Decoded: Sustainability Jargon

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In the ever-growing world of “sustainable” claims by almost every major FMCG company out there, this post aims to decode the most commonly used jargon, specifically, related to sustainable packaging.

So, let’s start by dividing the claims into categories related to what they imply. They can be broadly categorised into the following buckets:

1. Recyclability and End of Life Claims
2. Structure Format Claims
3. Material Origin Claims
4. Others :)

Recyclability and End of Life Claims

As the name suggests, these claims are related to the recyclability and end-of-life prospects of the material.

Recyclability:

For plastic-based laminates, it means that the original polymer (like polyethene, polypropylene, etc) can be recovered, by chemical or mechanical means. Things get interesting in the case of “paper packaging”.

As we discussed in one of my previous blogs, for imparting barrier properties on paper, people coat/ laminate/ extrude polymers on top of base paper. Now, for paper to be “recyclable”, the cellulose fibres and the barrier polymers must be separated. This is possible for coated paper, as the coating comes out as a lump and can be removed easily.

However, for laminated or extrusion-coated papers, the film does not come out that easily. Now, EU and North America, with their superior waste collection and recycling programs, can handle this type of complex waste, separate the two materials and recycle both of them in their respective recycling streams.

Things are not so good in the Indian context. Laminated/extrusion-coated papers are generally considered to be non-repulpable. Thus, if an Indian company claims something to be repulpable, more often than not, it will be coated, but an EU-based or US-based company may be able to claim recyclability for laminated and extrusion-coated products as well!

Compostability and biodegradability:

While both these terms relate to a material’s ability to break down, they aren’t interchangeable. Understanding the distinction is crucial for making informed choices about sustainable products.

Biodegradable is a broad term. It simply means a material can be broken down by microorganisms into natural elements like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. However, it’s a bit of a vague claim. It doesn’t specify a timeframe or the conditions required for this process. A plastic bottle might be “biodegradable” but could take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill, leaving behind microplastics.

No fixed test standard, in part responsible for ambiguous claims.

Compostable is a much more specific and meaningful claim. A compostable product breaks down into non-toxic, nutrient-rich compost under specific conditions, typically in a designated composting facility. This process happens relatively quickly, leaving no harmful residue. The material must fully decompose within a set timeframe, usually 90–180 days, and must not harm the resulting compost. A coffee cup labeled “compostable” is designed to be part of a circular system, returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

Test Standards: ISO 17088, ASTM D6400 and EN 13432

Catch you on the next one!