How Long Does Compostable Packaging Take to Break Down?
- Biofuture
- Dec 22, 2025
- 6 min read
A Clear Guide for UK Homes and Businesses
Compostable packaging is becoming the go-to choice for cafés, takeaways, meal-prep kitchens and eco-conscious households. But one question appears again and again:
“How long does this actually take to break down?”
The truth is that compostable packaging and compostable kitchen products like bin liners, cling film and resealable bags, don’t all decompose at the same speed. This confusion is often made worse by the misunderstanding around compostable vs biodegradable packaging, even though they behave very differently at end of life. Different materials also behave differently, and composting conditions can dramatically change breakdown time.
If you use compostable cups, clamshell boxes, paper bags, bin liners or compostable cling film, this guide gives you realistic timelines for both home composting and industrial composting, plus what to expect from each material type.
What Determines How Fast Compostable Products Break Down?
Before looking at individual timelines, it helps to understand why one item decomposes in weeks while another takes months. Four key factors shape how quickly compostable packaging and kitchen waste products break down.
1. Home Compost vs. Industrial Compost
This is the biggest difference of all:
Home compost rarely reaches above 30°C and has inconsistent airflow and moisture.
Industrial composting operates at 60°C+, with controlled aeration, turning, and optimised microbial activity.
Most compostable packaging is designed for industrial composting, where conditions are ideal.
2. Material Type
Different materials decompose at different speeds:
Kraft paper & cardboard break down quickly due to fibrous structure and high absorbency. This makes them one of the easiest materials for businesses switching to compostable packaging for takeaway and food service use.
Bagasse (sugarcane) is fibrous but denser, so it takes slightly longer.
PLA (polylactic acid), used in cup linings and some films, requires higher heat to break down and is not suitable for home composting.
PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate), a biodegradable polymer used alongside PLA in products like compostable cling film and bin liners. These compostable plastics are made from blended materials that balance flexibility, strength, and certified compostability.
PBAT helps films stay flexible and strong but still break down under composting conditions.
Like PLA, PBAT performs best in industrial composting, where heat and aeration are controlled.
Paper products (napkins, paper straws) degrade quickly because microbes can easily break down cellulose fibres.
3. Product Thickness and Structure
A thin compostable bin liner breaks down much faster than a rigid cup.Multi-layered items take longer because microbes must work through each layer.
4. Moisture and Oxygen Levels
Dry, compacted compost slows everything down.Aerated, moist compost speeds things up significantly.
Understanding these variables helps you set realistic expectations and avoid false claims made by “biodegradable” products that aren’t certified compostable.
How Long Does Kraft Packaging Take to Break Down?
(Clamshell boxes, paper bags, kraft trays, napkins)
Home compost: 2–8 weeks
Industrial compost: Under 6 weeks
Kraft is one of the fastest-degrading materials because it’s porous, fibrous and breaks down easily in warm, moist compost. Napkins decompose especially fast because of their thin structure.
How Long Do PLA-Lined Cups and Containers Take to Break Down?
Home compost: Not suitable
Industrial compost: 8–12 weeks
PLA linings (the thin layer inside many compostable cups and bowls) require sustained high temperatures to break down. They compost efficiently in industrial facilities but will not break down properly in home compost.
This category includes:
Compostable coffee cups
Paper cups with PLA linings
Compostable deli containers
How Long Do Compostable Straws Take to Break Down?
(Paper straws and PLA straws)
Paper straws
Home compost: 2–6 weeks
Industrial compost: Under 4 weeks
PLA straws
Industrial compost only
Approximately 8–12+ weeks
Not suitable for home composting
Paper straws soften quickly because they’re designed to break down efficiently.
How Long Do Compostable Bin Liners Take to Break Down?
Home compost: 10–45 days
Industrial compost: Under 6 weeks
Your compostable bin liners contain PLA + PBAT blends. These blends let the bag stretch and hold weight while still being fully certified compostable.
Why PBAT matters:
It increases durability.
It still breaks down during the industrial composting process.
It prevents the issues seen with cheaper “biodegradable” bags that leave microplastics behind.
Compostable Cling Film & Resealable Bags: What to Expect
Compostable Cling Film
Home compost: Approx. 4–12 weeks
Industrial compost: 6–10 weeks
Compostable cling film is usually made from PLA/PBAT blends, which behave differently from kraft or paper. Films compost efficiently in industrial settings and slowly in well-managed home compost.
Resealable Compostable Bags
Home compost: 6–12+ weeksIndustrial compost: 6–10 weeks
These have slightly thicker walls and zippers, which take longer to break down. Cutting them into smaller pieces before composting can speed things up.
