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Biodegradable / Compostable Packaging

Compostable Stand Up Pouch

Choose biodegradable/compostable packaging that will break down and decompose within a specific time period – choose Close the Loop.

Our sustainable packaging options include compostable packaging certified under official Australian standards for brands seeking the Australian Bioplastics Association (ABA) labelling. This means the materials used in each product pack will decompose within 6 months, effectively reducing waste from non-compostable plastics and other traditional packaging.

Biodegradable Packaging vs. Compostable Packaging

The terms biodegradable and compostable are often confused with one another, and other companies use this in “greenwashing” their products. All compostable packaging supplied by Close the Loop is biodegradable, but not all biodegradable packaging is compostable. To help you choose the right eco-friendly packaging for your business, here’s a simple explanation for both.

Madame Tiger Compostable

Biodegradable Packaging

Biodegradable packaging is composed of materials that break down over time. However, the term biodegradable lacks a set time frame or quality criteria for the leftover product, and technically, many products are biodegradable but can persist for hundreds of years!

Compostable Packaging

Compostable packaging, meanwhile, degrades within a specific time period and requires composting before the materials break down and return to the environment. Composting requires a specific balance of moisture, heat, and oxygen to be effective. This can be done at consumers’ homes or at commercial composting facilities. The material left from compostable products must also be of a specific standard for eco-friendly quality.

Some biodegradable packaging suppliers in Australia also add paper in the mix to give their packaging structure a certain level of rigidity.

Bio-Plastics

Bioplastics are materials that can be used in compostable and non-compostable packaging. The term refers only to the source of the material’s creation, and not how it acts at the end of life.

Composition can include non-fossil fuel materials, like plants, or a mix of fossil and non-fossil fuel sources. Compostable plastic films are usually made from a combination of bio-plastics like Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), and cellulose (or as it is known by the brand name, Cellophane).

Available Formats

Compostable Stand Up Pouch

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Stand Up Pouches
flat pouches 3 side seal pouch packaging

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Flat Pouches
Quad Seal Side Gusseted Bags

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Gusset Bags
Retail Carton Packaging

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Box Packaging
Carton Coffee Packaging

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Flat Pouches
Packaging Sleeves

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Packaging Sleeves

Why Choose Close the Loop's Compostable Packaging?

We are proud to offer certified home-compostable films and pouches. Compostable packs in Australia and New Zealand can be marked with a logo from the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) once certified by this organisation. It is important to distinguish biodegradable packaging from home-compostable packaging to ensure consumers dispose of packaging correctly and understand the differences between home- and industrial-compostable products.

Close the Loop’s home-compostable products are functional and durable for certain products. Available formats range from bags and pouches to boxes and paper sleeves. Despite being sustainable and compostable, these products are suitable for various applications and can be made to protect contents against oxygen and moisture, like some traditional packaging materials.

Close the Loop continues to invest in research and innovation to develop further our environmentally-friendly products – recycled content, recyclable, and biodegradable/compostable packaging. We aim to get more customers to switch to more sustainable packaging to reduce food and packaging waste that typically end up in a landfill.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Compostable packaging is made from materials that break down over a certain time period. These materials are weaker in structure and because of this, reusing or recycling compostable packaging is not advisable. Generally, we recommend compostable packaging for single-use packs or as garbage bin liners. Only paper is both a compostable and recyclable material. Other compostable materials like PLA and PBS contaminate the recycling stream.

Close the Loop’s compostable packaging is safe for food contact and can be used for certain food items. However, we encourage our customers to discuss their products in detail to make sure we provide them with the best packs that will keep their food items safe and fresh for consumption. Compostable packaging can also be an alternative to plastic food containers for takeaways.

Yes! Our compostable films can be assembled into bags and pouches of various shapes and sizes. Close the Loop’s rigid and flexible compostable products are also print-ready to give our customers more design and branding potential. Plus, we also offer compostable zipper closures to complete your product packs.

Consumers will never be short on information when it comes to home composting as the planet’s green revolution continues to intensify. More and more specialist groups that encourage composting offer tips and simple DIY guides on composting, but here is a beginner’s guide to composting from the government of South Australia.
It is advised that people look up the composting guidelines for their specific state or territory.

Other Eco-Friendly Packaging From Close the Loop

Recycled Packaging

Make the sustainable switch with Close the Loop’s recycled packaging solution. Choose from a variety of high-quality packaging options that rival the functionality of traditional films, bags, pouches, and cartons.

Recyclable Packaging

Help reduce plastic waste on Earth with recyclable packaging. Close the Loop can produce 100% recyclable packaging bags and pouches, or incorporate a portion of recycled material into your chosen packaging format for non-food applications.

Need more information about biodegradable/compostable packaging in Australia?

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