Why We Started Compost Connect

A Compost Connect bin against a wall with vines

Taking Responsibility for Where Our Products End Up

As a responsible business, BioPak could not continue to simply accept that our products were ending up in landfill when there was a more sustainable option available. Home and industrial composting. 

That’s why we started Compost Connect – a not-for-profit composting initiative connecting foodservice businesses to commercial organic waste pick-up services.

“We accept responsibility for all stages in the lifecycle of our products,” says Gary Smith, CEO of BioPak. “We’re not about being ‘less bad’. Instead, we’re creating products that reflect a ‘cradle to cradle’ life cycle rather than a ‘cradle to grave’ life cycle.”

While our compostable packaging is designed for a circular economy, correct disposal is essential in order to realise all the associated environmental benefits.

What Is Compost Connect?

Compost Connect is a not-for-profit platform committed to education, lifting composting rates, and connecting foodservice businesses to commercial organic waste pick-up services. 

Compost Connect has 23 compost partners servicing 2,200+ postcodes across Australia and New Zealand. Businesses can simply search their postcode to find out if commercial organics collection is available in their area. 

In the UK, Compost Connect is powered by First Mile, providing a pay-as-you-go service, making compostable packaging collections more accessible across the food service sector.

Some of the other regions we operate in have limited access to large-scale composting facilities. There, Compost Connect acts as an educational platform, showing businesses and consumers innovative ways to compost at home and in their businesses. 

Compost Connect also makes it easy for individuals to find and support businesses that compost, as well as learn about the composting options available in their area. 

Composting is easy, saves on general waste costs, and helps fight climate change. We can make a global impact, all by making changes at the local level.

A diagram showing how Compost Connect works. It reads Composting starts with your business, Compost Connect finds your nearest composter, your composter collects your waste … and turns it into compost!A diagram showing how Compost Connect works. It reads Composting starts with your business, Compost Connect finds your nearest composter, your composter collects your waste … and turns it into compost!

5 Reasons Why BioPak Started Compost Connect

Here’s why compostable packaging (and composting) is part of the solution.

1. We Need Viable Alternatives to Recycling

Just because something is considered ‘recyclable’ doesn't mean it can or should be recycled. The transport, costs and energy required to sort, clean and recycle materials often don't make commercial sense.

The paper and plastic recycling industry is under increasing pressure following the introduction of the China National Sword policy which has seen China cease to accept recyclable materials exported from Western nations. Many Asian countries have followed suit which has resulted in recyclable materials ending up in landfill due to the fact that the local recycling industry is incapable of accepting and processing these materials.

Composting, on the other hand, can be done on a local scale. It utilises natural processes and does not require significant energy to operate – you put all your compostable packaging and food scraps into one bin, and it all gets converted into compost.

2. Food Residue Contaminates the Recycling Stream

Any food that remains in packaging products (whether conventional plastic or fibre-based food packaging) contaminates the recycling stream making it an impractical solution for foodservice packaging.

With composting, this isn’t an issue. Both food and compostable packaging products can be put in the same bin, no separation or sorting is required.

3. Composting Helps Fight Climate Change

When organic matter, such as food scraps, is disposed of into landfill, it releases methane – a harmful greenhouse gas that’s on average 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide (source). That means waste sent to landfill is a huge contributor to climate change. 

Composting diverts organic waste from landfill, and subsequently helps fight climate change. What’s more, it produces a useful new resource – compost to improve soil quality and water retention.

A person throwing plant-based packaging into a compost bin.A person throwing plant-based packaging into a compost bin.

4. Composting Plant-Based Packaging Closes the Loop on Waste

Compostable packaging (like what we produce at BioPak), is made from plants, not finite fossil fuels. When our packaging is composted along with food scraps, it breaks down through the composting process and returns nutrients back to the soil, which in turn is used to grow more plants. This makes composting plant-based packaging a closed-loop solution.

Learn more about the circular economy.

5. Composting Is a Low-Cost Solution

Composting is a low-tech, low-cost solution for waste management in the foodservice industry. It offers a means to divert large volumes of food scraps and organic waste from landfill. In Australia, New Zealand and the UK, the infrastructure already exists and is becoming more widely available in different councils. We hope to see composting infrastructure continue to grow in the future.

More information

If you want more information about Compost Connect, visit the Compost Connect website or get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer your questions you have. 

2. Food residue contaminates the recycling stream

Any food that remains in conventional plastic or fibre based food packaging products contaminates the recycling stream making it an impractical solution for foodservice packaging.

With composting, this isn’t an issue. Both food and compostable packaging products can be put in the same bin,  no separation or sorting required.

 3. Composting helps fight climate change

When organic matter, such as food scraps, is disposed of into landfill, it releases methane – a harmful greenhouse gas. That means waste sent to landfill is a huge contributor to climate change. Composting diverts organic waste from landfill, and subsequently helps fight the climate emergency, while also producing a useful new resource – compost that improves soil quality and water retention.

4. Composting plant-based packaging closes the loop on waste

Compostable packaging like BioPak’s, is made from plants (not oil) that require quality soil to grow. When our packaging is composted along with food scraps it breaks down through the composting process and returns nutrients back to the soil used to grow more plants. This makes composting plant-based packaging a closed-loop solution.

5. Composting is a low-cost solution

Composting is a low-tech, low-cost solution for waste management in the foodservice industry. It offers a means to divert large volumes of food scraps and organic waste from landfill. In Australia and New Zealand the infrastructure already exists and is rapidly becoming more widely available in different councils and constituencies. (source - AU)

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