Committees

All Full and Stakeholder Members have access to our committees. Learn more about BPI Membership here.

BPI has a number of Committees and Working Groups for members to participate in. Joining one or all of these groups is the best way to get involved with BPI and to lend your organization’s perspective to the many important issues facing compostable products and organics diversion today. These committees are chaired by a member of the BPI Board of Directors, and are open to employees of BPI Full and Stakeholder Industry Members. Committees typically meet via conference call once per month. To join a committee please fill out the "Join A Committee" form on the BPI Member Hub.

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Communications

Board Chairs: Keith Edwards, Danimer and Kate Bennett, Eco-Products

Staff Lead: Clifton Passow

Charter: A group of BPI Members working together to grow awareness of BPI and the overall value of compostable products by supporting and promoting the organization's Certification, Education, and Advocacy programs.

Monthly Call: First Wednesday of the month, 11 EST

Example Projects:

  • Work on voluntary industry guidelines for the labeling and identification of compostable products and packaging
  • Generate and communicate official BPI positions and statements
  • Participate in coordinated efforts to engage with media / press to highlight BPI and compostable products
  • Communicate with membership on regulatory topics and developments
  • Engage with strategic BPI projects that are Marketing and Communications related
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Standards & Procedures

Board Chairs: Peg Hoks, Georgia Pacific and Becky Brooks, NatureWorks, LLC

Certifier & Technical Reviewer: Oliver Ehlert, DIN CERTCO

Staff Lead: Margaret Eldridge

Charter: A technical committee overseeing the validation process associated with issuing the BPI Certification Mark. The committee will also act as a liaison between BPI, BPI member companies, and standards bodies such as ASTM.

Monthly Call: Second Tuesday of every month, 10 EST

Example Projects:

  • Develop "Certification Scheme" to document BPI procedures used to validate compliance with ASTM Standard Specifications D6400 and D6868 (completed February 2019).
  • Updates to Certification Scheme as needed, based on areas that need clarification or improvement.
  • Discuss the activities of ASTM D20.96 (Environmentally Degradable and BioBased Products Subcommittee), and create updates to membership.
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Legislation & Advocacy

Board Chairs: Jeanette Hanna, BASF, Shannon Pinc, NatureWorks, LLC, and Laurie Hansen Sheets, WPA (representative of NatureWorks, LLC)

Staff Lead: Alex Truelove, Legislation & Advocacy Manager

Charter: A forum for discussing and collaborating on pending legislation that impacts compostable products and packaging, as well as the growth of the composting industry. Identify projects and resources needed to better advocate for compostables within zero waste systems.

Monthly Call: First Tuesday of the month, 1 EST

Example Projects:

  • Discuss ongoing legislative threats and opportunities
  • Review activity detailed in national bill tracking service reporting
  • Coordinate efforts to influence legislative activity through public comments and other public feedback mechanisms
  • Draft model bill language and distribute to state and local governments

Standing Subcommittees:

  • Canada subcommittee: Monthly calls to discuss activities in Canada including the proposed federal single-use plastics prohibition, provincial policy statements, rules and regulations. Efforts are focused on how to coordinate industry responses.
  • California Working Group: A forum for discussing and collaborating on legislation and regulatory issues that impact compostable products and packaging, as well as the growth of the composting industry in California. Identify projects and resources needed to better advocate for compostables in a state with unique and broad implications.
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Composter & Municipality

Board Chairs: Melissa Tashjian, Compost Crusader and Justen Garrity, Veteran Compost DC

Staff Lead: Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director

Charter: A forum within BPI for Composters and Municipalities to provide essential feedback and direction on key Certification, Education, and Advocacy projects. It provides a direct feedback loop within the organization for Composters and Municipalities and provides a space for discussing and collaborating on pending legislation that impacts compostable products and packaging, as well as the growth of the composting industry. It also provides opportunity to identify projects and resources needed in order to better advocate for compostables within zero waste systems.

Monthly Call: Third Tuesday of the month, 3pm EST

Please Note: This committee is only open to Composters and Municipality Stakeholder Members.