Frequently Asked Questions

Unless otherwise stated, our recyclability assessments refer to the entire product. Where a window or a separable part (e.g. lid) should be removed, guidelines are given.

Our compostable food packaging can be composted along with food waste in industrial composting facilities or on-site bioprocessors. When our products are collected for industrial composting, they are usually be sent for anaerobic digestion or in vessel composting where the temperature and processes can be controlled and monitored.

Through these processes, compostable packaging breaks down, along with food waste, into a nutrient rich substrate, digestate or compost.

We also work with partners across the world that manufacture bioprocessors. Our compostable food packaging can be digested in these bioprocessors alongside food waste, allowing packaging and food to be processed together on-site.

The criteria for the industrial compostability of packaging are set out in the European standard EN 13432. This requires materials to disintegrate after twelve weeks and completely degrade after six months.

Compostable food packaging is best used in a closed-loop system where the packaging can be captured and disposed of appropriately, often along with food waste. There are many benefits to composting packaging and processing food waste and packaging together. These include:

• Playing a role in the circular economy
• Producing CO₂, water and biomass to support soil regeneration and food security by returning packaging and food materials and nutrients to the earth
• Reducing food waste contamination in standard recycling facilities, as the mix of food and packaging is not a problem for composting facilities
• Providing sites with the opportunity to apply their composted packaging and food from an on-site bioprocessor directly to land or as a feedstock for biogas boilers
• Diverting food waste and packaging from landfill

The food packaging industry in the UK has long stopped using the term ‘biodegradable’ as this term does not specify how long the process will take and what packaging will degrade into. Instead, the industry considers whether a product can be composted.

Colpac products are designed with circular economy principles in mind. We focus on designing our products for recyclability and compostability to improve the circularity of our products and we are constantly innovating as recycling guidelines and legislation evolve.

Compostable packaging, as part of the right closed-loop solution, can provide an excellent feedstock for anaerobic digestion and other composting facilities, including on-site bioprocessors to be used in forestry and agriculture, gardening, or as a source for biofuel burners.

Unrecyclable products are not circular. Even with circular economy principles in mind, we sometimes choose to make trade-offs to tackle other environmental issues, such as preventing food waste which has a higher carbon impact than packaging. Our modified atmosphere packaging can be harder to recycle, depending on the jurisdiction, but extends food shelf-life by over 10 days.

We offer food packaging machinery and tooling to seal Colpac packaging. This includes our heat seal packaging range and our Modified Atmosphere Packaging (M.A.P.) range.

See our food packaging machinery range

We offer specifically designed heat sealed packaging, with integrated lids across several of our product categories including sandwich packaging and chilled food-to-go.

We also offer options to film seal ranges such as microwave soup pots, Multi-Food Pots, Stagione^®, and bespoke packaging solutions.

Our short shelf-life packaging is suitable for same day consumption. Our longer and extended shelf-life products help to preserve food contents for several days, depending on food contents.

To order samples to test our packaging with your food product, please contact our sales team.

Contact us

Our compostable food packaging is made from materials that are certified to the EN 13432 standard for industrial composting.

Household and on-street collections of compostable packaging are limited. However, there are a range of on-site solutions and take-back schemes that are available to our customers.

Compostable solutions have an important role to play, particularly for helping to capture more food waste and divert it from landfill. We are currently working with partners throughout the UK, the EU, and the rest of the world to set up on-site closed-loop composting solutions.

Talk to us more about our compostable food packaging and on-site composting solutions.

The recyclability information that we provide online and, in our literature, currently relates to UK On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) recycling guidelines. Recyclability assessments according to the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) are available, following the implementation of Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility in the UK.

Information on sustainability guidelines for other countries is available for each of our products. For specific country information, please see relevant country sustainability information or contact your account manager.