Walk down any grocery aisle and you’ll see “biodegradable,” “compostable,” and “recyclable” printed on packaging as if they’re interchangeable. They’re not, and mixing them up can lead to contaminated recycling bins, compost that never breaks down, or packaging claims that get a brand flagged for greenwashing.
This guide breaks down what each term actually means, which certifications to look for (and which to ignore), and how to choose the right packaging claim for your product without running into regulatory trouble.
Quick Answer
Recyclable means a material can be reprocessed into new products through an established collection and reprocessing system. Compostable means a material breaks down into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass under specific composting conditions, with no toxic residue, usually within a set timeframe verified by testing. Biodegradable is the loosest term: it just means something will eventually break down naturally, but without a certification behind it, there’s no guarantee of how long that takes or under what conditions — which is why regulators treat unqualified “biodegradable” claims as a red flag.
What Each Term Actually Requires
Recyclable packaging depends entirely on local infrastructure. A material can technically be recyclable in a lab sense but still not count as “recyclable” for labeling purposes if most communities lack facilities to process it. This is the logic behind the How2Recycle label, which replaced the ambiguous chasing-arrows symbol with plain-language categories like “widely recycled,” “limited,” “not yet recycled,” and “store drop-off.” The resin identification codes (the numbers 1 through 7 inside the triangle on plastics) only identify the plastic type — they were never meant to signal that an item is actually accepted by curbside programs, and codes 3, 6, and 7 in particular are rarely recyclable through standard collection.
Compostable packaging has to meet a specific technical standard, not just “break down eventually.” In North America, that standard is ASTM D6400 for plastics or ASTM D6868 for paper/fiber products coated or lined with compostable plastic (like a paper cup with a PLA lining). To pass, a material must disintegrate into pieces indistinguishable from compost, biodegrade at a rate comparable to natural materials, and leave no toxic residue that would harm plant growth. In the EU and much of the rest of the world, the equivalent standard is EN 13432, which requires at least 90% biodegradation within six months and 90% disintegration within twelve weeks under controlled industrial composting conditions.
Biodegradable is not a certified term in the same way. Almost anything will “biodegrade” given enough time — the FTC’s Green Guides specifically warn that an unqualified biodegradable claim implies the entire product will break down and return to nature within a reasonably short period after the way consumers normally dispose of it. Most plastics marketed as simply “biodegradable” (without a compostability certification) do not meet that bar in a landfill, where lack of oxygen and moisture can leave them intact for years.
How to Read the Certification Marks
For compostable claims, look for two organizations doing the actual verification. The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certifies products against ASTM D6400/D6868 for the U.S. and Canadian markets, and BPI certification involves third-party lab testing plus ongoing surveillance audits — not just a one-time check. In Europe and internationally, TÜV Austria’s “OK Compost” seal certifies against EN 13432, and the OK Compost program applies the EN 13432 requirements without modification, so seeing that mark is equivalent to EN 13432 compliance.
There’s also an important split within compostable claims: industrial (or “commercial”) compostable versus home compostable. Historically, most BPI-certified products were only guaranteed to break down in a managed industrial composting facility with controlled heat, moisture, and turning — not in a backyard compost bin, and BPI’s home-compost option lagged behind Europe’s. That changed in 2025: BPI unveiled a new Commercial & Home Compostable Certification Program at its BPI Summit, with applications opening on December 1, 2025. The home-compost track is based on the French home-composting standard NF T 51-800 and requires products to fully break down at the lower temperatures typical of a backyard bin, on top of meeting BPI’s existing commercial-compostable criteria. TÜV Austria has offered a comparable “OK Compost HOME” mark for longer. Either way, always check which specific mark (commercial vs. home) is on the package — a “commercially compostable” item without the home-compost certification will likely just sit intact in a backyard bin.
For recyclable claims, the safest bet is checking the item against your specific hauler’s accepted materials list or using the How2Recycle label, which is designed to reflect real-world access rather than theoretical recyclability.
Tips / Common Mistakes
Don’t assume compostable packaging can go in a curbside recycling bin — compostable plastics (like PLA) are not chemically compatible with PET or HDPE recycling streams and can contaminate an entire batch if mixed in. Keep compostable items separate and only put them in a compost stream if your area actually collects for industrial composting.
Don’t use the word “biodegradable” alone on packaging without a time frame and disposal context — the FTC treats unqualified biodegradable claims as presumptively deceptive unless you can back up how long it takes and under what conditions, and enforcement against vague eco-claims has been increasing.
Don’t rely on the resin code number as proof of recyclability. A “5” (polypropylene) inside the chasing-arrows triangle just identifies the plastic type; whether it’s actually collected and reprocessed in a given area is a separate question.
Do check whether a compostable claim is backed by BPI or TÜV Austria/OK Compost certification specifically, and whether it’s rated for industrial or home composting — with BPI’s new home-compostable track now available alongside its commercial one, a plain “compostable” label with no certifying body or composting-environment listed is a claim you can’t verify.
Explore more: Explore more packaging material guides.
Compostable vs Biodegradable vs Recyclable Packaging FAQs
Is compostable packaging better for the environment than recyclable packaging?
It depends on your local infrastructure. Compostable packaging is only a true benefit if there’s a composting option (industrial or, increasingly, certified home composting) that accepts it; otherwise it behaves like regular trash. Recyclable packaging is a stronger choice in areas with established recycling programs for that specific material.
Can I put compostable packaging in my regular recycling bin?
No. Compostable plastics are made from different polymers than standard recyclable plastics and can contaminate the recycling stream, causing an entire batch to be rejected by the facility.
What’s the difference between BPI certified and just saying ‘compostable’?
BPI certification means the product passed third-party lab testing against ASTM D6400 or D6868 (and, for products carrying BPI’s newer home-compostable mark, the French NF T 51-800 home-composting standard) and is subject to ongoing audits. A package that just says “compostable” without a certifying body listed hasn’t been independently verified and may not meet any recognized standard.
Does BPI certify products for home composting?
As of BPI’s Commercial & Home Compostable Certification Program, announced in 2025 with applications opening December 1, 2025, yes — BPI now offers a home-compostable certification alongside its longstanding commercial/industrial one, based on the French NF T 51-800 standard. Before this, home-compost certification in North America was largely limited to TÜV Austria’s OK Compost HOME mark.
Is ‘biodegradable’ plastic the same as compostable plastic?
No. Biodegradable is an unregulated, general term with no guaranteed timeframe, while compostable requires meeting specific standards (ASTM D6400/D6868 or EN 13432) for how completely and quickly the material breaks down under defined conditions.
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Photo: United States Environmental Protection Agency / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.