Read the full story at Packaging Dive.
Consumers struggle to identify and properly dispose of compostable materials, according to a newly released report from BPI and Closed Loop Partners’ Composting Consortium. The partners conducted a digital survey with 2,700 participants to determine how different labeling and design techniques influence consumers’ perceptions of compostable and non-compostable packaging across 10 categories.
The survey found that about 49% of respondents had trouble distinguishing between the terms “biodegradable” and “compostable”; up to 50% of respondents thought they could compost packaging labeled “made from plants”; and nearly one-third of respondents said they would incorrectly put compostable packaging in a recycling bin.
The report recommends solutions to resolve some confusion, including standardizing the terms printed on packaging, implementing better educational campaigns about what should be placed in recycling versus commercial composting bins, and encouraging brands to prominently display on a product’s packaging the home or industrial compostability details.
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