What Is Recyclable vs Compostable Flexible Packaging

Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have in packaging, it’s an expectation. Whether you’re a brand owner or a shopper stood in the aisle trying to work out which bin your pouch belongs in, the terms “recyclable” and “compostable” get used interchangeably far more often than they should. At Tyler Packaging, we’ve spent decades developing flexible packaging solutions for food, pet food, horticultural and industrial markets, and one of the questions we’re asked most is: what’s actually the difference?

The short answer is that recyclable and compostable packaging are not the same thing, they’re not processed in the same way, and mixing them up at the point of disposal can do more harm than good. Here’s how each one works, and how to choose the right option for your product.

Recyclable packaging is designed to be broken down and reprocessed into new materials, keeping resources in circulation rather than sending them to landfill. In flexible packaging, this typically means moving away from mixed-material laminates (which combine different plastics that can’t easily be separated) towards monomaterial structures, packaging built from a single type of plastic, usually PE or PP, so it can be collected and reprocessed as one recyclable stream.

Our own monomaterial recyclable range has been developed with exactly this in mind. Compared to traditional mixed plastic laminates, it uses noticeably less fossil fuel in production and can meaningfully reduce water use across the supply chain, all while still delivering the strength and barrier protection that food, pet food and industrial products need.

The catch with recyclable flexible packaging is that it depends on infrastructure outside of any single manufacturer’s control. Not every kerbside collection or recycling facility is equipped to handle flexible films, and clear on-pack labelling is essential so consumers know where the packaging should go. That’s why design for recyclability, using monomaterials, avoiding unnecessary layers, and labelling clearly, matters just as much as the material itself. However, monomaterial structures will become kerbside recyclable in the UK as of 1^st April 2027!

Compostable packaging takes a completely different route. Rather than being reprocessed, it’s designed to break down entirely under specific, controlled conditions, returning to the earth as water, CO2 and biomass. Compostable films are typically made from natural, renewable materials such as cellulose, corn starch or plant-based fibres, rather than conventional plastics.

To genuinely qualify as compostable, packaging needs to meet recognised standards, such as EN 13432, and hold certification for either home or industrial composting. Our compostable film range is certified across both, giving businesses the flexibility to offer packaging that breaks down whether it ends up in a garden compost heap or an industrial composting facility, generally within a matter of months rather than years.

Compostable packaging is a strong fit for dry goods, think pet food, snacks, powders and rice, where a good barrier to oxygen and moisture is needed, but it isn’t currently suited to liquids.

Here’s the part that trips a lot of people up: compostable packaging should never go in the recycling bin, and recyclable packaging shouldn’t go in food or garden waste. Putting compostable material into the recycling stream can contaminate genuinely recyclable materials, undermining the whole process. It’s a simple mix-up, but at scale it causes real problems for waste processors, which is exactly why clear labelling and consumer education matter so much across the whole industry, not just for us as a manufacturer.

It’s also worth knowing that biodegradable is not the same as compostable, despite the two often being used as if they were interchangeable. Biodegradable materials can break down over time, but without meeting a certified standard, they may leave behind residues that don’t benefit soil or the environment the way certified compostable packaging does.

There’s no single “better” choice between recyclable and compostable, it depends on your product, your customer base, and the waste infrastructure available to them. A few things worth thinking through:

• What’s your product? Compostable works well for dry, ambient goods; recyclable monomaterial laminates suit a broader range, including products needing stronger barrier properties.
• Where will it be sold and disposed of? Recyclable packaging relies on local collection and processing capability. Compostable packaging relies on access to composting, whether through council food waste collections or industrial facilities.
• How will you label it? Whichever route you choose, clear, honest on-pack disposal instructions are essential to make sure the packaging actually ends up where it’s supposed to.

As part of our own sustainability commitments, including our work with the Pet Sustainability Coalition and our goal of moving to 100% recyclable, refillable or compostable packaging, we work with businesses across the pet food, food, horticultural, agricultural and industrial sectors to find the flexible packaging solution that genuinely fits their product and their customers’ recycling reality, not just a box-ticking exercise.

If you’re weighing up recyclable versus compostable for your own packaging, we’re happy to talk it through, and we can send out sample packs so you can see and feel the difference for yourself.

Get in touch with the Tyler Packaging team on 01926 651451 or info@tylerpackaging.co.uk.