Plastic replacement: why we focus on materials, not just recycling

Recycling and industrial composting are good ideas that depend on a lot going right. The item has to be sorted correctly, collected by the right truck, accepted by the right facility and processed under the right conditions. Miss any one of those steps and the product ends up in a landfill. We started PlantSwitch to make single-use products that do not depend on a perfect system, and that idea still shapes everything we make.

Why recycling and industrial composting fall short

Both rely on what is called a closed-loop system: every used item is collected and sent to a facility that can turn it back into something useful. It is a worthy goal, and we support the work to build it. It also takes major investment in infrastructure, collection, education and regulation, and the US is a long way from having it nationwide.

The recycling numbers

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, about 3 million tons of plastic were recycled in 2018, an 8.7 percent recycling rate. Plastics also made up 18.5 percent of all municipal solid waste sent to landfills that year. For single-use foodservice items, which are small, light and often covered in food, the odds are even worse.

The composting gap

Industrially compostable products face the same problem from a different direction. They are certified to break down in hot, managed facilities, but many communities have no such facility, and many facilities that do exist do not accept packaging. A compostable fork that ends up in the trash performs no differently than a plastic one in that moment. We explain why in Why PLA isn't actually compostable.

Replace the material instead of waiting for the system

If the systems are not ready, the material itself has to carry more of the load. That is our starting point. Rather than designing a product that only works when the whole chain works, we design products that give a better end-of-life option in the places people actually put them, including a home compost bin.

Recycling, composting and reuse all still matter. Replacement is the piece that can move fastest, because a buyer can switch a product line today without waiting for a new facility to open nearby.

What a PlantSwitch product has to meet

When we first wrote this post in 2022, we described our goals in broad terms. Today those goals have a name: CompostZero™, the material we make ourselves. Every product we sell has to meet the same tests.

• Renewable origin: CompostZero™ is made through fermentation from renewable feedstocks.
• A real end-of-life option: our products are certified home compostable, so they do not depend on an industrial facility.
• No Forever Microplastics: the material is built not to leave behind persistent plastic.
• Food contact ready: our products are FDA-compliant for food contact.
• Performance: it has to work as well as the plastic it replaces, or operators will not switch.

Why we chose PHA

PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) is a family of materials produced by microorganisms. As a material, PHA biodegrades in soil, freshwater and marine environments. That sets it apart from PLA, which needs industrial composting conditions to break down.

We are a material science company, which means we make the resin, develop how it is used and manufacture the finished product. That control is how we can hold CompostZero™ to a consistent standard from resin to fork. Marine and soil biodegradation certification for CompostZero™ is in progress, and we will share results as they are granted. For the background, see our guide What is PHA? and the studies in our science library.

The fastest way to cut plastic waste is to stop making the products that become it. Replacement is how we do that.

Where we go from here

Our product line covers cutlery, straws, stirrers and cutlery kits, with hot cups and lids available on quote. Each one carries certifications from recognized bodies including TÜV Austria (OK compost HOME), BPI and DIN CERTCO. You can find our products through distribution partners such as Imperial Dade, Bunzl and Sysco, or become a distributor yourself. Learn more about our approach on our sustainability page.

Start with samples

The best way to see whether CompostZero™ works for your operation is to use it. Request samples or a quote, browse the full product line, or email sales@plantswitch.com.