How compostable materials brands have fared during lockdown

By David Newman, MD, BBIA

BBIA members mostly produce compostable materials such as compostable plastic films or compostable catering products. These are used in applications such as food waste collections, carrier bags, soil mulch, packaging, and for catering especially where disposable table ware or take away food is used or sold.

The first category of members report a considerable increase in business activity over the lockdown period, for two reasons: firstly, there has been increased consumer demand for many products that come wrapped or packaged in compostable films. Brands are also turning to compostable films to improve their packaging footprint and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the desire of many brands to become more sustainable. Moreover, households have been locked down, so there is an increase in household food waste and this has meant using more compostable bin liners for collections.

The second category, selling into catering locations, have clearly suffered a notable reduction in sales. Coffee shops, bars, office canteens, cinemas, stadia, have all been shut and these are the locations our members sell their compostable food service products to. Now, as the summer develops, some of these locations are re-opening and our members sales are recovering but it will be a long haul before 2019 levels are reached again. Food waste from these locations has of course declined to almost zero.

On the policy front the combined four UK administrations issued their statement on the adoption of the EU Circular Economy Package on July 30th which we welcome. It gives clarity over targets and other strategic elements of waste policies going forward.

For more information, get in touch with BBIA.

Valerie Evans5 August 2020