Let’s talk about greenwashing.

Greenwashing is a term used to describe when a product is falsely advertised as being ‘eco-friendly.’ Greenwashing can be found across the consumables board, from laundry powder and washing liquid to toilet paper and straws. ‘Compostable’ is a term that is thrown around loosely in the greenwashing realm. With little legislation around false advertising, companies might brand their products as ‘compostable’ with no objective evidence to back it up. We’ve covered the difference between compostable and bio-degradable, but we haven’t delved deeply into the world of compost!

When looking for genuinely compostable products, see through the matte cardboard packaging, nature graphics, and ‘eco feel.’ Instead, search for one of two certifications.

AS5810 (Australian standard home compostable) or
AS 4736 (Australian standard commercial compostable)

These certifications ensure that the product you’re buying will compost safely in your home compost or the industrial HotRot composters at The Norfolk Wave. There will be no lingering microplastics or forever chemicals like PFAS.

PFAS are making big news worldwide, and have also been identified in multiple environments on Norfolk. These chemicals are often used as aqueous or water dispersion barriers in packaging products. They harm you and the environment and will hang around for a very long time (if not forever). Australian compostable standards have changed recently, so the above certifications ensure that the products displayed do not contain PFAS.

With there being so many manufacturers distributing compostable products, its important to research what they’re actually offering. We’re currently doing the same. Our initial findings are that brands such as BioPak, Greenmark, Vegware and Green Pack stock a wide range of certified products, and BioPak in particular are being transparent regarding the use of PFAS. Always be sure to check individual products for the AS5810 or AS4736 certifications.

By choosing safe, healthy, compostable packaging, we can reduce our outfall to landfill and instead circulate these materials back into Norfolk’s food system. Feel free to ask any questions or advice on genuine compostable options.

Thaenks f aklan

Lil, Mandi, Dan, and the Revolve Your World team