Can biodegradable packaging be composted

As retailers struggle to become more sustainable, a quick-win is often seen in changing traditional plastic packaging for a recyclable, compostable and biodegradable alternative that is actually better for the environment.

Compostable plastic is designed to breakdown in an industrial or "hot compost" where the conditions are carefully controlled to swiftly and completely break down the material and form nutrient-rich soil.

Sometimes called "biodegradable" or "oxo-degradable" plastics, these are conventional plastics made with fossil fuels like PE, PP or PET which have a pro-oxidant additive.

If they're placed in a microbe-rich environment to help it break down, biodegradable plastic bags can take anywhere from only a few months to a few years to fully break down.