Imagine you’ve sourced recyclable material, optimized your packaging design, introduced return systems, and then: your packaging ends up in landfill… The material cycle is broken and the benefits of using recyclable materials are lost in a pile of waste.
New or unknown packaging materials can confuse end-consumers and internal teams from choosing the correct waste stream, minimizing your efforts within a split second. Fortunately, the PPWR mandates that by 2030, all packaging must be labelled with standardized symbols that provide information about composition and how to sort and recycle it or return it for reuse.
Below we explain how to dispose of biodegradable Mycelium Packaging correctly.
Home composting
The most sustainable disposal pathway for Mycelium Packaging is allowing nature to recycle the material, as this requires zero extra energy. Simply break it into pieces and throw it in the garden or a home compost bin, where it will fully decompose. Home composting can take from a few weeks to several months, due to uncontrolled and inconsistent conditions, but remains completely harmless for nature throughout the entire time. During this process, valuable nutrients are returned to the soil and the carbon captured within the material is released into the earth’s natural carbon cycle, where it waits to be recaptured by growing crops.
While the earth’s natural recycling system requires the least amount of energy, not everyone has the privilege of a garden or compost heap. In this case, there are other circular disposal options that close the loop.
Organic waste bin
If home composting is not an option, the organic waste bin is the second choice. Through pick-up schemes or drop-off at facilities, Mycelium Packaging is either processed into compost or biogas. Industrial composting remains the preferred pathway, as it is carbon-efficient and produces nutrient-rich soil that can be used in agricultural practices. While incineration cannot be referred to as carbon-efficient, it does prevent the release of methane in landfills and provides a renewable energy source.
General waste bin
As a last resort, Mycelium Packaging can go in the general waste bin. While it won’t be repurposed into compost, it remains completely harmless to the waste stream and is sometimes repurposed into energy through incineration.
Paper bin
We are currently researching whether it is safe to place Mycelium Packaging in the paper bin. For now, it is not a viable disposal option.
In the end, someone’s best guess determines whether or not the loop is closed. Whether it’s your customer, technicians or warehouse staff, information provided on correct disposal, via labels or information campaigns, will encourage the right decision and ensure your packaging materials contribute to the circular economy.
Beyond any disposal method, the new PPWR is providing an opportunity to engage companies in a more conscious relationship with packaging materials. The PPWR’s targets will encourage adoption of recyclable materials and standardized labels over the next few years, but companies must take advantage of this incentive. Whether companies are seen as leaders in sustainability will depend on their commitment to going the extra mile in sourcing sustainable materials and adapting infrastructure and processes that support a circular economy.
