BPI Compostable Products: Your Key to Boosting Your Brand & Protecting the Planet
- Lauren Rice
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Updated: 18 hours ago
As a restaurant owner, the choices you make don’t just impact your bottom line, but the environment as well. And with 85% of recyclable plastics ending up in landfills, those takeout containers really start to add up. That’s why savvy restaurants, cafes, and catering businesses are looking into going green and investing in compostable bioplastics.
What are compostable plastics?
Yes. You heard us right: compostable plastics.
It may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s very much a real thing, and it can very bulk up your compost pile while not bulking up your carbon footprint.
Compostable plastics are products made from plant fiber, like sugar cane, agave, or cornstarch. Unlike your traditional, petroleum-based plastics, bioplastics pay their worth two times over: first in customer use, and again in nurturing your compost pile.
What exactly is BPI certified?
You might have heard the term “BPI compostable” before. BPI, or Biodegradable Products Institute, is the leading authority on composting certification, and BPI-certified is the gold standard all compostable products want. It’s basically “organic certification” of the compost world, your guarantee that your buying quality.
For a product to become BPI-certified, it must go through a rigorous testing process, meeting requirements like:
Truly compostable. Breaks down completely and leaves no toxic waste behind.
Timely breakdown. Decomposes within 90 days, assuming your compost pile is in optimal conditions.
Plays well with others. Compatible with your standard compost pile mix (it won’t get in a fight with your vegetable scraps).
Unique purpose. Not replacing a product that should end up in the recycling bin instead.
User-friendly. No disassembly is required before composting.
Meets regulatory compliance. Complies with either the ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards (we’ll get into this in a bit).
Because of these requirements, if you buy a product that has the BPI mark, you can rest assured that it won’t start fighting with your compost and throw off the temperature balance.
With that said, if you’re looking at a product that lacks the BPI label, proceed with caution. Third-party certification means you should take things with a grain of salt… so don’t buy in bulk.
ASTM D6400 & D6868 standards
Like we mentioned above, for a product to be considered BPI-certified, it must comply with either the ASTM D6400 or the D6868 standards. Products that meet these standards must be able to:
Decompose within 90 days in a commercial composting environment
Leave no harmful residues in the soil
Turn into useful soil instead of lingering microplastics
When you see the BPI-certified logo on the batch of cups you just ordered that means the above standards have been met.
Now that you understand what all goes into making a product BPI-certified, let’s take a look at the common bioplastics you’ll encounter when you start shopping.
What are examples of common bioplastics?
When you’re shopping for compostable bioplastics to upgrade your disposables, look for these:
Cassava bioplastics
These plastics use cassava starch, organic resins, and vegetable oil for a 100% degradable compost option.
Perfect for: utensils and cold drink cups
Agave bioplastics
You’ve probably heard of agave being used in tequila, but the plant’s cellulose can also be used to make BPI-certified compostable plastics. This option is doubly environmentally friendly because it means you’re upcycling plant waste leftover from tequila production.
Perfect for: Takeout bags and straws
PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates)
PHA is the new bioplastic on the block. It boasts a 100% renewable beginning of life process and is made from sugars, starches, plant feedstocks, and vegetable oils. It’s an excellent alternative to replace your plastic straws, cups, and bags.
Perfect for: Straws, cups, and bags
Commercially compostable vs home compostable
Not all products meant for consumers are suited for commercial-level compost… though this may depend on the nature of your restaurant or cafe’s composting pile.
Some bioplastic materials need a high, regular temperature to break down, which can be hard to maintain with home compost. This is why things that are labeled as biodegradable are not always considered to be compostable.
Here’s what you need to know to be sure these BPI-compostable products will play nice with your compost:
If you use a commercial composting service, then you’ve got nothing to worry about. Any BPI-certified product with flourish in your pile.
If you’re composting on-site, then you’ll want to buy “home compostable” products. Avoid bioplastics that have thicker layers, since they need much higher temperatures to properly decompose.
If you’re still on the fence about composting, some cities offer composting pickup services made for restaurants, usually at a lower cost than garbage services.
Why invest in BPI products
As consumers, we use 5 trillion plastic bags on a yearly basis. The vast majority of those bags then go into landfills, and since plastics are shown to concentrate pollutants up to a million times their level in seawater, our environment is left to suffer.
For business owners, switching to BPI-certified products means you can make a difference – and get a competitive edge, reaping these rewards:
Increase customer loyalty from those 73% of diners who say they’d rather eat at a restaurant with sustainable practices.
Better marketing advantage when you share your new sustainability practices on social media.
More staff engagement from the 69% of employees who said they would prefer their companies to invest more in sustainability efforts and reduce waste.
Potential new revenue stream once your compost is finished, as you can sell or donate it to local farms, gardens, or even other restaurants.
How you can start using BPI-certified compostable packaging
Ready to make the switch? Here’s what your next steps will look like:
Start small to test customer reception. Order straws or to-go cups to start.
Request free samples so you can try before you buy for absolute quality assurance.
Create marketing materials so you can spread the word about your new sustainability efforts.
Train your staff so they know how to properly dispose of your new BPI-certified products.
Showcase your successful initiative on social media and to the world to encourage others to start a similar journey.
We’ve got just the starter kit which includes samples of our most popular items for restaurants and cafes.
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