Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Green Products
All purchasing agents hear from owners and customers alike: BE (MORE) GREEN! Recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable food service packaging items are all available at Packaging & More.
All purchasing agents hear from owners and customers alike: BE (MORE) GREEN! Recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable food service packaging items are all available at Packaging & More.But sometimes it’s a genuine challenge to make an environmentally responsible choice that completely works for the food, its merchandising, the transportation, and the customer.
Here’s a helpful explanation to assist decision makers in fulfilling that seemingly simple request. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as it seems!
Recycling:
Southern New England states overlap many recycling regulations. They include mandatory recycling of:
Southern New England states overlap many recycling regulations. They include mandatory recycling of:- Paper bags, paper boxes, and cardboard
- PET #1 plastic containers and plastic tubs
- Polypropylene #5 plastic containers and plastic tubs (RI only)
Non-recyclable items include all smaller plastics like cutlery and straws (no matter the recycling number), all plastic bags, almost all plastic caps that are not affixed to bottles/containers, paper napkins, paper towels, and Styrofoam.
While PET #1 is readily recyclable for continued reuse, almost all PET #1 containers are designed to be used once then recycled. Many PET containers are actually now made with a majority of recycled PET or RPET.
Polypropylene #5 containers can be repeatedly reused in their current form, and are microwave and dishwasher safe. Sometimes reusing makes an even greater impact than recycling!
Compostable:
These food containers and cups, in the right environment, can be turned into compost. They will not biodegrade on their own without being placed in the ideal air/light/moisture controlled conditions (typically, that means an industrial compost facility).
These food containers and cups, in the right environment, can be turned into compost. They will not biodegrade on their own without being placed in the ideal air/light/moisture controlled conditions (typically, that means an industrial compost facility).Also, because it is a GMO, compostable items coated in PLA (made from corn, and usually in place of a non-degradable leakproof liner) cannot be composted at facilities that produce and sell organic compost. These subtle designations make proper waste management a vital component in any food service operation looking to use compostable items to ensure they eventually arrive at a proper compostable facility.
The best news when it comes to compostable packaging? Single use, non-recyclable items made from plastic like cutlery, souffles, straws, and trays would all become trash. But the compostable version of these items can be broken down along with compostable cups and containers!
The best news when it comes to compostable packaging? Single use, non-recyclable items made from plastic like cutlery, souffles, straws, and trays would all become trash. But the compostable version of these items can be broken down along with compostable cups and containers!The simplest way to know if a specific food service product is compostable, as certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute, is to visit products.bpiworld.org
Many paper items can be both recyclable and compostable. Many plastic or PLA “plastic” items are either recyclable or compostable and cannot be both.
Biodegradable:
Any true biodegradable product will break down completely in a natural environment, and usually even in a landfill. Yet, the controlled compostable process almost always works faster than Mother Nature.
Any true biodegradable product will break down completely in a natural environment, and usually even in a landfill. Yet, the controlled compostable process almost always works faster than Mother Nature.And truly biodegradable products are not plentiful. Uncoated paper, fiber, straws, and pulp make up most of the entire available food service packaging that will eventually disappear on its own. These few paper items are recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable.