Materials
End-of-life claims are only useful if they're precise. Here is exactly what each material is, what it is certified for, and where it fits.
Industrial compostable only
Certified BPI, ASTM D6400 and DIN TÜV for industrial composting. PLA straws are industrial compostable only.
Best fit: Foodservice operations and markets with access to commercial composting collection.
Industrial + home compostable + marine biodegradable
Certified BPI, ASTM D6400 and DIN TÜV (industrial compostable), plus Home Compostable and Marine Biodegradable certified.
Best fit: Venues and markets without industrial composting access, and waterfront or outdoor operations.
Recyclable — not compostable
Conventional plastic. Recyclable. Not compostable and not biodegradable.
A biodegradable PP grade is also available on request. Specification and supporting documentation are provided per project. The biodegradability of biodegradable PP straws should be independently confirmed, as certifications for the straws are not available yet.
Best fit: Buyers who need a conventional polypropylene straw and have recycling streams that accept it.
Side by side
Certification language below is material-specific. It should not be applied across materials.
| PLA StrawsIndustrial compostable only | PHA StrawsIndustrial + home compostable + marine biodegradable | PP StrawsRecyclable — not compostable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source material | Plant-based polylactic acid, made from fermented plant sugars. | Plant-based polyhydroxyalkanoate, produced by microbial fermentation. | Conventional polypropylene resin. |
| End of life | Industrial compostable only. Requires collection by a commercial composting facility. | Industrial compostable, and additionally certified Home Compostable and Marine Biodegradable. | Recyclable where polypropylene is accepted. Not compostable and not biodegradable. |
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| Best-fit use case | Foodservice operations and markets with access to commercial composting collection. | Venues and markets without industrial composting access, and waterfront or outdoor operations. | Buyers who need a conventional polypropylene straw and have recycling streams that accept it. |
PP is not part of our compostable lines. It is a conventional polypropylene straw: recyclable, not compostable and not biodegradable.A biodegradable PP grade is also available on request. Specification and supporting documentation are provided per project. The biodegradability of biodegradable PP straws should be independently confirmed, as certifications for the straws are not available yet.
Plain English
These two terms are often used interchangeably in marketing. They describe very different conditions, and the difference decides what actually happens to the straw.
Happens at a commercial composting facility. These sites manage moisture, airflow and turning, and hold sustained high temperatures that a backyard pile does not reach. Material has to be collected and delivered to such a facility for the process to happen at all.
Our PLA straws are industrial compostable only. Our PHA straws are also certified for industrial composting.
Happens in an ordinary backyard pile or bin, at ambient temperatures and without industrial process control. Certification for home composting is a separate, additional test regime — a material certified only for industrial composting is not home compostable.
Among our materials, only PHA carries Home Compostable certification, and PHA is additionally certified Marine Biodegradable.
Composting infrastructure differs from market to market. We recommend confirming what collection and composting infrastructure is available in your market before making end-of-life claims to your customers.
Tell us where the straws are used and what happens to waste in your market. We'll recommend a material.