In today’s eco-conscious world, sustainable packaging is becoming an increasingly important factor in our purchasing decisions. For both businesses and consumers wanting to offer or use a disposable option for takeaway coffee, one alternative to plastic and bioplastic lined products is home compostable packaging.
But first, you can’t talk about compostable packaging without talking about certifications.
Home compostable certification
Home compostable cups go through rigorous testing to make sure they break down completely and safely in a home composting environment.
Certifications following the AS 5810, guarantee the reliability and sustainability of the cups, so the consumer can trust that the cups are perfect for home composting.
These certifications ensure that the packaging doesn’t leave behind any toxic residue or harm the composting process.
Simply put, the packaging is suitable for your backyard compost pile, where organic waste, water, and oxygen work their magic to break things down.
Read our useful guide on packaging certification
By choosing home compostable cups, businesses give their customers the opportunity to contribute to reducing waste and promoting circularity.
Home compostable cups are made from natural materials like plant-based/plant fibres or paper pulp, and these products easily decompose in backyard compost piles.
For those who can access a FOGO bin, it’s worth noting that only 10% of councils in Australia currently accept compostable packaging as part of their green and organic waste heading to composting facilities. So, it’s important to check the regulations in your area before adding any home compostable packaging to your FOGO bin.
Competitive Pricing: Dispelling Misconceptions
Now, let’s dispel a common misconception – often people think that home compostable packaging is more expensive than commercially compostable alternatives, but this is far from the truth. In fact, home compostable packaging can be competitively priced and offers affordability and accessibility to businesses of all sizes, especially small businesses.
To show you that it won’t break the bank, we spent the past 3 months researching, enquiring and decrypting certified home compostable cups available* in Australia.
Important to note: there are many cups that claim to be compostable or biodegradable but what we spent a long time checking here are certifications proving those products are home compostable. We identified 4 certified brands and 1 brand of uncertified but edible cups (which means what it means!):
- Compostable Alternatives – Compost After Coffee – As a Responsible Cafes, get an extra 10%off with the code “responsiblecafes” and support a South Australian small business
- Biopak – Aqueous collection
- Creative Cafe Company – Truly Eco Cup
- Little Green Panda – The Friendly Cup
- I am not paper
- Good Edi
*last updated July 2023, based on public available information.
As you can see, home compostable packaging offers businesses and consumers a viable and sustainable alternative to commercially compostable packaging.
It’s backed by certifications, and offers competitive pricing, making it an attractive choice if you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact.
In another article, we’ll look at the difference between home and commercially compostable cups and how to recognise them from one another with the complex packaging jargon used in this industry.