Compostable Packaging: Challenges & Solutions

Want to switch to eco-friendly cannabis packaging? Here’s what you need to know:

The cannabis industry faces a major packaging problem – over 50% is plastic waste. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s happening and how to fix it:

Challenge	Current Status	Solution
Cost	10-40x more expensive than plastic	Bulk ordering saves 15-25%
Performance	Poor moisture/temperature control	New hemp/PLA blends work better
Regulations	Must meet child-safety rules	Pre-certified designs available
Infrastructure	Few composting facilities	Local drop-off programs help

Key Facts:

Cannabis packaging market: $842.7M (2021) → $9.3B (2030)
Less than 10% of plastic gets recycled
1g of cannabis needs up to 70g of packaging

What Works Now:

Hemp-based materials (breaks down in 60-90 days)
Cornstarch blends (handles -20°F to 140°F)
Mushroom packaging (natural moisture resistance)
PLA blends (90-120 day breakdown)

Bottom Line: While compostable packaging costs more upfront, 72% of customers will pay extra for eco-friendly options. Companies that switch now get ahead of stricter rules and changing customer demands.

Material Type	Cost Per Unit	Breakdown Time
Regular Plastic	$0.01	500+ years
Compostable	$0.10-0.40	6 months – 2 years

Start with one product line, use FSC paper, and work with BPI-certified suppliers to make the switch manageable.

What Makes Packaging Compostable

Compostable packaging isn’t just about breaking down – it needs to turn into non-toxic elements that help create nutrient-rich soil. Here’s what you need to know:

Basic Facts About Compostable Packaging

The difference between commercial and home composting comes down to time and temperature:

Requirement	Commercial Composting	Home Composting
Breakdown Time	180 days or less	No set timeline
Temperature	High heat needed	Ambient temperature
Testing Standard	ASTM D6400 (US)	None required
Certification	BPI certified	TUV Austria OK Home
Facility Type	Industrial facility	Backyard bin

Common Materials Used

Cannabis brands can pick from several compostable packaging options:

Material	Source	Properties
PLA	Corn starch, sugar cane	Flexible, lightweight
PHA	Bacterial fermentation	Natural polymer
Hemp-based	Industrial hemp	Strong, biodegradable
Mushroom-based	Mycelium + ag waste	Solid shapes
Molded pulp	Recycled paper/cardboard	Lightweight, flexible

Getting Certified

Want BPI certification? You’ll need to pass these tests:

Certification Step	Requirements
Material Testing	Must pass ASTM D6400 or EN 13432
Biodegradation	90% breakdown in 180 days
Disintegration	90% must pass 2mm sieve in 90 days
Safety Check	No toxic residues or heavy metals
Final Verification	Third-party lab testing

BPI certification is the gold standard in North America. It stops companies from making false claims and shows customers you mean business.

"Certification verifies that a compostable material will compost under ‘optimum’ composting conditions." – Elevate Packaging

Here’s a pro tip: Work with suppliers who already have BPI certification. You’ll save time and money on testing while making sure your packaging hits all the marks.

Main Problems to Solve

Cannabis companies want to switch to compostable packaging. But they face 4 big roadblocks. Here’s what’s stopping them:

Material Limits

Today’s compostable materials just don’t perform well enough:

Problem	Effect
Poor Moisture Control	Products spoil too fast
Can’t Handle Temperature	Falls apart in heat/cold
Short Shelf Life	Lasts 6-12 months vs 2+ years for plastic
Weak Protection	Lets in too much light and oxygen

Meeting Legal Rules

Child-resistant packaging laws make things extra hard:

Rule	Problem
CPSC Testing	Must be tough to open
State Laws	Rules change by location
Warning Labels	Need space for legal text
Testing	Costs $2,000-5,000 per design

"With the Cannabis industry growing so quickly, we realized that more green solutions would become a necessity within the realm of packaging." – David Aryan, CEO of Marijuana Packaging

Price Issues

The math doesn’t work out yet:

Package Type	What It Costs
Regular Plastic Bag	$0.01 each
Compostable Bag	$0.10-0.40 each
Regular Box	$0.30-0.50 each
Compostable Box	$0.62-3.17 each

Here’s the thing: 72% of customers say they’ll pay more for earth-friendly packaging. But 43% of brands still can’t get past the higher costs.

Facility Shortages

There aren’t enough places to process compostable packaging:

Problem	Result
Takes Too Long	180 days at home, 90 days industrial
Few Facilities	Most won’t take cannabis waste
Mixed Materials	Regular trash gets mixed in
High Costs	$50-550 per kit plus workers

Here’s a crazy stat: One tiny gram of cannabis needs up to 70 grams of packaging. That adds over a billion pieces of plastic waste each year while the industry tries to fix these problems.

Ways to Fix These Problems

Here’s what’s working right now in sustainable cannabis packaging:

Better Materials

NatureWorks and BASF are making tougher compostable materials that actually work:

Material Type	Key Features	Time to Break Down
PLA Blends	Better moisture control, longer shelf life	90-120 days
Hemp-Based	Strong UV protection, child-resistant	60-90 days
Cornstarch Mix	Good temperature range (-20°F to 140°F)	80-100 days
Mushroom-Based	Natural moisture resistance	30-45 days

Meeting Legal Standards

Sana Packaging proves you can follow the rules AND stay green:

Solution	How It Works
Pre-certified Designs	Ready-made packages pass child safety tests
Multi-state Compliance	One design works across different states
Label Integration	Built-in warning areas save material
Batch Testing	Share costs across product lines

Cutting Costs

Here’s how companies are spending LESS on sustainable packaging:

Strategy	Savings
Bulk Material Orders	15-25% off per unit
Shared Equipment	$10,000-30,000 yearly
Local Production	30-40% lower shipping costs
Standardized Sizes	20-35% less material waste

"We found glass and metal tin suppliers whose products fit our existing systems perfectly. No need to change our packaging lines or labels." – David Craig, VP of Marketing, Illicit Gardens

Building Better Systems

When companies team up, the numbers speak for themselves:

Action	Result
Local Drop-offs	92% more customers recycle
Clear Labels	74% follow disposal rules
Take-back Programs	25% packaging reuse rate
Education Campaigns	86% customer participation

What’s Working Now:

Soulshine Cannabis uses local paper and vegetable inks
Kiva Confections switched to 100% recyclable containers
Shared composting facilities cut costs
FSC paper reduces waste

The switch to better packaging isn’t instant. But these solutions work TODAY. Companies that start now get ahead of stricter rules and changing customer demands.

How to Start Using Compostable Packaging

Let’s break down how to switch to compostable packaging without the headaches.

Making a Plan

First, you’ll need to map everything out. Here’s what that looks like:

Step	Action	Expected Time
Materials Check	List current packaging types	1-2 weeks
Cost Analysis	Compare prices (24¢ vs 4¢ per mylar bag)	2-3 weeks
Legal Review	Check state rules and child-safety needs	2-4 weeks
Timeline Setup	Plan phase-out of old materials	1-2 weeks

Testing What Works

Don’t skip testing – it’s what keeps you out of trouble later:

Test Type	What to Check	Why It Matters
Moisture	Product stays dry	Prevents mold
Light	UV protection	Keeps product fresh
Drop Tests	Package stays closed	Meets safety rules
Time Tests	Shelf life	Product quality

Working with Suppliers

Here’s what successful supplier partnerships look like:

Action	Result	Example
Local Sourcing	Lower shipping costs	SunMed Growers uses nearby suppliers
Bulk Orders	15-25% savings	Stephen Gould’s volume pricing
Quality Checks	Fewer returns	Wood pulp and bamboo testing
Take-back Programs	Less waste	Trulieve‘s TruRecycle program

"Our packaging take-back program lets customers drop off used containers at any store location. We turn these into new products like park benches", – Tweed Cannabis representative on their 2018 recycling program.

Want to get started RIGHT NOW? Here’s what to do:

Print directly on packages (skip the labels)
Use standard sizes across products
Pick FSC paper and soy-based inks
Test with one product line
Ask customers what they think

Here’s the thing: You don’t need to wait for the "perfect" solution. States like New York and Colorado already require take-back programs. Others will follow. Getting ahead of these changes? That’s just smart business.

