Biodegradable Mylar Bags.

Compostable means tested to a named standard. Biodegradable on its own means very little. We build to EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 for industrial composting and to a separate certification for home composting. The standard is named on the pack, because a claim without the disposal route is incomplete.

We do not print the word biodegradable as a claim on its own.

PLA film is the most common, a plant-derived polymer that is clear and industrially compostable. Cellulose film from wood pulp is one of the few structures certified for home composting. A kraft paper outer over a certified compostable liner gives a natural face and lets the whole pack compost.

A metallised compostable film narrows the barrier gap to conventional laminates without closing it.

A compostable structure holds less oxygen and moisture out than metallised or foil, so shelf life is shorter and should be tested against the actual film. Dry, fast-moving product suits it well. Coffee, nuts, oils and anything with a long date show the barrier gap quickly.

Where recyclability matters more than composting, a mono-material PE bag gives a barrier much closer to a conventional laminate and goes into PE streams.

Yes. An uncertified ink or zipper can invalidate the certification for the whole pack. We use ink systems certified alongside the film, a compostable zipper and compostable adhesives, and we supply the certification documentation with the order. Kraft outer is the finish most compostable ranges use, with a compostable matte film where a cleaner surface is wanted.

Seedling, OK Compost and similar marks are printed on pack for consumer clarity.

The common sizes are a 4 by 6 inch flat pouch and a 5 by 8 inch stand-up with a 3 inch gusset. Width by height is measured flat, with the gusset stated separately on stand-up formats. Compostable films run a little slower on the line, so very large formats are quoted case by case.

A clear PLA or cellulose window can be cut into either size without affecting the claim.

Orders start at 500 pouches. Compostable film costs more per unit than conventional laminate, so tiers above 1,000 make a real difference on this format. Runs are quoted up to 100,000.

Kraft-and-liner and clear PLA versions are separate runs, and each carries its own certification paperwork.

Production runs 7 to 10 business days once the proof is approved. Rush at 5 to 7 business days is available, though we suggest allowing the standard window on a first order because the film and ink certification is checked at the same time. A compostable sample pouch takes 5 to 7 business days to make.

Fill a sample and hold it for the length of your shelf life before signing off. The pouch sample fee is credited to the bulk order when you place it.

Only if the film is certified home compostable, which most are not. The bulk of compostable structures need a commercial facility, and most households do not have access to one. Cellulose-based film is the usual route to a home compostable claim.

The pack should say which route applies so the consumer knows where to put it.