all products must meet, BPI requires compostability tests including strict heavy metals limits, plant toxicity, and biodegradation in compost. “Composters that participate in the USCC’s Seal of Testing Assurance, that meet the program requirements, can accept and process BPI certified compostable products and meet state operating permit and product distribution standards,” says Frank Franciosi, USCC’s Executive Director.
Claims that BPI’s certification has a conflict of interest due to its Board’s configuration are unfounded. Certification decisions are made entirely by DIN CERTCO, an independent global leader with no ties to BPI Members or the Board. BPI’s certification rules can only exceed the ASTM specifications, and there have been multiple examples of BPI’s stricter rules, including a pioneering PFAS prohibition and progressive on-product labeling requirements.
While the report is fundamentally flawed, BPI agrees that items should only be redesigned for compostability on a case-by-case basis, as exemplified by the certification program’s longstanding eligibility criteria, which rejects applications for items not associated with food scraps. Several composting programs around the US and Canada rely on certified compostable foodservice products and bags to reduce contamination and improve participation, often in connection to climate and zero waste goals.
BPI also recognizes that false and misleading claims around biomaterials can create confusion, which is why the organization has prioritized consumer testing, improved labeling, and policies that limit misleading terminology. “The assertion that BPI’s advocacy weakens composting regulations is baseless, as evidenced by our partnerships supporting composting infrastructure grants, extended producer responsibility, labeling laws, and PFAS prohibitions,” reiterates Yepsen. “These topics are complex. We hope organizations like Beyond Plastics will engage with BPI to explore where these alternative materials can provide solutions, rather than jumping to conclusions.”
About BPI
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is North America’s leading authority on compostable products and packaging. The organization is science-driven and supports a shift to the circular economy by promoting the production, use, and appropriate end of lives for materials and products that are designed to fully biodegrade in specific biologically active environments. BPI’s certification program operates in conjunction with education and advocacy efforts designed to support the broader effort to keep food scraps and other organics out of landfills. To learn more about BPI, please visit www.bpiworld.org.
Media Contact
