MftE compostable products publications May, 2024

In May 2024, the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment published a series of technical reports on compostable packaging, commissioned in partnership with the University of Auckland. Building on the Ministry’s position statement on compostable products these reports examine compostable materials, additives, certification, testing and product selection, and provide valuable guidance for businesses, policymakers and the wider packaging industry. Further reading below.

A guide for selecting compostable products in Aotearoa, New Zealand – practical guidance for selecting compostable products, including materials, additives, certification, collection systems and labelling.

Compostable Products in Aotearoa, New Zealand – a literature review examining the role of compostable products, soil health and current scientific evidence.

Additives in Compostable Products – laboratory testing of selected compostable products available in New Zealand, including the assessment of additives and potential impacts on soil health.

Ahead of discussing each publication it is important to understand the role of government policy in leading the nation towards a thriving post-petroleum plastic era. The Plastic Packaging Declaration and the Zero Carbon Bill are commitments that compostable products have a role in, reducing dependencies on petroleum-based plastics and supporting the recovery of food scraps for composting, reducing waste to landfill and the associated emissions.

Recycling plastic is not the answer. The February recycling reform was more than about standardising recycling across the country; it acknowledged that many plastics are not recyclable despite what we have been told. The plastic bans were referred to as the phasing out of ‘hard to recycle’ single-use plastics. At the same time, the low value of these materials continues to make onshore processing unviable, while overseas markets for these products remain volatile.

Before exploring the reports, it is useful to understand the role compostable packaging plays within New Zealand's broader waste and resource recovery policy.

Over the past several years, the New Zealand Government has introduced a range of initiatives aimed at reducing waste, improving resource recovery and supporting the transition towards a more circular economy. This includes the Ministry for the Environment's Position Statement on Compostable Products, standardised kerbside recycling, the phase-out of problematic and unnecessary plastics, and continued investment in food waste and organics infrastructure.

Within this broader policy framework, compostable packaging has been recognised as one solution for specific applications, particularly where it supports the collection and processing of food scraps through commercial composting systems.

At the same time, New Zealand's recycling system has continued to evolve. Standardised kerbside recycling, bans on problematic and unnecessary plastics, and investment in organics infrastructure reflect a broader recognition that different materials require different end-of-life solutions. While recycling remains an important part of the waste hierarchy, not all plastic packaging is suitable for mechanical recycling, particularly food-contaminated items and low-value flexible plastics. In these applications, certified compostable packaging may provide an alternative where appropriate collection and composting infrastructure exists.

The regulation of additives, including PFAS, has become an increasingly important part of compostability certification and product stewardship.

Read our guide to PFAS in compostable packaging to learn more

Bio-based does not always mean biodegradable: Understanding the different types of bioplastics

One of the challenges facing the composting industry is that the packaging market includes a wide range of plastic materials with different end-of-life outcomes. This is in part because the current regulatory environment allows products with very different end-of-life outcomes to coexist in the market with little distinction for purchasers or waste operators.

While certified compostable packaging is designed to break down under defined composting conditions, manufacturers are also free to produce and distributors are free to import plastics that are bio-based but not biodegradable, biodegradable but not compostable, or conventional fossil-based plastics that closely resemble certified compostable products.

As the diagram below illustrates, bio-based, biodegradable and compostable are distinct concepts and should not be used interchangeably.

Source: Philp, Jim. (2013). Policies for Bioplastics in the Context of a Bioeconomy. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers. 10.10.1089/ind.2013.1612.

In 2023, bio-based but non-biodegradable plastics accounted for 47.9% of global bioplastics production. This highlights an important distinction: the source of a material does not determine how it behaves at the end of its life.

Certified compostable products are assessed against recognised compostability standards, which evaluate characteristics such as biodegradation, disintegration and ecotoxicity under defined composting conditions. Whether a material is made from renewable or fossil-based feedstocks is secondary to whether it meets these performance requirements.

