Echoing Green Earth

In my previous posts, I've shared some of the ideas covered in this post. But here I'm providing a comprehensive look at home compostable products and biodegradable materials that truly work in a home composting environment.

With the rise of eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics, you've likely seen products labelled "compostable" on everything from coffee cups to cutlery. But there's a crucial question many environmentally conscious consumers face: Will these items actually break down in your home compost system?

In this post, let's clarify what "compostable" really means, how to identify truly home-compostable products, and how to spot misleading environmental product claims.

Defining "Compostable": What Does It Really Mean?

A truly compostable product is one that:

Breaks down completely into organic matter (carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass)
Decomposes at a rate similar to natural materials like leaves or food scraps
Leaves no toxic residues or visible pollution behind
Transforms into humus that enriches soil

In other words, after a standard composting cycle, the material should be indistinguishable from the rest of your compost, with no large fragments or harmful substances remaining.

Natural Materials vs. Compostable Products

Items made from 100% natural plant or animal materials—like paper, wood, cotton, jute, or bamboo—will naturally break down in any composting system, though the time required varies based on conditions and particle size.

The particle size principle is critically important: A whole cotton towel might take many months to decompose, but the same towel cut into small strips could break down in weeks. Always remember to shred or cut larger compostable items into smaller pieces whenever possible—this dramatically accelerates compost breakdown by increasing the surface area available to microbes.

The challenge comes with manufactured products that contain engineered materials or blended components designed to mimic the convenience of plastic while remaining "compostable." These require closer scrutiny.

Home Composting vs. Industrial Composting: A Critical Distinction

I've covered this concept in my earlier post, "Choosing the Right Composting Method for Your Lifestyle," but since this is a crucial and critically misleading point, we need to mention it again. Perhaps the biggest misconception in the compostable products world is the assumption that anything labelled "compostable" will break down in a home composting system. In reality, there's a significant difference between home and industrial composting conditions.

Industrial Composting Conditions:

Temperature: Maintains sustained high temperatures (55-65°C/131-149°F)
Processing: Regular turning and careful moisture control
Environment: Optimized microbial activity in large, managed piles
Time Frame: Typically 90-180 days under optimal conditions

Home Composting Conditions:

Temperature: Generally lower and less consistent (typically 20-30°C/68-86°F)
Processing: Variable turning frequency and less precise management
Environment: Smaller volume with natural fluctuations
Time Frame: Often 6-12 months or longer

This difference means many products certified as "compostable" are actually only compostable under industrial conditions—not in your backyard bin.

Biodegradable vs. Compostable: Understanding the Critical Difference

Before diving into specific products, it's important to understand the distinction between "biodegradable" and "compostable"—terms that are often confused but have very different meanings:

Biodegradable materials simply break down by biological processes eventually, but:

No time frame is specified (could take decades or centuries)
May leave behind toxic residues or microplastics
Don't necessarily contribute positively to soil health

Compostable materials have stricter requirements:

Break down within a specific timeframe under composting conditions
Leave no toxic residues
Transform into humus that benefits soil

This distinction is crucial when evaluating green alternatives for your home. Many products marketed as "biodegradable" will not actually decompose in home composting systems within a reasonable timeframe.

Compostable Certifications: What They Actually Mean

Various certifications exist to verify compostability claims. Understanding these logos and what they represent is essential for making informed choices:

Industrial Composting Certifications

BPI Certified Compostable (USA): Indicates the product meets ASTM D6400/D6868 standards for industrial composting. These products will break down in a commercial facility (60+°C, ~90% humidity) within 180 days. BPI certification does not guarantee home compostability.
EN 13432 (Europe): Similar to the BPI certification, this European standard requires industrial composting conditions. Products with this certification should not be assumed to be home-compostable.

Home Composting Certifications

TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME: This certification specifically tests for breakdown at lower temperatures (20–30°C) within a year. Products with this logo are verified to compost in home systems.
Australian ABA Home Compostable: Another certification specifically for home composting conditions.
DIN-Geprüft Home Compostable: German certification for home compostability.

Key Takeaway: If a product only says "compostable" without specifying "home compostable" or showing a home composting certification logo, it likely requires industrial composting conditions.

Common Compostable Products: Will They Break Down at Home?

