What Compostable Packaging Really Means? with Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director of Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI )

What You’ll Learn from This Blog:

1. Why “biodegradable” ≠ “compostable” and how knowing the difference helps brands avoid misleading claims.
2. How proper labeling and certification protect businesses from greenwashing and new state regulations.
3. Why compostable packaging isn’t just about waste disposal, it’s about building local systems that create global sustainability impact.

Introduction:

Compostable packaging is having a moment, but what does it really mean? In The Product & Packaging Powerhouse podcast, host Megan Young Gamble sat down with Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director of Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI ),  to unpack (literally) the myths, science, and policy behind compostable packaging. With over 15 years of sustainability experience, Rhodes breaks down the real differences between compostable and biodegradable, why regulation matters, and how businesses can avoid greenwashing.

If you’re in product development, sustainability, or just curious about the future of packaging, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode HERE

1. Biodegradable ≠ Compostable

One of the biggest misconceptions in the industry is that biodegradable and compostable are interchangeable. Rhodes clarifies this with a simple analogy: biodegradability is the big circle, and compostability is a smaller circle within it. Compostability is a more specific, testable subset of biodegradability with clear standards around how a material breaks down under certain environmental conditions, usually in a compost facility.

2. Labeling Without Context = Greenwashing

Terms like “biodegradable” often mislead consumers when not backed by proper certification or instruction. Rhodes stresses that end-of-life instructions are non-negotiable. For B2C packaging, labeling should tell users exactly what bin to use, compost, recycle, or trash. States like California, Washington, and Colorado are even legislating against vague claims, demanding certification and proper labeling.

3. The Infrastructure Myth

Many critics argue that compostable packaging is useless without widespread composting infrastructure. Rhodes pushes back, saying, “We need to develop these in tandem.” Compostable packaging helps create demand for compost systems, and waiting for the perfect infrastructure to arrive first is both unrealistic and counterproductive.

4. Local Systems, Global Stakes

Composting is a local solution to a global problem. Unlike recycling, which depends on large, capital-intensive facilities and international buyers, composting happens close to home. Compostable packaging offers not only a packaging recovery solution but also supports local agriculture and food systems by returning nutrients to the soil.

5. Home vs Commercial Composting: Know the Difference

Not all composting is created equal. Rhodes explains the temperature and management differences between commercial compost facilities and backyard bins. While BPI is now developing a home compostable certification, most packaging needs commercial-grade thermophilic heat to break down. Consumers and businesses alike need to be informed about where and how their compostable packaging will actually compost.

Conclusion

Rhodes Yepsen doesn’t just advocate for compostable packaging, he’s building the systems to make it work. This podcast is more than a sustainability talk; it’s a roadmap for brands, policymakers, and consumers navigating a confusing packaging landscape. From certification standards to policy implications, this conversation cuts through the noise.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode HERE

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