Eco-Products, CMA Partner to Test Compostable Products

Eco-Products announced it has signed an agreement to participate in a new Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) program to help composters better understand the compostability of each product. The agreement, which provides access to the CMA “Composter Approved” logo, will cover all Eco-Products compostable plates, cups, bowls, containers and utensils.

Eco-Products stated it recognizes that with the continuing growth of composting across the United States comes a wider variety of composting technologies, parameters and climates. Participating in this new program will validate which types of composting operations have successfully broken down Eco-Products packaging and provide clarity into how its products perform in the ideal end-of-life destination: a compost pile. 

“With greater numbers of stadiums, restaurants and other venues seeking to increase their waste diversion by composting food scraps and packaging, it’s important to us that composters have confidence that our products perform in their compost operations,” said Sarah Martinez, director of marketing at Eco-Products, in a statement. “Whether the composter operates windrows, an aerated-static pile system or other technology, this specific CMA logo will demonstrate that our packaging is ‘composter approved’ to work in their operation. It is our hope that more composters will then see the value in accepting packaging as a feedstock, thus expanding access to commercial composting across the country.”

Eco-Products added it continues to focus on facilitating greater access to composting and waste diversion by utilizing sustainability-minded venues and supporting the growing compost manufacturing industry.

Eco-Products compostable foodservice packaging, made from either plant-based plastic or fibers, has been certified as compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute to meet the applicable ASTM International standards for compostability. In other words, these products have been verified by independent labs and a third-party certification body to break down safely in commercial composting facilities. Eco-Products said it sees CMA approval as a valuable real-world complement to the lab-based certification provided by BPI. Eco-Products will use the CMA “Composter Approved” logo to identify which products passed CMA’s testing in various composting systems.

CMA’s new program includes a technical review and field testing of compostable products when shipped to fully permitted industrial composting facilities. More than 500 products already have been tested in the program.

“We started this important program because cities, businesses and residents are all striving for zero waste,” said Susan Thoman, principal and managing director of CMA, in a statement. “It’s important for our partner and affiliated composter facilities to know which products will break down in their type of composting process.”