Articles for category Analysis & Field Research
PDF, Last Updated Apr 2018
Over the past two decades, the class of chemical compounds known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has come under increasing scrutiny from toxicologists, ecologists, and regulators given their persistence and connection to serious potential health effects, including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disruption, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), delayed puberty and obesity. Based on the growing evidence of fluorinated compounds in foodware products and current efforts by leading manufacturers to find alternatives, we expect the market to shift to better alternatives and believe institutional purchasers can play a critical role in expediting the market change we need. In that vein, this report is aimed at institutional purchasers of foodware. It focuses on the use of fluorinated compounds in disposable food serviceware; offers recommendations and resources to help purchasers procure safer foodware products; and equips purchasers with tools to push manufacturers away from these harmful compounds and towards safer products.
PDF, Last Updated Jan 2017
In 2016, the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Paper Recovery Alliance/Plastics Recovery Group commissioned a study to review the existing literature regarding the impacts of compostable foodservice packaging (FSP) at different points in the composting value chain.
Key Finding: there is a growing body of evidence that shows the use of compostable foodservice packaging can lead to an increase of food scrap diversion and a reduction in contamination. Available data suggest that compostable FSP use, in conjunction with a suite of programs that include outreach, education, new infrastructure, and models of the desired behavior, can increase food scrap diversion rates and reduce observed contamination rates.
PDF, Last Updated Jul 2013
A report sponsored by CalRecycle that provides the technical findings of the Future 500 Bioplastics Sorting Project on the research and analysis of discarded plastics sent to landfills in California, and the development of an optical sorting system to test removal of bioplastics from waste streams.
PDF, Last Updated Sep 2012
September 2012 BioCycle article that analyzes the best practices for treating residential food waste in Italy, as well as processing compostable bags in an AD (anaerobic digestive) system.
PDF, Last Updated Jan 2012
A report on a compostable plastics disintegration study and the contamination of compost "overs" from non-degradable plastics.
Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2012
Submission guidelines that tell compostable plastics vendors how to go about having their material tested by Cedar Grove Composting for a fee.
PDF, Last Updated Jan 2009
A Compostable Plastics study sponsored by Calrecycle that includes information ranging from definitions and statutes to ongoing research, why compostable plastic is used, and its affect on the waste stream.
PDF, Last Updated Mar 2007
A CalRecycle (State of California) research report provides testing parameters as well as testing results for compostable rigid plastic packaging containers.
PDF, Last Updated Jan 2007
The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) in 2007 contracted with California State University (CSU), Chico to perfrom this study and report on the following: The designed-use performance and compostability of commercially available products and packaging that claim to be compostable and degradable; The degradability of several commercially available compostable plastics under laboratory conditions; How well degradable plastic products decompose in actual composting facilities and in a simulated marine environment; The potential for degradable plastics to contaminate conventional recycled plastics.
PDF, Last Updated Dec 2005
A report from California on the biodegradation of compostable plastics in a common yardwaste compost environment.