WHAT IF PACKAGING WOULD NEVER CAUSE HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT?
Designed for nature: material that breaks down, not the environment.
Our consumption model needs circularity and non-toxic materials. Either humans recycle via an industrial recycling system (technical cycle) or Earth recycles, via its inherent biological capabilities to decompose materials and create something new out of them. The truth is: the global recycling infrastructure is incapable of handling the waste that we produce. Only 9% of plastics get recycled globally, and what is littered often carries toxins and microplastics with it.
This is why we have designed CAMM to work in any cycle, most importantly in the biological cycle and to be fully free of toxins, eternal chemicals and microplastics.
The minimum standard behind is the home compostability. We conduct extensive studies to ensure and prove this quality of our material, e.g. with studies from OWS and more recently a certification by TUV Austria according to the French standard.
What Does Home Compostability Mean?
Home compostability refers to the ability of materials to decompose naturally in a typical home composting environment. Unlike industrial composting, which occurs under controlled, high-temperature conditions, home composting takes place in a much more variable environment, such as a backyard compost bin or pile. This sets high standards for certification: for packaging to be truly home compostable, it needs to break down quickly and safely without leaving harmful residues behind.
And to be precise: we are talking “home” compostability, not “industrial” compostability (it’s nice but not the full answer).
What is the Difference?
While both home and industrial compostability refer to the biodegradation of materials, they occur under very different conditions:
Home Compostability: Home composting happens in much lower-temperature environments, typically ranging from 50°C to 60°C (122°F to 140°F). Materials that are home compostable break down in these conditions without the need for professional or industrial equipment. They must be capable of decomposing naturally and safely in the average backyard compost bin or pile, or in nature.
Industrial Compostability: In contrast, industrial composting is a controlled process that operates at much higher temperatures (typically around 60°C to 70°C / 140°F to 158°F) to speed up the breakdown of organic materials. Industrial composting facilities have the machinery and processes to handle large volumes of waste and ensure materials degrade efficiently. Again we are in the technical cycle, with its downsides.
Looking ahead
The future of packaging must be circular and regenerative. As businesses it is our responsibility to provide solutions that fulfill these criteria and to spearhead such solutions in the industry. The more join the movement, the more we can turnaround towards a regenerative model of consumption. CAMM is part of that movement, not in the niche, but at scale.