The continued growth of bio-based plastics that are not biodegradable increases the risk of contamination within composting systems, as many of these materials are visually indistinguishable from certified compostable products.

Plastic formulation presents a further challenge. Around 16,000 identifiable chemicals are used in plastic. A quarter have been classified as hazardous in some way, while thousands have not been adequately assessed for their impacts on human health or the environment. Published in 2021, this Deep Dive into Plastic Monomers, Additives, and Processing Aids identified more than 2,400 substances of potential concern, while almost 11,000 haven’t been assessed for safety at all for food-contact applications. Another 901 are not even approved for use in food-contact plastics.

As governments continue to recognise the role of certified compostable packaging, broader regulation of plastic materials and chemical additives will also be needed to reduce contamination, improve confidence in composting systems and support the successful recovery of organic waste.

A Guide for selecting compostable packaging

One of the most practical resources published by the Ministry for the Environment is A Guide for Selecting Compostable Products in Aotearoa New Zealand. Developed in partnership with the University of Auckland, the guide helps businesses navigate the complexities of compostable packaging by bringing together information on materials, certification, collection systems, processing infrastructure and end-of-life communication.

Rather than focusing solely on whether a product is labelled "compostable", the guide encourages businesses to consider the broader system in which that product will be used. This includes understanding the materials it is made from, whether it has been independently certified, whether composting infrastructure exists, and how the product will ultimately be collected and processed.

The guide also includes considerations for Tikanga Māori, alongside practical advice on terminology, certification and communicating disposal instructions accurately to customers.

One of the most useful resources is the decision tree below, which helps organisations determine whether a compostable product is appropriate for their application.

The guide reinforces an important principle: compostable packaging should not be selected simply because it is marketed as environmentally friendly. It should be chosen where certified compostable materials align with the available collection and processing systems, ensuring food scraps and packaging can be recovered together through commercial composting.

Page 3 of the Ministry guide provides the following decision tree.

Understanding compostability certifications

Independent certification provides confidence that a product has been assessed against recognised compostability standards. Rather than relying on marketing claims, certification verifies that a product meets the requirements for biodegradation, disintegration and other performance criteria specified within the relevant standard.

Depending on where a product is sold, different certification programmes are used around the world. While the certification bodies differ, they all provide independent verification against recognised compostability standards.

The Ministry guide encourages businesses to look for recognised certification marks and request supporting documentation where required. This provides greater confidence that products have been independently assessed and are suitable for their intended end-of-life pathway.

Additives in compostable products

The third report, Additives in Compostable Products in Aotearoa New Zealand, examines the chemicals used in compostable products available in New Zealand and their potential impacts on soil health. The University of Auckland assessed ten commercially available products for a range of contaminants, including PFAS, heavy metals, phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA).

While the study was limited in scope, it highlighted an important distinction between products that are independently certified and those that rely on environmental claims alone.

One notable finding was that a standard pizza box, accepted through New Zealand's kerbside food scraps collections, tested positive for all contaminants assessed. The study also identified a fibre tray displaying a "please compost" claim that was not certified compostable and had intentionally added PFAS.

These findings reinforce the importance of independent certification, transparent product information and appropriate regulation of packaging materials. They also demonstrate why businesses should look beyond marketing claims and seek evidence that products have been independently assessed for their intended end-of-life pathway.

PFAS requirements within compostability certification

Over the past several years, compostability certification programmes have strengthened their requirements relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). While each certification body has its own application process, the overall direction has been consistent: limiting fluorinated chemicals in certified compostable products and requiring manufacturers to declare that PFAS have not been intentionally added.

BPI Certified Compostable

TÜV AUSTRIA

TÜV AUSTRIA operates the OK compost INDUSTRIAL and OK compost HOME certification programmes.

Since 2020, applicants for both programmes have been required to declare that no intentionally added PFAS (as defined by the OECD) have been used in certified products.