Let's examine some popular "compostable" alternatives and assess their home compostability:

Products That Readily Decompose in Home Compost

✅ Paper products (uncoated, non-glossy): napkins, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, newspaper

Home compostability: Excellent
Time to break down: 2-6 months
Tips: Shred to speed decomposition; avoid papers with heavy inks or glossy coatings

✅ Unbleached cardboard (without tape or labels)

Home compostability: Very good
Time to break down: 3-6 months
Tips: Cut or tear into smaller pieces; wet thoroughly before adding to compost

✅ Natural fibre textiles (cotton, hemp, jute, linen—without synthetic blends)

Home compostability: Good
Time to break down: 3-12 months
Tips: Cut into small pieces; items will decompose much faster if shredded

✅ Wooden items (untreated toothbrushes, cotton swabs with wooden sticks)

Home compostability: Good
Time to break down: 6-12 months for small items
Tips: Remove any non-wood components like nylon bristles

✅ Bamboo products (without resin binders)

Home compostability: Good
Time to break down: 4-6 months when broken into smaller pieces
Tips: Check for additives or coatings; pure bamboo is fully compostable

Products With Limited Home Compostability

⚠️ PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastics (cups, cutlery, straws made from plant starches)

Home compostability: Poor to moderate
Time to break down: Often 1+ years in home systems, if at all
Reality check: Most PLA requires industrial composting temperatures (60°C+) for proper decomposition
Important note: Even when using hot composting methods as described in "Choosing the Right Composting Method for Your Lifestyle," PLA still rarely breaks down completely. The sustained high temperatures needed simply aren't achievable in most home systems. In ordinary cold composting, these materials will likely remain intact indefinitely.

⚠️ Compostable bags and bin liners (check certification)

Home compostability: Varies greatly by brand
Time to break down: 3-12 months for certified home compostable versions
Look for: Specifically "home compostable" certification; TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME is the best assurance
Important note: Standard "compostable" bags without home composting certification will not break down in ordinary home composting systems. Even with hot composting methods, most will only partially degrade unless they're specifically certified for home composting. Always look for the home compostable certification if you intend to process these in your backyard bin.

⚠️ Coffee cups and food containers (lined with bioplastic)

Home compostability: Generally poor
Time to break down: Often remains intact in home systems
Reality: The bioplastic lining typically requires industrial conditions

Products That Won't Break Down in Home Compost

❌ Compostable plastics without home compostability certification

Home compostability: Very poor
Reality: These may persist for years in home compost systems

❌ Coffee cups and food containers lined with bioplastic (without specific home compostable certification)

Home compostability: None to very poor
Reality: The paper portion might break down, but the bioplastic lining will remain intact, creating plastic film pollution in your compost

❌ "Biodegradable" plastics (without specific composting certification)

Home compostability: None
Warning sign: "Biodegradable" alone is a vague term with no standardized meaning

Hidden Non-Compostables: Watch Out for These

Many products appear compostable but contain hidden elements that won't break down:

Tea bags: Many contain polypropylene fibres for heat sealing (look for "plastic-free" options)
Stickers on fruits and vegetables: Always remove before composting
"Eco-friendly" disposable plates and cups: Often contain PFAS or other forever chemicals for grease resistance
Coloured or printed paper: Some inks contain heavy metals unless specifically mentioned plant-based ink is used
Waxed cardboard: Many food containers have petroleum-based wax coatings unless specified for plant-based wax such as soy wax or animal-based wax such as bee wax

How to Test Compostability at Home

Unsure about a product's compostability? Try this simple compost breakdown test:

Cut the item into small pieces
Place in a designated section of your compost or in a separate small container with active natural compost
Monitor over 3-6 months
If the material hasn't noticeably broken down, it likely won't decompose in your home system

Making Informed Choices: Beyond Certification Labels

While third-party certifications provide valuable verification, many excellent compostable products come from small businesses that haven't pursued formal certification due to cost and complexity.

The most reliable indicator is actually the material composition. Products made from natural, unprocessed materials will naturally decompose regardless of certification.

When evaluating a product's compostability:

Check what it's made from and how it's finished
Look at the seller's transparency about components and processing
When in doubt, contact the small business directly

Common Questions About Compostable Products

"If it says 'biodegradable,' isn't that the same as compostable?"