How Long Do Bagasse (Sugarcane) Containers Take to Break Down?
Home compost: 30–90 days
Industrial compost: 45–60 days
Bagasse products are popular for hot meals, and while they’re fast to break down, they’re denser than kraft and need more time. Their growing use reflects wider compostable food packaging trends in the UK, particularly in foodservice and takeaway settings.
Why Home Composting Always Takes Longer
Three main reasons:
Lower temperatures – Most home compost never reaches the 60°C+ needed to break down PLA or PBAT efficiently.
Less consistent aeration – Industrial compost is turned and ventilated; home compost is not.
Moisture fluctuations – Drier compost = slower breakdown.
This is why certification matters so much, EN13432 (industrial) and OK Home Compost (home) guarantee compostability under specific conditions.
Common Misconceptions About Compostable Packaging Breakdown
Let’s clear up a few myths:
“Compostable = instantly disappears.” Not true. Even fast-degrading items take weeks.
“If it’s compostable, I can recycle it.” Not in the UK. Food contamination ruins recycling streams.
“Biodegradable means the same as compostable.” Biodegradable isn’t regulated and can break down incompletely, contributing to microplastics in the home. Compostable products are certified to break down cleanly under defined conditions.
"If it doesn’t break down in home compost, it must be faulty." Many materials are designed for industrial composting, including PLA and PBAT blends.
How to Help Compostable Items Break Down Faster
Tear or shred larger items
Keep compost moist but not soaked
Turn your compost regularly
Add nitrogen-rich waste (greens) to boost microbial activity
Use certified compostable products that guarantee full breakdown
Compostable Packaging FAQs
How long does compostable packaging take to break down?
Compostable packaging can break down anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the material and composting conditions. Kraft paper and cardboard usually break down within 2 to 8 weeks in home compost and often under 6 weeks in industrial composting. PLA lined cups, films and containers are designed for industrial composting and typically break down in around 8 to 12 weeks under controlled conditions.
Can I put compostable packaging in my home compost bin?
Some compostable packaging can be added to home compost, but not all of it. Thin kraft items such as paper bags and napkins usually break down well at home. Products containing PLA or PBAT, including many compostable cups, bin liners and cling films, are designed for industrial composting and may not fully break down in most home compost systems.
What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable packaging?
Biodegradable is an unregulated term that simply means a material will break down at some point, which could take many years and may leave microplastics behind. Compostable packaging is certified to break down into non toxic components within a defined timeframe under specific composting conditions. Certified compostable products follow recognised standards such as EN13432.
What affects how fast compostable packaging breaks down?
The main factors are composting conditions, material type and product design. Industrial composting uses higher temperatures, controlled moisture and aeration, allowing products to break down faster. Fibrous materials like kraft and bagasse decompose more quickly than thicker or rigid items. Materials such as PLA and PBAT need sustained heat and oxygen to compost efficiently.
How long do compostable bin liners take to break down?
Compostable bin liners made from PLA and PBAT blends typically take around 10 to 45 days in well managed home compost and usually under 6 weeks in industrial composting. Breakdown time can vary depending on thickness, temperature and moisture levels.
How long does compostable cling film take to break down?
Compostable cling film, commonly made from PLA and PBAT blends, usually takes around 4 to 12 weeks to break down in home compost under good conditions and around 6 to 10 weeks in industrial composting. As a flexible film, it relies more heavily on proper heat and aeration than paper based materials.
Can compostable packaging be recycled with paper or cardboard?
No, compostable packaging should not be placed in standard paper or cardboard recycling. Food residue and compostable plastics such as PLA and PBAT contaminate recycling streams. Compostable packaging should be disposed of through appropriate food waste or composting routes, following local guidance.
Summary Table: Breakdown Times for Popular Compostable Products
Product | Home Compost | Industrial Compost |
Kraft boxes & bags | 2–8 weeks | <6 weeks |
Napkins | 2–4 weeks | <4 weeks |
PLA-lined cups | Not suitable | 8–12 weeks |
Paper straws | 2–6 weeks | <4 weeks |
Compostable bin liners | 10–45 days | <6 weeks |
Compostable cling film | 4–12 weeks | 6–10 weeks |
Resealable compostable bags | 6–12 weeks | 6–10 weeks |
Bagasse containers | 30–90 days | 45–60 days |
Choose Certified Compostable Products You Can Trust
Every Biofuture product is certified to EN13432 or equivalent composting standards. Whether you're switching to compostable takeaway packaging or choosing compostable kitchen essentials for home or business, our range is designed to break down cleanly in the right conditions without greenwashing, without microplastics, and without confusion.
Browse our full range of compostable takeaway packaging and kitchen essentials to find the right products for your needs.
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