Executive Summary

Drawing a Road Map of Best Practices

The BioSpecs for Food Service Ware outline sustainability criteria and recognition levels for food service ware made from compostable biobased materials. They provide a framework to assess the sustainability of these products during three stages of their life cycle: (1) biomass production, (2) manufacturing, and (3) end of product life. “Sustainability” encompasses issues of environmental protection, health, and social and economic justice, as well as material resources. The purpose of the BioSpecs is to encourage the market development of biobased food service ware that meet the highest sustainability standards and to prevent the “greenwashing” of partially or wholly biobased products that nevertheless fail to meet environmental, worker protection, and consumer standards.

Product manufacturers and sellers can use the BioSpecs as a road map to guide them in improving the sustainability of the products they offer. These specifications are not intended to evaluate the full range of food service ware, such as durable ceramic plates or metal cutlery. They are applicable only within the biobased product category. Indeed, durable, reusable food service products are environmentally preferable to single-use biobased products and should be considered as a first option.

The BioSpecs reflect the current collective wisdom of a wide range of organizations and businesses that are addressing the potential benefits and challenges of biomaterials. These criteria were developed under the leadership of the Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative. They are informed by an extensive market survey, conducted in 2008, of 45 biobased food service products representing 22 manufacturers. Developing the technology and markets for sustainable bioplastics may take time. Certain performance challenges may exist, and there may sometimes be a need for blends of biobased and fossil-fuel-based materials to meet performance criteria in the short term. However, the BioSpecs have been developed in order to chart a course toward sustainability in the long term. The BioSpecs will be updated as the industry and market evolve.

Addressing Significant Issues in the Bioplastic Life Cycle

Biobased food service ware are becoming increasingly available and offer an alternative to fossil-fuel-derive plastics, which are non-renewable, often threaten public health, have devastating impacts on marine life, and increase reliance on imported feedstocks. The development of bioplastics has the potential to mitigate these problems by offering renewability, biodegradability, and a path away from harmful additives. Bioplastics are not, however, an automatic panacea. Modern industrial agriculture creates a host of health, environmental, and social and economic justice issues, including the use of genetically modified (GM) organisms in the field, toxic pesticides, high fossil-fuel energy use, and the destruction of family farms. Increased demand for agricultural products to be used in the production of energy and materials may well exacerbate the problems posed by modern agriculture while increasing pressure on ecologically sensitive land and raising food security concerns.

The manufacture, use, and discard of products made from bioplastics can also create problems such as hazardous emissions, particularly if the bioplastic is mixed with fossil-fuel-based chemicals. While many bioplastic products are certified compostable, in many cases the requisite collection services and composting infrastructure have yet to be developed. The infrastructure necessary for collecting and processing recyclable bioplastic products may also be lacking, or these products may stress existing recycling systems.

Recognition Levels

In order to appropriately recognize and reward different levels of performance, three tiers have been established, reflecting increasingly higher levels of product sustainability that manufacturers can claim recognition for biobased food service products. The tiers include Bronze, Silver, and Gold and can only be reached in that progressive succession. All of the criteria listed for Bronze must be met in order for a manufacturer or distributor to claim any level of recognition for a product. To meet the Silver level, the product must meet the Bronze and Silver criteria. To achieve a Gold recognition level, the product must meet the criteria for Bronze, Silver, and a minimum of five Gold criteria. For detailed information on how manufacturers can access conformance to the criteria, refer to the companion document, Conformance Guide: BioSpecs for Compostable Biobased Food Service Ware.