The polymer for the tubes and tubs have been successfully third-party lab tested to ASTM D6400.
ASTM D6400 is the US standard for industrial compostability.
Certification to international compostable standards is within the lab testing stage right now.
Whilst by the letter of the law, the testing so far would allow us to say online and on each product that the tubes and tubs are compostable,
we prefer to wait until all international certification testing is completed.
We don’t go in for greenwashing and will not make environmental claims hoping that it will entice people looking for better environmental options to buy newave.
Whilst this testing is being completed, we ask you to think on a few things.
Wherever newave tubes and tubs end up, as they break down,
they will not release harmful chemicals.
Fossil-based plastics are known to be made with thousands of chemicals
(well over ten thousand noted in this 2023 published research)
and known to be an environmental issue and human health as they break down.
The plastics industry argue (sometimes reasonably) that their products are recyclable.
However, here is what actually seems to be happening:
In 2022 the British beauty Council said this of cosmetic packaging
“With 95% of cosmetic packaging thrown away, packaging is one of the biggest sustainability challenges facing the beauty industry” and “
when it comes to the beauty industry only
14% of packaging actually makes it to a recycling plant,
only 9% is recycled and the rest heads directly to landfill.
Most of this is single use plastic packaging which can take up to 450 years to breakdown in landfill”.
Only 9% of cometic packaging is recycled.
This number is supported overall for plastic recycling by the United Nations Development Program,
who in 2023 stated Scientists estimate that only around 9 percent of all the plastic waste generated globally is recycled.
Most of our plastic waste – a whopping 79 percent – ends up in landfills or in nature. Some 12 percent is incinerated.
Only 9% of all plastics are recycled.
Some might say it is unreasonable to put a product to market where if industrially compostable there are few options for customers to ensure it is actually composted.
In the US there are returns options for compostable packaging, however we have yet to implement here in Australia.
As an example: Pact Collective have a drop off system for cosmetic packaging recycling available all over the US and Canada and are working with our suppliers to discuss a drop off system for compostable
(organic recycling) cosmetic packaging.
It is a first for them and as a step forward, they have confirmed their technology recognises the biopolymers used by us are recognised in their sorting lines.
With ongoing innovation it can be done.
In Australia we look as if we will be moving to a system where millions of dollars each year will be raised from suppliers paying
for the correct disposal of their packaging.
The result of this will mean investment in more organic recycling.
As a comparison - remember when people said electric cars would never work. They don’t go far enough on a single charge, not enough public charging stations.
Then everyone realised they were an environmental solution and started buying them.
We don’t hear those complaints so much anymore do we, as technology and infrastructure has advanced due to customer demand.
There needs to be a revolution in cosmetic packaging
and it needs people to want to lead that revolution and help save the planet.
newave is with you on this
Additionally, we have tested tubs in a home composter available in the US
(The Mill Food Recycler) and the results show the disappear completely with food waste.
