Learning Library

The materials, standards, and science behind compostable foodservice.

Sustainable packaging is only as honest as the sources behind it. Here's a plain-language guide to what we sell, what the certifications mean, and how it all ends up as soil.

Materials

What our packaging is actually made from.

Six plant-based inputs cover roughly 95% of our catalog. Each is renewable, PFAS-free, and designed to compost.

Bagasse (Sugarcane Fiber)

What it is: The fibrous byproduct left after sugarcane is pressed for juice.
Why we use it: Rigid, heat-tolerant, and microwave-safe. Naturally grease-resistant without PFAS coatings.
Used for: Plates, bowls, clamshell containers.

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

What it is: A bioplastic made by fermenting plant sugars, usually from corn.
Why we use it: Crystal clear like petroleum plastic, but derived from renewable crops and commercially compostable.
Used for: Cold cups, lids, deli containers, cutlery.

Bamboo

What it is: One of the fastest-growing plants on earth, harvested without replanting.
Why we use it: Strong, lightweight, naturally antimicrobial. Fully compostable when uncoated.
Used for: Cutlery, skewers, serving pieces.

Unbleached Kraft Paper

What it is: Recycled and FSC-certified paper without chlorine bleaching.
Why we use it: Lower processing footprint and no dioxin runoff. Prints beautifully for custom branding.
Used for: Take-out bags, cup sleeves, napkins.

CPLA (Crystallized PLA)

What it is: Heat-treated PLA that withstands hot foods and liquids up to 200°F.
Why we use it: Gives us compostable hot cup lids, hot cutlery, and coffee lids without petroleum plastic.
Used for: Hot cup lids, heat-resistant cutlery.

Certifications & Standards

The labels that separate real compostables from greenwashing.

ASTM D6400

The bioplastics standard

Sets the criteria for plastics designed to be composted in municipal and industrial facilities. Requires disintegration within 12 weeks and biodegradation into biomass, water, and CO₂ within 180 days.

ASTM D6868

The fiber-with-coatings standard

Covers paper and fiber products with biodegradable coatings — think a bagasse bowl with a plant-based liner. Same disintegration and biodegradation timelines as D6400.

BPI Certified

The independent verifier

The Biodegradable Products Institute audits and certifies products against ASTM standards. BPI's logo is the gold standard commercial composters look for when accepting incoming material.

PFAS-Free

No forever chemicals

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have historically been used to make paper grease-resistant. Every product we sell is documented PFAS-free — no exceptions.

Lifecycle

From plant, to plate, back to soil.

01
Renewable input
Sugarcane, corn, and bamboo — all grown, not drilled.
02
Made into packaging
Pressed, molded, or extruded into cups, plates, and containers.
03
Used at your table
Performs like conventional foodware — no leaks, no compromises.
04
Composted
Breaks down into non-toxic biomass in commercial facilities within 90–180 days.

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