The Compostable by Design Platform (CbDP), a cross-industry initiative, released today its “Compostable by Design Guidelines.” This comprehensive reference is designed to help businesses, manufacturers and policymakers understand when and how compostable packaging and products make sense in a circular economy.
Developed through cross-sector collaboration between leading organisations in materials science, packaging, bio-waste management and certification, the Guidelines provide a science-based framework for designing, testing and introducing compostable packaging and products that support bio-waste recycling.
Guidelines designed for real-world impact
The Guidelines present evidence-based recommendations to assist the packaging industry and others in identifying when composability is the right choice and how to ensure it delivers environmental benefits.
Key features include:
- Decision framework: A practical decision tree to help designers and businesses determine when compostability may be an appropriate end-of-life option, with emphasis on items likely to be food-soiled, common contaminants in the bio-waste stream, or those used in closed- loop systems.
- Material selection: Criteria for choosing certified compostable materials and ensuring all product components, such as inks and adhesives, comply with established standards.
- Alignment with EU Policy: The Guidance is aligned with the current EU legislation, including the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), supporting Member States in meeting ambitious recycling targets.
- Best practice & labelling: Real-world examples and clear labelling recommendations to empower consumers and waste managers, aiming to avoid greenwashing and contamination risks.Supporting Europe’s circular economy implementationWith Europe’s Waste Framework Directive now requiring separate bio-waste collection in all Member States, and the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation establishing industrial composting standards for specific packaging types, the Guidelines arrive at a pivotal moment for the packaging industry.By aligning design practices with legislation, infrastructure and consumer behaviour, the Guidelines aim to enable scalable, effective bio-waste recycling, helping Europe move closer to its circular economy and waste reduction goals.
“Compostable packaging and products can play an important role in advancing Europe’s circular- economy goals, but meaningful progress depends on collective action. Our Guidelines, born from unprecedented cross-value-chain collaboration, give businesses, policymakers and innovators the clarity and confidence to design compostable solutions that genuinely support a circular future for Europe,” said Afsaneh Nabifar, Chair of CbDP and Head of Global Advocacy and Sustainability for Biopolymers at BASF.
Download the Guidelines
The “Compostable by Design Guidelines” are now available for download at compostablebydesign.com/#guidelines.
About the Compostable by Design Platform
The Compostable by Design Platform (CbDP) is a cross-value chain initiative established in 2023 to drive innovation and collaboration in compostable packaging, products and related technologies. The Platform brings together stakehoders from every stage of the value chain, including resin producers, converters, brands, retailers, waste managers, certification bodies and academics. Together, we work to ensure compostable items are responsibly designed, widely accepted, properly certified and recycled through suitable bio-waste infrastructure.
By building a robust evidence base and harmonising guidelines, CbDP supports the European Union’s circular economy goals to minimise waste, regenerate natural systems and keep materials in continuous use.
Source
Compostable by Design, press release, 2025-10-20.
Supplier
Compostable By Design Platform
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