"Compostable" packaging is marketed as the ultimate green solution; biodegradable materials that break down into nutrient-rich compost, eliminating waste and reducing pollution. Many brands proudly display the EN13432 certification reassuring consumers that their packaging will disappear in industrial composting systems.
The reality? Most compostable packaging is never composted and worse, it may be contaminating the compost it does enter.
The Misalignment: EN13432 vs. Commercial Composting
1. EN13432 is a Laboratory Test, Not a Practical Standard
EN13432 requires that after 12 weeks of composting, 90% of the material must break down into fragments smaller than 2mm. However, most commercial In-Vessel Composting (IVC) facilities operate on 6–8-week cycles meaning many EN13432 certified items haven’t broken down in time.
If packaging lingers in the system, it's classified as contamination and removed. Facilities prioritising PAS 100 compliance may reject compostable packaging outright to avoid contamination risks.
2. PAS 100 Sets the Real-World Rules
PAS 100 is the UK standard for high-quality compost and has strict contamination thresholds - plastic, glass, metal, and non-compostable fragments larger than 2mm must be below 0.25%–0.5% by weight. If compostable packaging doesn’t fully break down and leaves visible residue, the entire batch may fail certification. EN13432 does not account for this, meaning certified materials can still be considered unacceptable waste.
3. The Hidden Contaminant: PFAS in Compostable Packaging
Even if compostable packaging breaks down physically, chances are it may still leave behind chemical contamination, specifically Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a class of highly persistent, toxic chemicals.
PFAS are used in many compostable paper and fibre based food packaging to make them water- and grease-resistant. These chemicals don’t degrade in composting; instead, they remain in the final compost, accumulating in soil and food systems. Even "certified compostable" items can introduce long-term pollution, undermining the entire purpose of composting.
4. Composting Facilities Are Rejecting Compostable Packaging
Due to both PFAS concerns and fragment contamination, many IVC operators and composting sites are refusing to accept compostable packaging even if it carries the EN13432 label. Some composters have found elevated PFAS levels in finished compost after accepting fibre based compostable packaging. Others have struggled with fragments of so-called biodegradable plastics failing to fully break down, violating PAS 100 standards. Without a dedicated compostable waste stream, many EN13432-certified items end up in landfill or incineration instead.
Is EN13432 a License to Greenwash?
With this misalignment, EN13432 becomes a marketing tool rather than an environmental solution. Brands can advertise their packaging as “compostable”, boosting sustainability credentials shifting responsibility to the waste management industry knowing full well that IVCs can’t handle the materials misleading consumers who assume “compostable” means guilt-free disposal when in reality, it could be adding toxic PFAS to compost.
What's Needed?
- For compostable packaging to be more than a greenwashing gimmick, we need alignment between EN13432 and PAS 100 ensuring compostables break down within actual IVC processing times and don’t leave problematic residues.
- Strict PFAS bans in certified compostable packaging - compostable should not mean chemically contaminated. It's worth noting, if you're buying compostable tableware/packaging, look for the guarantee 'no added PFAS'.
- A dedicated compostables collection and processing network instead of relying on waste streams that aren’t designed for them.
- Clearer labelling – Moving away from the vague “compostable” claim and specifying how and where items can actually be composted.
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