Certified Compostable
Kraft/PLA and cellulose builds that return to soil within 180 days.
Verified Claims
- Seed logo (EN 13432 / AS 4736) for industrial composting
- AS 5810 + TUV OK Compost HOME for home-compostable structures
- Barrier caps at ~70% of aluminium foil
- 60-150 um total thickness across duplex to quad structures
Limits
- -Not suitable for products with 6+ month shelf life or high fat content
- -Kraft/PLA = industrial only; cellulose = home-compostable niche
- -BPI logo sublicense ~$3,000/yr — flagged before artwork
OTR range
<200 to <1 cc/m2/day
WVTR range
<80 to <1 g/m2/day
Thickness
60-150 um
Decomposition
90-180 days industrial
EN 13432
European industrial compostable
AS 4736
Australian industrial compostable
AS 5810
Australian home compostable
Key Specifications
Certified Compostable
OTR range<200 to <1 cc/m2/day
WVTR range<80 to <1 g/m2/day
Thickness60-150 um
Decomposition90-180 days industrial
Recyclable Mono-PE
Single-polymer structures that enter the #4 store drop-off stream whole.
Verified Claims
- Single PE polymer throughout — no delamination contamination
- Store drop-off #4 stream: "Recyclable where facilities exist"
- 100-200 um total, OTR <8 to <1 cc/m2/day with metallised option
Limits
- -Not curb-side recyclable in most municipalities
- -Mid barrier — protects for months, not a year
- -Not compostable — would contaminate the compost stream
OTR range
<8 to <1 cc/m2/day
WVTR range
<12 to <1 g/m2/day
Thickness
100-120 um
Recycle stream
#4 PE store drop-off
How2Recycle #4
Store drop-off PE film
Key Specifications
Recyclable Mono-PE
OTR range<8 to <1 cc/m2/day
WVTR range<12 to <1 g/m2/day
Thickness100-120 um
Recycle stream#4 PE store drop-off
Bio-PE (Sugarcane)
Same PE molecule, renewable carbon. Tested, printed, recyclable #4.
Verified Claims
- Bio-based polyethylene from sugarcane ethanol
- ASTM D6866 tested bio-based percentage on every spec sheet
- Drop-in replacement for fossil PE — same seal strength
Limits
- -Not compostable — it is PE, we will not let artwork imply otherwise
- -"Bio-based" is not "biodegradable" — different axes
- -Must use RECYCLABLE logo, never compostable markings
OTR range
<8 to <0.3 cc/m2/day
WVTR range
<12 to <0.3 g/m2/day
Thickness
100-200 um
Recycle stream
#4 PE (same molecule)
ASTM D6866
Bio-based content testing
Key Specifications
Bio-PE (Sugarcane)
OTR range<8 to <0.3 cc/m2/day
WVTR range<12 to <0.3 g/m2/day
Thickness100-200 um
Recycle stream#4 PE (same molecule)
PCR Recycled
Post-consumer resin with GRS chain-of-custody — auditable %.
Verified Claims
- GRS 4.0 certified chain-of-custody from collection to film
- 30-90% recycled content depending on structure
- Full range: 100-200 um, OTR <2000 down to <0.3 cc/m2/day
Limits
- -Recycled-content claim, not recyclable — different axes
- -Batch-to-batch colour variation inherent in feedstock
- -FDA food-contact testing required per application
OTR range
<2000 to <0.3 cc/m2/day
WVTR range
<15 to <0.3 g/m2/day
Thickness
100-200 um
Recycled content
30-90% (audited)
GRS 4.0
Global Recycled Standard
Key Specifications
PCR Recycled
OTR range<2000 to <0.3 cc/m2/day
WVTR range<15 to <0.3 g/m2/day
Thickness100-200 um
Recycled content30-90% (audited)
No Greenwashing
Claims we will not print — and why.
| Claim | What we actually mean |
|---|---|
| 100% compostable | Only if certified (EN 13432 / AS 4736 / AS 5810). Kraft/PLA is industrial only. |
| Biodegradable | Unregulated term in most markets. We refuse to print it. |
| Eco-friendly | Marketing phrase. Every material has an environmental cost. |
| Recyclable | Only true if #4 PE facilities exist in your customer's area. |
| Made from plants | Bio-PE is from sugarcane but it is still PE. It recycles as #4. |
| Zero plastic | Compostable films contain bioplastics (PLA, PBAT, cellulose). |
Not sure which material fits?
Send us your product, shelf-life target, and distribution channel. We will recommend a structure with real numbers.