No. "Biodegradable" simply means a material will break down eventually by biological processes—but this could take decades or even centuries, and may still leave toxic residues. "Compostable" has a more specific meaning: the material must break down within a certain timeframe and leave no toxic residues.

"Why don't manufacturers just make everything home compostable?"

This is a complicated question, but to make it simple, basically, it relates to the cost, process and technology readiness. In Echoing Green Earth, we are advocating natural-made materials that are friendly to home composting settings so we really would like this to become a reality. Currently, the best way for you is to simply look for products that are made with 100% natural materials and be suspicious of all the synthetic materials claiming everything other than home compostable.

"What should I do with home compostable items if I don't have a compost bin?"

If you don't have a home composting facility, it is worthwhile to ask around among friends, your local community or the city council to find out where those beneficial resources can be brought to. People who have a garden compost bin are always happy to accept them. It'd be even better if you could shred them first before you bring them to the composting site.

It is not advisable to put those home compostable products directly into your food caddie which your local council offer collecting service. Normally they won't take in that kind of product. If you cannot find any place to compost them, please throw them into your general bin. Even if that's the least beneficial way to deal with those wonderful home compostable products, compared with the plastic-synthetic products, they still have a couple of benefits:

When they are incinerated, they can be burned more completely, produce no harmful air and toxic ashes/residue.
When they go to landfills, even though the anaerobic environment won't allow those natural materials to decompose quickly, at least they do not contribute to toxic leachate or pollute our land with microplastics.

"How can I tell if a company's compostable claims are genuine?"

Look for the materials. If the materials are 100% natural without harmful chemicals, then most likely they are home-compostable. You do need to pay attention to the glues, threads, tags etc and remove them if they are not made for composting.
For synthetic products, look for home composting certifications, not "biodegradable", not "compostable" if you compost at home
For synthetic products, check for detailed information about breakdown times and conditions
Be wary of vague terms like "biodegradeable", "compostable", "eco-friendly," "plant-based," or "green" without specific home compostability information

Recommended Truly Home Compostable Products and Sustainable Household Items

At Echoing Green Earth, we're committed to offering plastic-free products that genuinely break down in home composting systems. Here are some categories of green alternatives you can compost fully at home:

Kitchen & Dining: Transform your kitchen with our selection of plastic-free, home compostable alternatives for food storage, preparation, and cleaning. From plant-based scrubbers to bamboo utensils, these products work brilliantly in your kitchen before returning harmlessly to the earth.

Home Care: Keep your home clean and green with our range of natural cleaning products that leave no harmful residues—in your home or in your compost bin. Our selection includes compostable cleaning cloths and brushes.

Home Décor: Beautify your living space with decorative items made from natural materials that can eventually return to the soil. These products bring nature's beauty indoors while supporting sustainable materials and practices.

Personal Care: Our personal care collection features products made from natural ingredients and materials that nourish your body and eventually your soil. From bamboo toothbrushes to cotton swabs with paper/bamboo stems, these items provide guilt-free self-care.

Garden & Outdoor: Complete the composting circle with our garden products that help you grow while eventually returning to the earth themselves. From coconut coir pots to jute garden twine, these items support your garden throughout their lifecycle.

The Bottom Line on Compostable Products

Being an environmentally conscious consumer means looking beyond marketing claims to understand what truly happens to products at the end of their life. The most reliable compostable products are those made from natural, minimally processed biodegradable materials—the same materials nature has been breaking down for millennia.

When choosing compostable products:

Prioritise natural, unprocessed materials whenever possible
Look for home composting certifications if you compost at home
Be skeptical of vague environmental claims without specific standards
Support businesses that are transparent about their materials and processes
Remember that proper disposal is key—even the most compostable product won't break down properly in the landfill

Next Steps in Your Composting Journey

Now that you understand which products truly break down in home composting systems, you're better equipped to make sustainable choices. In my next post, I'll explore "From Compost to Garden: How to Use Finished and Unfinished Compost" to help you maximise the benefits of your composting efforts.

Looking for genuinely home compostable products? Browse our collection of certified home compostable goods, designed to break down naturally in your backyard system.

Have questions about specific compostable products? Ask in the comments below, and let the community help you figure out whether they’ll truly break down in your home compost.

Compostable Products: What Actually Breaks Down (And What Doesn't)