For OK compost INDUSTRIAL, products are certified against EN 13432, including the requirement that total fluorine concentrations do not exceed 100 ppm. OK compost HOME applies separate certification criteria based on the principles of EN 13432 but adapted for lower-temperature home composting conditions.

Australian Bioplastics Association

The Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) certifies products against AS 4736 (industrial composting) and AS 5810 (home composting).

Both Australian Standards include limits on fluorine concentration as part of the compostability requirements. In May 2021, the ABA introduced an additional application requirement for manufacturers to declare that no intentionally added PFAS or other fluorinated chemicals had been used in certified products. This declaration applies to both new certification applications and renewals.

Note: Compostability standards do not directly test for every PFAS compound. Instead, certification incorporates fluorine limits alongside manufacturer declarations and other assessment requirements as part of the overall certification process.

Opportunities

The report concludes by identifying several opportunities to strengthen New Zealand's approach to compostable packaging. While certification standards provide an important technical framework, broader policy, infrastructure and market settings will determine whether compostable packaging can be successfully integrated into organics recovery systems.

Stronger regulatory frameworks

The report identifies a need for clearer regulation of packaging materials, environmental claims and chemical additives. While compostability standards define the technical requirements for certification, they do not have legislative authority. This places greater reliance on businesses, certification bodies and regulators to ensure environmental claims are accurate and supported by evidence.

Greater alignment between packaging regulation, certification requirements and public communication would help reduce confusion and improve confidence throughout the supply chain.

Increased confidence in composting infrastructure

The report acknowledges that acceptance of compostable packaging by commercial composters remains inconsistent. This is influenced by several factors, including contamination from non-compostable materials, limited transparency around product composition and differences in processing capability between facilities.

Improving confidence in certified compostable packaging will require clearer product identification, consistent certification and continued collaboration between packaging suppliers, composters and local government.

Compost quality and contamination management

Producing high-quality compost depends on managing contaminants throughout the organics recovery process. The report notes opportunities to strengthen contaminant monitoring, improve testing frameworks and better align compost quality standards with emerging packaging materials.

Packaging is only one potential source of contamination. Herbicides, persistent chemicals and other contaminants also require ongoing monitoring to ensure compost products remain safe and suitable for use.

Communication and certification

The report highlights the importance of consistent certification, product labelling and public education. Improving understanding of recognised certification marks and reducing misleading environmental claims would help consumers, businesses and composters make more informed decisions while supporting confidence in certified compostable products.

Together, these opportunities illustrate that compostable packaging is only one part of a much broader system. Standards, certification, regulation, collection infrastructure and public education all need to evolve together if compostable packaging is to effectively support organics recovery and landfill diversion.

Embedding Rethinking Plastics in the government agenda

An interesting recommendation from the earlier Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report was the development of a national public awareness programme covering plastic pollution, recycling and compostable plastics. While significant policy reforms have since been introduced—including kerbside standardisation, single-use plastic regulations and the publication of technical guidance—a coordinated national education programme has been less evident. As a result, understanding of compostable packaging, certification and appropriate disposal continues to vary among businesses, consumers and waste operators.

The Ministry's recent publications go some way towards addressing this knowledge gap by providing practical guidance on materials, certification and end-of-life management.

The Ministry for the Environment's research reinforces that compostable packaging is only one part of a broader organics recovery system. Certification, regulation, collection infrastructure, compost quality standards and public education all need to work together if compostable packaging is to successfully support food waste diversion.

The reports also highlight the importance of distinguishing certified compostable products from other packaging materials. Clear standards, independent certification and appropriate regulation help reduce confusion, improve confidence among composters and provide businesses with greater certainty when selecting packaging.

As New Zealand continues to develop its circular economy, collaboration between government, packaging manufacturers, composters, local authorities and businesses will remain essential to ensuring compostable packaging can deliver the environmental outcomes it is designed to achieve.

Need help selecting certified compostable packaging?

Contact our team to discuss materials, certification and product options suited to your business. Get in touch at hello@ecoware.co.nz.

By Tracey Creed