Changing the world, one plastic bag at a time : Fully Compostable Packaging

More than a decade ago, as software engineer Daphna Nissenbaum was preparing her son’s lunch for school, she found herself feeling very frustrated as she asked again where the day’s previous plastic water bottle was—because she wanted to reuse it.

“Some days he would return them to be reused, while other days he wouldn’t,” she recalled about her son. “I said to him ‘we have to think about what we do with our packages.’”

Compostable, packaging. Photo Courtesy of TIPA

She began thinking that the world needed packaging that would be durable and convenient, but would then break down or disappear, rather than accumulating forever as plastic waste does, causing serious threats to human health and the environment, including microplastic contamination of water and agriculture fields.

Later that day while jogging, the vision became clear: to develop a packaging material like plastic that would go back into the earth without harming the environment, similar to the way an orange peel keeps the fruit inside fresh and clean, but will biodegrade in compost, adding its nutrients to the surrounding soil.

That idea led her to found TIPA in 2010. TIPA produces fully compostable plastic packaging – and only fully compostable plastic packaging. All of its products can be safely composted with organic waste, including food scraps and yard trimmings, and will break down into nutrient-rich compost, which can be used to fortify soil in gardens or agricultural fields. While compostable materials have been available for some time, TIPA’s flexible packaging is quite revolutionary, as it marries the performance capabilities of conventional flexible plastic packaging with the environmental benefits of compostability.

Nice Apples but in plastic packaging

Composting today is far from reaching its potential; only a little over half of all U.S. yard waste is composted, and only about 4% of food scraps are composted, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, most people mistakenly believe that recycling is the best way to deal with plastic waste; the fact is that only 9% of all plastic produced in the world is actually recycled, according to the United Nations. These trends and notions were challenges that TIPA needed to overcome.

“Along the way, there have been people trying to persuade us to compromise and to make partially compostable, or recyclable products,” Nissenbaum said. “But even though there was a risk of losing the company, we stuck to our core idea and weren’t swayed by where the industry was trying to push us.”

Now, TIPA leads the market in the research and development of compostable packaging, and is a fast-growing company with a variety of compostable flexible plastic packages, predominantly for the food and fashion industries. TIPA provides a durable and sustainable packaging solution in one of the world’s fastest growing categories of packaging. Brands around the world have chosen TIPA as a viable substitute for traditional flexible plastic packaging which is rarely recycled.

“What makes our technology unique is our commitment to create a viable plastic alternative—with all the flexibility, durability, and transparency of plastic—using compostable polymers,” Nissenbaum said. “Brands don’t have to compromise on their standard of packaging and consumers don’t compromise on sustainable values.”

The company also focused on creating compostable packaging that could integrate seamlessly with the existing plastic supply chain, offering another competitive advantage over conventional plastic. TIPA’s films are manufactured on the same lines that make traditional plastic, requiring just simple adjustment to the existing equipment. This makes it easy, affordable and more sustainable for brands to switch to TIPA’s materials, as they don’t need to invest large amounts of money into new equipment or facilities, or dispose of large amounts of current equipment.

Although the packaging is more expensive than traditional plastic, demand is growing. Brands see it as an investment, especially as taxes and legislation discourage the use of traditional plastic in favor of sustainable solutions. It is especially suitable for the food industry, as it can be tossed into compost bins alongside food scraps.

“I love that it stands out on the shelf and reflects our commitment to sustainability,” said Juliana Lopker, co-owner ofYoung Kobras, a San-Francisco based bakery that makes gluten-free sourdough bread, now sold at stores in several states. “Our preservative-free bread doesn’t last forever, and we don’t think our packaging should either.”

Every company that embraces TIPA’s product, and every end-user who composts the packaging will be helping to make a difference, Nissenbaum says. In Hebrew TIPA means “a little drop,” reflecting the company’s vision that every effort matters when reducing waste. It all adds up to be significant, she says, especially because every bit of compost produced from organic waste and compostable packaging can be used to provide much-needed nutrient-rich soil to farmers, ultimately creating a circular economy that enriches the planet.

“Together, we can change the world,” Nissenbaum says.