In September, I had the privilege of attending the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) Summit 2025, an annual gathering where scientists, brands, haulers, composters, and policymakers come together to shape the future of compostable products.
While in Atlanta, attendees had the chance to tour CompostNow’s feedstock hub and compost piles and I was genuinely blown away. Their process is dialed in from start to finish, their haulers are true industry athletes, and as a certified B Corp, they’re setting a new standard for what’s possible in the hauling and composting world. Seeing compostables move cleanly through their system reinforced how essential BPI-certified compostable products are in closing the loop.
This year’s summit conversations were some of the most technical, honest, and hopeful I’ve seen yet. Here are my key takeaways:
Biodegradation Is About Microbial Conversion
Dr. Ramani Narayan reminded us that biodegradation isn’t about plastics “disappearing”, it’s about microbes metabolizing carbon into CO₂ and biomass. For a product to be truly compostable to ASTM standards, more than 90% of its carbon must be microbially converted within 180 days.
That 90% number came up a lot. Some asked: “Is 90% really good enough?” The answer: yes. Biology is never 100%, and the last 10% represents natural variability and particles too small to easily track. Researchers are now applying tools from human health (like isotopic tracing) to learn more about where those particles go, and early results show they don’t accumulate in soils.
Field Data Matters
Dr. Yingxue Yu presented long-term soil studies on agricultural mulch films. The lab can tell us how a polymer behaves under ideal composting conditions, but real-world temperatures and soil environments are slower and more complex.
The good news: over time, even commercially available mulch films break down with very little residual build-up in soils. The nuance is that degradation timelines differ across climates, reinforcing the need for region-specific data.
3. Standards Are Stringent by Design
Sam Deconinck of Normec OWS broke down the four pillars of compostability certification:
- Biodegradation – microbial conversion of carbon into CO₂.
- Disintegration – the material must physically fragment and not leave visible pieces.
- Chemical Safety – no heavy metals or harmful additives allowed.
- Ecotoxicity – finished compost must remain safe for plants and earthworms.
These tests are deliberately conservative. For example, lab compost piles are loaded with unrealistically high amounts of compostables to stress the system. Even then, certified products must meet every standard before earning the BPI logo.
And the bar is rising: by 2026, even additives at just 1–3% of a product will need to prove biodegradability.
Infrastructure Is the Bottleneck
Evan Michael White (University of Georgia) reminded us that the U.S. has nearly 5,000 composting facilities, but only about 150–300 accept food scraps and packaging. Compare that to recycling: almost every facility accepts packaging because the industry has invested in infrastructure.
Expanding organics collection is critical. In Athens, GA, a pilot curbside program reached 400 homes. The biggest learning? Education costs more and takes longer than collection itself.
Residents wanted to compost for environmental reasons, but contamination (like glossy paper) persisted despite outreach. That's why we focus on providing signage and holistic programs at EcoSafe so that we help expand education efforts.
Companies like Green Mountain Technologies (GMT) are a pioneering force in closing the composting infrastructure divide. Their state-of-the-art facilities are designed to process certified compostable materials (meeting standards like ASTM, ISO, and BPI) alongside organic waste, enabling brands and municipalities to scale composting systems responsibly and reliably. GMT build cost-effective modular facilities that can serve local communities, institutions, or regions that previously lacked composting capacity.
Vann Fussell from Compost Colorado (CoCo) and Betsy LaForce from Green Mountain Technologies (GMT) presented how Denver’s first urban composting facility is breaking barriers with two Earth Flow in-vessel systems at its core. Validated by the 2024 Compost Consortium study, these compact hot aerobic units rapidly process organics and certified compostable plastics in under four weeks, making them an ideal fit for Denver’s high-desert climate and a model for scaling composting infrastructure nationwide.
By accepting certified compostables, GMT’s operations empower brands to meet their packaging pledges, reduce landfill reliance, and close the loop on organic and packaging waste streams, making compostable packaging a viable, high-integrity option.
Brands Must Communicate Simply
Todd Wingfield (formerly Coca-Cola), Ben Jordan (Georgia-Pacific), and others spoke about how brands view certifications. For them, labels must mean truth and simplicity. They want confidence that compostable claims are real, not greenwashing.
Georgia-Pacific shared their journey certifying Dixie plates. They had to redesign adhesives and inks, but the bigger challenge was communication:
- Consumers know “compostable = good.”
- Few understand how or where composting works.
- Packaging and websites must guide people to real solutions like findacomposter.com.
The lesson: certification is necessary, but consumer education is equally critical. The companies who show up to these kinds of events deeply care, and we are working diligently across the entire industry to make the transition to zero waste work efficiently with the tools we have today.
The Big Picture
Across panels, a theme emerged: compostables are at a crossroads. The science is strong, the standards are rigorous, and brands are investing. But for this system to scale, we need:
- Clear communication (no vague “biodegradable” claims).
- More infrastructure (to make access real for households and businesses).
- Policy inclusion (ensuring compostables are recognized in EPR and climate plans).
The compostable industry has a chance to tell a better story…one grounded in biology, transparency, and systems thinking.
Final Reflection
For me, the Summit was a reminder that compostables are not just about bags, plates, or films. They’re about creating the conditions for organics recycling to succeed and connecting packaging with haulers, composters, soil health, and ultimately climate action.
The path forward is not easy, but the momentum is undeniable. Certified compostables can be a critical tool for keeping food waste out of landfills, cutting methane, and building healthy soils. What we do in the next five years in labs, legislatures, and local communities will determine how we seize that opportunity.
Written by Sammy Davies, Director of Sustainability and Brand at EcoSafe Zero Waste
Banner Image courtesy of BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute)