Is PLA-Lined Paper Packaging Compostable?

Compostable packaging has become a must-have for cafés, takeaways, food trucks and eco-conscious households, but many people are still unsure what happens to these materials once they’re used.

One of the biggest points of confusion is PLA-lined paper packaging: products like compostable cups, sturdy kraft takeaway boxes, paper lids, and food containers that use a thin plant-based lining to make them leakproof and heat-resistant.

So, is PLA-lined paper packaging really compostable? Where should it go after use? And is it a genuinely sustainable choice for UK businesses and homes?

This guide breaks down everything you need to know.

What Is PLA-Lined Paper Packaging?

PLA (polylactic acid) is a bioplastic made from renewable plant materials such as corn starch or sugarcane. It’s commonly used as a lining inside paper and kraft packaging because:

• Paper alone isn’t waterproof

• Hot drinks seep through unlined cups

• Moist, oily or acidic foods break down pure paper

• A lining ensures structural integrity and food safety

This makes PLA-lined paper perfect for:

• Compostable coffee cups

• Soup containers and food tubs

• Takeaway boxes

• Paper lids

• Food-grade wrapping solutions

Is PLA Compostable or Biodegradable?

The short answer:

Yes, PLA is compostable, but only under industrial composting conditions.

PLA is also technically biodegradable, but this term can be misleading.

PLA does NOT:

• Break down quickly in nature

• Break down in landfill

• Break down in water

• Break down in home compost bins

PLA does:

• Break down in industrial composting facilities

• Require temperatures of 55–60°C

• Need controlled oxygen, moisture, and microbial activity

• Leave no toxic residue when properly composted

This distinction is extremely important, because it affects how PLA-lined packaging should be disposed of.

Is PLA-Lined Paper Packaging Compostable?

Yes, when sent to industrial composting.

PLA-lined paper packaging is designed to be fully compostable when:

• It meets recognised standards like EN13432 or OK Compost

• It is processed at a high-temperature industrial composting facility

Here’s what happens:

1. The paper layer breaks down quickly.

2. The PLA lining softens and biodegrades under controlled heat and microorganisms.

3. The entire product becomes compost, without microplastics or chemical residue.

Important: If compostable packaging isn’t certified, or uses generic “biodegradable” claims, it may not break down predictably. Certification logos matter.

Learn more in our guide, Biodegradable vs Compostable: What’s the Difference?

Can PLA-Lined Cups and Boxes Go in UK Food Waste Bins?

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer is, sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends entirely on your council.

Why councils differ:

• Some councils send food waste to industrial composting facilities that process certified compostable packaging.

• Others only accept food waste and reject all packaging, even compostable variants.

• A few use anaerobic digestion, which does not compost PLA.

What you should do:

1. Check your local council website for food waste rules.

2. Look for acceptance of “certified compostable packaging” or “EN13432 items”.

3. If not accepted → place PLA-lined packaging into general waste.

This variation is a UK-wide problem, and one of the main reasons people get confused about compostable packaging.

Is PLA Home Compostable?

Not in a reliable, certifiable way, but PLA may eventually break down in some home compost setups.

Home compost bins rarely reach the temperatures or sustained microbial activity needed for PLA to compost efficiently. Industrial facilities run at 55–60°C with controlled aeration; domestic heaps often sit around 20–30°C and fluctuate with weather, moisture, and feedstock.

What this means in practice:

• The paper portion of PLA-lined packaging breaks down normally.

• The PLA lining can soften and degrade over time if a home compost heap runs unusually hot and active.

• In most households, the PLA layer remains intact for a long period or only partially breaks down.

This is why PLA cannot be classed or certified as home compostable.

So while breakdown in home compost is possible, it is not something users should depend on, and it shouldn’t be treated as a reliable disposal route.

How Should You Dispose of PLA-Lined Paper Packaging?

Use this order of preference:

1. Food Waste Bin (Where Your Council Accepts It)

   This is the ideal route because industrial composting conditions ensure full breakdown of both the paper and PLA lining. If you're using a food waste bin at home or work, make sure you're lining it with a certified compostable bin liner.

2. Commercial Composting Collection

   For cafés, caterers and workplaces, local commercial composting schemes can collect and process certified compostable packaging.

3. General Waste

   If your council doesn’t accept compostable packaging, the correct option is general waste. This prevents contamination of recycling streams and ensures the material is handled properly.

Most “recyclable” takeaway containers can’t actually be recycled once they’re dirty, so they usually end up in general waste. PLA-lined packaging follows the same rule: without access to industrial composting, it also goes to general waste.

The difference is in the material itself. PLA-lined packaging is made from renewable plants, avoids the fossil-plastic footprint of PE linings, and doesn’t create microplastics. So even when both end up in general waste, certified compostable packaging remains the lower-impact option.

What You Should Not Do

• Avoid putting PLA-lined packaging in home compost bins  — while the paper portion will compost, the PLA lining only breaks down in unusually active, high-temperature home systems. Because results are inconsistent, home composting shouldn’t be relied on as a disposal method.

• Do not place PLA-lined items in paper recycling — the lining contaminates the stream.

• Do not place them in plastics recycling — PLA isn’t compatible with standard plastic processing.

• Do not try to peel off the lining — it doesn’t improve recyclability or compostability.

Is PLA-Lined Paper Packaging Sustainable?

Yes, when used and disposed of correctly.

Here’s why it’s widely adopted by responsible businesses:

✔ Made from renewable resources

Corn, sugarcane, and other plant materials.

✔ Lower carbon footprint than petroleum plastics

Especially over the lifecycle of food packaging.

✔ No microplastics

PLA breaks down into CO₂, water, and biomass, not microplastic fragments.

✔ Food-safe and heat-resistant

Essential for liquids, oils, and hot foods.

✔ Compatible with composting systems

Where facilities exist, it’s an ideal “closed loop” packaging material.

Switching to compostable packaging? Our Business Guide to Compostable Food Packaging gives cafés and takeaways a clear 5-step plan, from choosing certified materials to working with the right waste providers.

Summary: Is PLA-Lined Packaging Compostable?

• Summary: Is PLA-Lined Packaging Compostable?

• PLA-lined packaging is fully compostable in industrial composting facilities.

• It should not be relied on for home composting, as most household systems don’t reach the temperatures needed for PLA to break down consistently.

• Council acceptance varies across the UK, so always check local food waste guidelines.

• When it reaches the right composting conditions, PLA-lined paper is a renewable, low-impact alternative to conventional plastic-lined packaging.

• For most cups, tubs and takeaway containers, PLA-lined paper remains a practical and environmentally responsible choice.

FAQ

Is PLA compostable?

Yes, in industrial composting facilities.

Is PLA biodegradable?

Yes, but only under controlled conditions. It does not biodegrade naturally in the open environment.

Can PLA go in food waste bins?

Only if your council accepts certified compostable packaging.

Can I compost PLA at home?

PLA isn’t certified for home composting. The paper layer will break down, but the PLA lining only degrades in unusually active, high temperature home compost systems, so it shouldn’t be relied on as a home compostable material.

Is PLA recyclable?

No. PLA contaminates plastic recycling streams and shouldn’t be placed in plastics or paper recycling.

Is PLA environmentally friendly?

Yes, when disposed of correctly. It's renewable, low-carbon, and microplastic-free.

Does PLA break down in landfill?

Very slowly. Landfill conditions lack the heat and oxygen needed for effective biodegradation. PLA, like most materials in landfill, remains largely intact. The main difference is that PLA doesn’t create microplastics or release the same long-term pollutants associated with traditional petroleum plastics, but landfill still isn’t the intended or preferred disposal route.