Compostable plastic isn’t the green alternative you think it is

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1. **California Tightens Requirements for Labeling Products as ‘Compostable’**

   [https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9392-california-tightens-requirements-for-labeling-products-as-compostable](https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9392-california-tightens-requirements-for-labeling-products-as-compostable)

   The law modified Section 42357 of California’s Public Resources Code regarding requirements for substantiating compostable or home compostable claims in the state. Section 42357(g)(1)(b) now states that, as of January 1, 2026, products may not be labeled as compostable or home compostable in California unless, among other things, they are “…an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (NOP).”

2. This is only a single aspect of the issue and doesn’t negate other advantages. PLA is often made from corn or other plant material and doesn’t add “new” carbon to the planet. In fact, it’s a form of carbon sequestration if they get buried instead of composted. PLA also doesn’t release chlorine or other molecules including chlorine as PVC does, nor other harmful chemicals that other plastics do when they eventually break down.

   There are better choices than single use PLA cutlery, but there are also far worse and those are much more common than PLA worldwide.

3. Banning the sale of plastic bottles would be a great first step to combat the plastic giants