BPI's Rhodes Yepson on Compostable Packaging’s Promise and Policy Hurdles

Why It Matters

If left uncoordinated, state policy could stall industry investment and slow the deployment of composting infrastructure, jeopardizing a promising route to reduce petroleum-based plastics and meet circularity goals for food-soiled and hard-to-recycle packaging.

Summary

Rhodes Yepsen, executive director of the Biodegradable Products Institute, outlined BPI’s role certifying compostable products, convening stakeholders, and shaping policy to advance biologically recyclable packaging. He argued compostable materials address major recycling challenges—small formats, multilayer structures, novel materials and food-contaminated packaging—because composting systems accept those items and return nutrients. Yepsen warned that California’s ambitious but misaligned packaging and food-waste laws create conflicting timelines and definitions that undermine investment and the development of composting infrastructure. He urged policy alignment across food-waste and packaging programs to stabilize the market and accelerate adoption of compostable solutions.

Original Description

At SPC Impact 2026, Biodegradable Products Institute Executive Director Rhodes Yepsen discusses why compostable packaging continues to gain interest from brands even as California policy creates uncertainty around its future.

____

~ READ MORE https://www.packworld.com/?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=PWTVChannel ~

b2

=====

Are you a professional who uses, recommends, or purchases packaging equipment, materials, and services that wants to stay ahead? Then check out more of our stories at https://www.packworld.com/?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=PWTVChannel

Or even subscribe to our FREE PRINT Magazine at

https://www.packworld.com/page/magazine?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=PWTVChannel

CONNECT WITH PW MAGAZINE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/packaging-world?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=PWTVChannel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/packagingworld?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=PWTVChannel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PackagingWorld?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=PWTVChannel

Website: https://www.packworld.com/?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=PWTVChannel

=====

ABOUT PACKAGING WORLD MAGAZINE

Packaging World is the flagship title of PMMI Media Group, founded in 1994 and the world's best read publication for professionals who use, recommend and purchase packaging equipment, materials and services. Via our website, newsletters and monthly print editions we offer case studies, applications and original articles on design, e-commerce, automation, regulatory topics, strategies and trends that are enhancing packaging across all industries.