About How2Compost Labeling

When you need to throw something away, you probably consider whether it is garbage or recyclable material. But do you ever consider composting?

Compost is created when organic matter is decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer or soil additive. Food and garden waste are commonly materials that can be composted. But more and more food packaging, plates, cups and even silverware are being manufactured from compostable materials. 

That’s why the the Sustainable Packaging Coalition has formally launched the new How2Compost label program. The label is put on the packaging of compostable materials and features instructions on how to compost the item. It also includes the URL how2compost.info for further information. Every package featuring this logo is either certified compostable or contains a certified product.

“Compostable products and packaging are continuing to go mainstream, in step with communities and businesses that are diverting food scraps from disposal to composting,” says Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director of the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). “As such, consumers are becoming more familiar with compostable products at restaurants, sports and music venues, schools, etc., and increasingly on retail shelves. The How2Compost and How2Recycle labels provide a uniform platform for communicating to the public about end of life options, which is particularly critical when the package and product are designed for different recovery streams, one for recycling and the other composting, to ensure they end up in the right collection bin.”

For more information about this label, visit http://how2compost.info/.