What’s Next

The cannabis packaging industry is changing fast. Here’s what you need to know:

New Tools and Methods

Companies are moving away from traditional plastic. Check out these game-changers:

Material Innovation	Company	Impact
Hemp-Based Plastic	Sana Packaging	100% plant-based, chemical-free
Ocean-Bound Plastic	PAX Labs (PAX Trip)	Reduces marine waste
Eggshell Material	Ecoshell	Replaces 50% of plastic content
Compostable Pouches	Wyld	Zero plastic waste

Changes in Rules

New York isn’t messing around with their new packaging rules:

Requirement	Details	Timeline
PCR Content	25% minimum in plastic packaging	Current
Waste Reduction	70% recycling rate	By 2030
Single-Use Plastic	25% reduction in California	By 2032

Here’s what industry leaders think about these changes:

"SB 54 pushes everyone to work together – from packaging companies to waste haulers, governments to everyday people." – Wes Carter, Atlantic Packaging President

Market Changes

Let’s look at the numbers:

Metric	Current	Projected
Market Value	$33.84B (2024)	$69.25B (2029)
Growth Rate	15.40% yearly	Through 2029
Vape Sales	29% disposable	Q1 2024 data

Big brands are making moves:

Tilray Brands cut 131,000 kg of plastic waste by switching to hemp
Coast Cannabis Co. now uses ocean plastic for chocolate bars
Good Tide added compostable bags in Colorado

Here’s what industry experts say:

"You’ll find the latest in green packaging at Sustainability Central, the Sustainability Stage, and through our PACK EXPO programs." – Jorge Izquierdo, PMMI VP of Market Development

Wrap-Up

Here’s what you need to know about compostable packaging in cannabis:

Challenge	Solution	Impact
Material Limits	Hemp-based and PLA options	Cuts plastic by 50%
Cost Issues	Bulk pricing through AssurPack	Lower costs, same quality
Legal Rules	Follow state rules (NY, CO)	Stay compliant
Facility Access	Connect with composting centers	Right disposal methods

Want to start using compostable packaging? Here’s your plan:

Step	What to Do	When
Pick Materials	Look at corn, wood, soy, algae	1-3 months
Find Suppliers	Talk to TIPA, Sana Packaging	2-4 months
Test Everything	Check safety features	3-6 months
Tell Customers	Put disposal info on packages	Keep doing it

The numbers show why this matters:

What You Get	The Results	Industry Effect
Less Waste	Helps cut 380M tons of plastic	Hits UN’s 2040 goals
More Sales	92% of buyers want eco-friendly brands	Better bottom line
Save Money	Pay less for shipping and materials	Make more profit

"The mix of what customers want, new laws, and better tech means compostable plastics will be BIG in 2024. It’s good for business AND the planet." – Daphna Nissenbaum, TIPA® CEO

Do These Things Now:

Use FSC paper and recycled board
Buy materials close to home
Start a take-back program if your state says so
Pick suppliers with certified compostable products

FAQs

What are the cons of compostable packaging?

Let’s break down the main problems with compostable packaging:

Challenge	Details	Impact
Cross-contamination	Non-compostable items mix with compostable ones	Makes compost unusable
Price	Costs 2x more than standard packaging	Higher expenses
Processing time	Home: 180 days max Industrial: 90 days	Takes longer to break down
Material limits	Only works with sugar cane, corn starch	Fewer packaging choices

"Compost contamination happens when non-compostable items like glass, plastics, and textiles get mixed into a compost pile." – Danielle Ohl, Author

The biggest problems? Small items (like produce stickers) often end up in the wrong place. Plus, you’ll pay more for natural materials. And if you’re composting at home, it’ll take WAY longer than industrial composting.

Here’s what you can do:

Look at those package labels (seriously, check them)
Take off anything that won’t compost
Send it to industrial composting if you can
Sort everything BEFORE it hits the compost pile

The bottom line? Compostable packaging isn’t perfect. But if you follow these steps, you’ll avoid the main headaches that come with it.