Opinion

February 12, 2020

Why compostable plastics aren't such a great idea

Don't jump on the compostable packaging bandwagon — it's not quite what it seems.


Claire Rampen

5 min read

No-one needs to remind you that packaging waste is a problem; even if you missed the harrowing scenes in the BBC’s Blue Planet, it’s hard to avoid the many stray bottles and crisp packets that whip across your path on a windy day in London or Paris. Where other types of pollution may be “invisible”, we are faced with daily evidence of this broken system. 

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Finnish packaging startup Sulapac's compostable straws.
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Diagram of different types of plastic
Different types of plastic; what they’re made from and how they can be recycled or broken down (Claire Rampen).
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Photo of A CupClub drop-off point in London
A CupClub drop-off point in London
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