LeapCompostable Food Packaging — Certified, PFAS-Free
"Compostable" Is a Certification, Not a Material
A material being plant-based does not make the finished package compostable. Compostability is a property of the whole item — substrate, coating, liner, ink and adhesive — tested and certified as a unit. Bagasse fiber itself breaks down readily; a bagasse tray with a PE film window does not. This page sets out which formats genuinely carry certification, which do not, and what to ask a supplier before you print a compostability claim on the pack.
Molded pulp & bagasse
Sugarcane fiber trays, clamshells and plates. Standard production certified to EN 13432 / ASTM D6400; selected grades hold home-compost certification. PFAS-free, microwave-safe.
PLA-lined paper
Cups, bowls and boxes with a PLA film instead of PE. Industrially compostable when the finished item is certified. Not suitable for hot liquid above 85°C for long holds.
Aqueous-coated paper
Recyclable and repulpable rather than compostable. The right choice where the local waste stream is paper recycling, not industrial composting.
Which Formats Actually Compost
| Format | Material | End-of-life | Certification to request |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molded pulp trays | Bagasse / bamboo fiber | Industrial; selected grades home | EN 13432, ASTM D6400 / BPI, OK Compost HOME |
| PLA-lined cups & bowls | Paperboard + PLA film | Industrial only | EN 13432 on the finished item, not the film |
| Compostable boxes | Paperboard + PLA window or none | Industrial only | EN 13432; confirm window and adhesive |
| Uncoated kraft bags | Virgin kraft, no liner | Home and industrial | No certification required if uncoated |
| PE-lined paper | Paperboard + PE film | Not compostable | Recyclable only |
| Aqueous-coated paper | Paperboard + water-based barrier | Recyclable / repulpable | Not a compostability claim |
The practical consequence: if your market collects food waste separately, specify certified compostable formats and accept that they cannot go in the paper recycling bin. If your market recycles paper well but has no industrial composting, aqueous-coated packaging usually delivers a better real-world outcome than a compostable claim nobody can act on.
The Certifications Behind the Claim
| Standard | Region | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| EN 13432 | EU | 90% disintegration and biodegradation within 6 months under industrial conditions; ecotoxicity limits |
| ASTM D6400 | US | Equivalent industrial composting specification; BPI certification is the common third-party mark |
| OK Compost HOME | EU (TÜV Austria) | Composting at ambient home-compost temperatures, typically 12 months |
| EN 14995 | EU | Compostability of non-packaging plastics — sometimes mis-cited for packaging |
Ask for the certificate for the finished SKU, not for the raw material. A resin supplier's certificate does not transfer to a cup once a coating, sleeve or lid is added. The four questions we expect from a serious buyer: which standard, which certificate number, which test laboratory, and what wall thickness was tested.
Design Rules That Keep a Package Compostable
No PE or PP film
A plastic window or lamination disqualifies the item. Use a PLA window, a paper window, or an open window with a paperboard sleeve.
Barrier, not plastic
Grease and moisture resistance should come from a certified PLA or aqueous coating — not from a PE layer added for convenience.
Inks and adhesives
Heavy metal and PFAS limits apply to the whole item. Specify compostable-compatible inks and avoid PFAS-based grease barriers entirely.
Also consider the lid: a compostable bowl with a PET lid is not a compostable package. Matched compostable lids, or paper lids where the application allows, are part of the specification rather than an accessory.
Where Compostable Packaging Pays Off
Compostable formats make commercial sense where the buyer already separates food waste: catering and events with back-of-house collection, universities and campus dining, airports and stadiums with contracted waste streams, and produce packers whose retail customers run compost programmes. They make less sense in markets where the package will end up in general waste — there, recyclable paper packaging with an aqueous coating usually has the lower real footprint and the simpler compliance story.
Related: molded pulp trays · paper cups & bowls · food service packaging · biodegradable vs compostable explained · our sustainability approach
Compostable Packaging — Frequently Asked Questions
What does compostable mean for food packaging?
It means the finished package breaks down under defined composting conditions within a set time, leaving no ecotoxic residue — for EN 13432, 90% disintegration and biodegradation within six months in an industrial facility. It is a test result for the whole item, not a property of the main material. That is why a bagasse tray can be certified while a bagasse tray with a plastic window cannot.
Is compostable packaging also recyclable?
Usually not both, in practice. PLA-lined items can contaminate paper recycling streams, and compostable plastics are not accepted in most plastic recycling. Choose the end-of-life route your market actually provides and design for one — claiming both usually means neither is true. Aqueous-coated paper is the recyclable alternative; it is not compostable.
Do I need certification to say compostable on the pack?
Yes, in the EU and increasingly in US states. Unsupported environmental claims are treated as greenwashing — the EU's Green Claims rules and PPWR both push toward third-party certification with a certificate number. Print the standard and certificate on the pack or keep documentation ready; regulators and retail buyers now ask for both.
What is the difference between home and industrial compostable?
Industrial composting runs at roughly 55–60°C with controlled moisture and aeration, breaking material down in weeks to months. Home composting runs at ambient temperature and takes longer — OK Compost HOME allows up to 12 months. Most municipal food-waste collection is industrial, so EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 is the relevant claim for most B2B buyers; home certification matters for garden or backyard-compost markets.
Is compostable packaging more expensive?
Typically 10–30% above the equivalent PE-lined paper format, driven by the coating, certified material and smaller production scale. The premium narrows at container volumes and when the format is molded pulp rather than coated paperboard. Compare landed cost rather than unit cost — composting-compatible packaging can reduce waste-disposal cost for the buyer, which is often where the business case actually sits.
Which compostable formats do you manufacture?
Molded pulp and bagasse trays, clamshells and plates; PLA-lined paper cups, bowls and boxes; uncoated kraft bags and food-service bags; and paper lids where the application allows. We supply the certificate for the finished SKU with the order. See the food grade packaging guide for the documentation set we provide.
Planning a compostable switch?
Tell us your format, market and waste stream — we will confirm which certified options apply before you commit to artwork.
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