Product Guides

Not all compostable bags are equal — and some bags labeled compostable aren’t really. Here are the 10 specific things to check on a compostable bag spec sheet before placing a bulk order, drawn from real procurement experience.

A specific pizza chain’s switch to a corrugated bagasse-blend pizza box that breaks down in industrial composting in 30 days versus the 60-90 days standard cardboard takes. The materials story behind a quietly innovative packaging product.

A volunteer beach cleanup near Half Moon Bay logged a PHA cup found half-buried at the high-tide line — and the same cup, marked and tracked, was undetectable three days later. The small data point worth knowing about why PHA matters.

The answer depends on the material, the facility, and the operating conditions: anywhere from 30 days to 6 months for the same product across different facilities. Here’s what determines the timeline and why facility-to-facility variation is so high.

What coffee shop owners and managers should look for in compostable hot cups — material comparison, PFAS-free verification, double-wall versus sleeve, sleeve cost gotchas, and the procurement checklist that prevents the most common failures.

Wooden utensils are mostly compostable — but the answer depends on the wood species, the coatings used, and whether the production process involved any non-compostable adhesives. Here’s how to tell.

The honest answer to ‘Can I reuse a compostable plate?’ depends on the plate material, what you served on it, and how you wash it. Here’s what works, what fails, and what to expect.

What to look for in a compostable soup cup lid — vent designs, seal grades, material differences between PLA, bagasse, and CPLA, leak testing, and the procurement gotchas that hit operators in the first 90 days.

A 2019 McGill University study found that single-use plastic tea bags release billions of microplastic particles into hot water during brewing — far more than other sources of microplastic exposure for typical tea drinkers. The findings sparked consumer concern, media coverage, and subsequent legal action against tea brands using plastic-mesh bags. Several class action lawsuits…

Compostable mulch mats made from natural fibers — coir, jute, hemp, wool felt — are an alternative to plastic mulch for strawberry beds. They suppress weeds, retain moisture, warm soil, and compost into the bed as they break down. The mats last 1-3 seasons depending on material; by then strawberry plants are established and self-mulching…

Compostable champagne flutes for picnics solve a real problem: glass flutes break easily outdoors, plastic flutes look cheap and persist in landfills, and mason jars don’t capture the celebratory aesthetic. The compostable champagne flute category includes PLA clear flutes that look like crystal, bagasse molded flutes with natural appearance, and specialty bamboo flutes for premium…

Earth Day yard cleanups across communities and households generate substantial green waste — fallen branches, accumulated leaves, weeds, and garden debris from neglected corners. A typical household Earth Day cleanup produces 100-300 lbs of organic material; community park cleanups can produce tons. Compostable yard waste bags handle this volume while ensuring the bags themselves don’t…