As more states across Australia — including South Australia (SA) and Western Australia (WA) — begin mandating compostable packaging for takeaway food and drink, it's essential for businesses and customers alike to understand the difference between compostable and biodegradable.
✅ Compostable: Designed to Become Nutrient-Rich Soil
- What it means: Compostable products break down completely into non-toxic components (carbon dioxide, water, and organic matter) within a specific timeframe under commercial or home composting conditions.
- Standards: In Australia, certified compostable packaging usually meets standards such as:
- AS 4736 for industrial composting
- AS 5810 for home composting
- Timeframe: Typically within 90 days in a commercial composting facility.
- Waste stream: These products must be disposed of via composting, not landfill or recycling bins.
- Good for: States like SA and WA, where regulations ban conventional plastics and only accept certified compostable alternatives for food service.
♻️ Biodegradable: Breaks Down... Eventually
- What it means: Biodegradable materials break down naturally with the help of microorganisms, but the timeline and end result are not defined.
- No standard timeframe: Some products take weeks, others can take years — especially in landfill conditions.
- Potential problem: Some items labelled "biodegradable" break down into microplastics, which still pollute soil and water.
- Not compliant: Biodegradable ≠ compostable — meaning biodegradable items do not meet legal compostability standards in regulated Australian states.
⚠️ Why It Matters for Your Business
If you operate in South Australia or Western Australia, or sell to customers who do, you must ensure your coffee cups, containers, lids, and bags are certified compostable, not just labelled "biodegradable." Otherwise, your products could be banned or fined under state legislation such as:
- SA's Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act
- WA’s Plan for Plastics
🛍 Choosing the Right Products
At Food Packaging Online, we stock a wide range of certified compostable takeaway packaging solutions — from paper coffee cups to bagasse containers — that meet Australian standards and help your business stay compliant and sustainable.