At a time when the packaging industry is under mounting pressure to deliver solutions that support circular economy principles, certified compostable materials are gaining traction as a viable option for specific applications. Leading this conversation in the Australasian region is Martine Poulain, CEO of the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA).
With over two decades of experience managing peak industry bodies, Martine Poulain is now at the helm of the ABA, working closely with government, industry, and the organics sector to build understanding around certified compostables and their role in sustainable packaging. In this Q&A, she shares her insights on certification, collaboration, and the path forward.
PKN: With growing global attention on the circular economy, how do you see certified compostable packaging playing a role in the future of sustainable packaging in Australia and New Zealand?
Certified compostable packaging is inherently designed for the circular model, closing the loop and regenerating natural systems. It fulfils the practical role of traditional plastics, but with the added benefit of being able to be made into compost. Certified compostable products disintegrate and biodegrade into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, leaving no harmful residue behind.
What we’re seeing now is a surge in interest in our certification programme, particularly as awareness of plastic waste and its environmental impact is at an all-time high. Consumers are driving demand for alternatives, and in response, we’ve seen a 32 per cent increase in AS4736 Certificates of Conformance and almost 50 per cent growth in AS5810 certifications through the ABA programme in the past 12 months alone.
Globally, bioplastics production is also on the rise. Environmental concerns, shifting regulations, and increasing demand for sustainable materials are driving significant growth, with capacity expected to more than double and reach around 5.73 million metric tons by 2029.
PKN: The ABA’s certification scheme is a critical part of verifying compostability claims. Can you explain the significance of AS4736 and AS5810, and why certification matters for brand owners and converters?
The ABA’s certification scheme is vital in maintaining integrity and trust in compostability claims across Australia and New Zealand. At its core are two key standards – AS4736, which relates to commercial composting, and AS5810, which applies to home composting.
Certification ensures that products meet strict requirements under these standards, and allows licence holders to display the ABA’s recognised logos – the seedling logo for AS4736 and the home compostable logo for AS5810. These serve as visual confirmation for consumers and organics processors that the product has been verified and is suitable for composting under the specified conditions.
For brand owners, this certification instils consumer trust and helps them avoid accusations of greenwashing. It provides third-party validation that their compostability claims are credible and scientifically supported.
For the organics recycling sector, certification offers assurance that products carrying the ABA’s logos will disintegrate and biodegrade under composting conditions, without leaving any harmful residue or affecting compost quality. Without this certification, processors simply can’t be confident in the materials they’re receiving.
PKN: There’s often confusion in the market between compostable, biodegradable, and traditional plastics. What steps is the ABA taking to educate stakeholders across the packaging value chain – including consumers – about the appropriate use of certified compostable bioplastics?
This is a really important issue. Confusion over terminology like ‘compostable’ versus ‘biodegradable’ can lead to contamination in compost streams, greenwashing, and misguided purchasing decisions. The ABA is working actively to address these challenges through a multi-pronged education and communication effort.
One of the most visible tools is our certification logos. These provide clear, easily identifiable indicators – the seedling logo for commercial compostability and the home compostable logo for products verified under AS5810. These logos are only available to products that have been certified, helping consumers and composters know which items are suitable for composting.
We also encourage on-pack messaging that explains how to correctly dispose of the item, reducing the risk of contamination or confusion at the kerbside.
Beyond labelling, the ABA provides a range of educational resources to bridge knowledge gaps across the packaging supply chain – from manufacturers to retailers to consumers. We’ve also partnered with waste operators to support improved understanding and practices.
One example is our recently commissioned independent review on certified compostable packaging in food organics recovery systems. The findings showed that certified compostable products improve household participation in FOGO services, helping to divert more food waste from landfill.
We continue to publish position papers and fact sheets on our website, and we engage regularly through platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to reach a broader audience.
PKN: How are you engaging with government and policymakers to ensure certified compostable products are recognised and integrated appropriately into national packaging targets and waste management infrastructure?
Advocacy is a core part of the ABA’s work. We’re in active dialogue with government and regulatory bodies to ensure certified compostable products are correctly recognised within evolving national frameworks, including the National Packaging Targets and organics recycling strategies.
We believe that collaboration is key – between industry, policymakers, and the organics sector – to ensure compostable products are appropriately integrated into waste systems. A major part of our advocacy involves pushing for mandatory certification of compostable products. This would significantly reduce contamination concerns and ensure only materials that meet recognised standards are included in the composting stream.
One of the major gaps we’ve identified is the absence of consistent standards and thresholds across jurisdictions. In the absence of consistent standards, compostable items are often mistakenly grouped with non-compostable plastics – leading to missed opportunities for landfill diversion.
We’re encouraging the development of enforceable, harmonised standards that reflect the real-world performance of certified compostables – standards that protect compost quality without unnecessarily excluding effective materials. Through this work, we aim to support a circular economy and improve outcomes for both the environment and the packaging industry.
PKN: Composters and organic recyclers play a key role in closing the loop. What progress has been made in fostering collaboration between the certified compostables sector and the organics recovery sector, and what more needs to be done?
Composters and organic recyclers are critical partners in the success of certified compostable packaging. The ABA has worked hard to build relationships and foster trust across the organics sector. One of our key partners is the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA), with whom we collaborate to support the integration of certified compostables into established recovery systems.
Certified compostable products must be recognised as suitable for FOGO and organics streams – and certification is the only way to ensure that suitability. Composters need to know with certainty that a product will break down as intended and won’t harm compost quality. However, the presence of non-certified or so-called ‘biodegradable’ products on the market continues to pose a risk. These products often don't meet performance standards and can contaminate the compost stream.
There’s more to be done to support education among councils, waste operators, and the public. Continued effort is needed to raise awareness, reduce contamination, and encourage adoption of certified compostable solutions that truly support a circular model.
PKN: Looking ahead, what innovations or developments in certified compostable packaging excite you most, and how is the ABA supporting industry in accelerating the adoption of these solutions?
The future of certified compostable packaging is incredibly promising. We’re seeing smarter, more functional packaging solutions emerge, along with stronger integration into food and organic waste systems. The expansion of FOGO services across Australia is especially exciting. South Australia and Western Australia have already demonstrated strong results, and now with FOGO mandates being introduced in New South Wales, we expect momentum to grow significantly.
Globally, we’re seeing the same trend. New York City recently implemented mandatory composting as part of its waste reduction strategy – signalling a wider shift toward more sustainable waste management practices.
The ABA is committed to supporting this transition. We’re working with industry to bring innovations to market responsibly, providing certification and guidance every step of the way. We’re also seeing emerging opportunities for certified compostables in sectors beyond packaging – including medical applications – further extending their contribution to sustainability and the circular economy.
