Walk into any packaging supplier’s catalogue and you will find both words: compostable and biodegradable. They appear on the same page, often on similar-looking products, sometimes on the same product. They are not the same thing. The difference between them is technical, legal, and — for a cafe that makes sustainability claims to its customers — reputationally significant.
This guide breaks down the technical definitions, the certification standards that give these claims meaning, the greenwashing risk of using them incorrectly, and what independent cafes in India actually need to know before putting either word on their packaging or their marketing.
The Definitions: What Each Term Actually Means
Biodegradable
Biodegradable means that a material will break down through biological processes — the action of bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms — into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Almost every organic material is biodegradable by this definition. A plastic bag is technically biodegradable — it will break down eventually, given enough time and the right conditions. The question is: how long, under what conditions, and into what?
This is the problem with the term. Biodegradable has no standard timeframe and no standard conditions. A material that takes 500 years to break down in a landfill is technically biodegradable. A material that breaks down in 6 months in a specific industrial environment but persists for decades in a home environment is technically biodegradable. The term, without qualification, tells you almost nothing useful about a material’s environmental impact.
In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have not established a single, enforceable standard for what constitutes a biodegradable claim on food packaging. This means the term is largely unregulated in the Indian market — any supplier can print it on any product without meeting a defined threshold.
Compostable
Compostable is a more specific and more meaningful claim. A compostable material is one that breaks down into non-toxic, nutrient-rich compost within a defined timeframe under defined conditions. Compostability is a subset of biodegradability — all compostable materials are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable materials are compostable.
The key distinction is the standard. Compostable claims are governed by internationally recognised certification standards that specify exactly what a material must do to qualify:
- EN 13432 (European standard): The material must disintegrate by more than 90% within 12 weeks in industrial composting conditions, and biodegrade by more than 90% within 6 months. The resulting compost must not contain harmful substances above defined thresholds.
- ASTM D6400 (US standard): Similar requirements to EN 13432, with specific testing protocols for industrial composting conditions.
- IS 17088 (Indian standard): India’s own compostability standard, aligned with EN 13432, published by BIS. Packaging certified to IS 17088 meets the Indian regulatory definition of compostable.
A compostable claim backed by one of these certifications is a verifiable, testable, enforceable claim. A biodegradable claim without a certification standard is not.
Industrial Compostable vs. Home Compostable
Within compostable packaging, there is a further distinction that matters for cafes: industrial compostable versus home compostable.
Industrially compostable materials require the high temperatures (55–60°C), controlled humidity, and microbial activity of an industrial composting facility to break down within the certified timeframe. PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the most common example: it is certified compostable to EN 13432 and IS 17088, but it will not break down in a home compost bin or in a landfill within any reasonable timeframe. In ambient conditions, PLA behaves similarly to conventional plastic.
Home compostable materials break down in a home compost bin at ambient temperatures within a defined timeframe (typically 6–12 months). Bagasse (sugarcane fibre) is the most common example in food service packaging: it breaks down in home compost conditions without requiring industrial infrastructure.
This distinction matters for two reasons. First, it affects the environmental claim you can honestly make to your customers. If your city does not have accessible industrial composting infrastructure — which is the case for most Indian cities — then an industrially compostable claim is technically accurate but practically misleading: the packaging will not be composted in practice. Second, it affects the regulatory risk of your green claims.
The Greenwashing Risk
Greenwashing is the practice of making environmental claims that are misleading, unsubstantiated, or technically accurate but practically deceptive. For independent cafes, the greenwashing risk in packaging claims is real and growing.
The Department of Consumer Affairs and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) have both issued guidance on environmental claims in advertising. ASCI’s guidelines require that environmental claims be specific, substantiated, and not misleading. A claim that packaging is “bio-degradable” without qualification — when the material takes decades to break down in landfill conditions — is potentially in breach of these guidelines.
The practical risk for a cafe: if you tell your customers that your packaging is “eco-friendly” or “bio-degradable” and a customer or journalist investigates and finds that the claim is unsubstantiated, the reputational damage is disproportionate to the cost of getting the claim right in the first place.
The safe approach: only make claims that are backed by a recognised certification standard, and qualify the claim accurately. “Our bagasse containers are home compostable” is a specific, verifiable, accurate claim. “Our packaging is eco-friendly” is a vague claim that invites scrutiny.
The Materials: What Each Claim Means in Practice
Bagasse (Sugarcane Fibre)
Bagasse is the fibrous residue left after sugarcane juice is extracted. It is a genuine agricultural byproduct — using it for packaging diverts material that would otherwise be burned or landfilled. Bagasse containers are:
- Home compostable: they break down in ambient composting conditions within 60–90 days
- Microwave-safe and oven-safe to 220°C
- Suitable for both hot and cold food
- Free from petroleum-derived materials
The compostable claim for bagasse is the most straightforward and most defensible of any food service packaging material. It is also the most honest claim you can make to a customer who asks about your packaging’s environmental credentials. Browse our full bagasse container range.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
PLA is a plant-derived bioplastic made from fermented corn starch or sugarcane. It is certified industrially compostable to EN 13432 and IS 17088. The important qualifications:
- PLA requires industrial composting conditions (55–60°C) to break down within the certified timeframe
- In home compost, landfill, or ambient conditions, PLA behaves similarly to conventional plastic and will not break down within any reasonable timeframe
- PLA is not suitable for hot food above 45°C — it will deform
- PLA is visually identical to PET (conventional clear plastic) — customers cannot distinguish them without labelling
The honest claim for PLA: “industrially compostable.” Not “biodegradable,” not “eco-friendly” without qualification. For the complete PLA guide including temperature limits and format selection, see The Right Packaging for Salads, Bowls & Cold Food. Browse our full PLA container range.
Kraft Paper
Kraft paper bags and boxes are made from wood pulp using a process that retains the natural lignin in the wood fibre, producing a strong, brown paper. Kraft paper is:
- Biodegradable in the conventional sense: it breaks down in landfill conditions within months to a few years, depending on the environment
- Recyclable through standard paper recycling streams
- Not compostable in the certified sense unless it is uncoated — PE-lined kraft bags (the standard for food delivery) are not compostable because the PE lining prevents breakdown
The honest claim for kraft paper bags: “paper-based” or “recyclable paper.” Not “compostable” (unless uncoated and certified). For the full GSM and specification guide for kraft bags, see What GSM Actually Means for Food Packaging.
Conventional Plastic (PP, PET)
Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) are petroleum-derived plastics. They are not compostable and not biodegradable in any meaningful timeframe. Some suppliers label PP or PET products as “biodegradable” based on the addition of pro-oxidant additives that cause the plastic to fragment into microplastics — a process called oxo-degradation. This is not biodegradation in any environmentally meaningful sense, and oxo-degradable plastics are banned in the EU and are under regulatory scrutiny in India.
If a supplier is selling you “biodegradable” PP or PET containers, ask for the certification standard. If they cannot provide one, the claim is unsubstantiated.
FSSAI Compliance and Labelling
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Food Packaging Regulations require that environmental claims on food packaging be accurate and not misleading. The regulations do not define specific standards for compostable or biodegradable claims, but they prohibit false or misleading labelling under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The practical implication: if you print “compostable” on your packaging, you should be able to substantiate that claim with a certification (IS 17088, EN 13432, or equivalent). If you cannot, the claim is potentially in breach of FSSAI labelling requirements.
When sourcing packaging, always request the supplier’s certification documentation for any compostable or biodegradable claim. A reputable supplier will provide this without hesitation. A supplier who cannot provide certification documentation for a compostable claim is making an unsubstantiated claim.
What to Tell Your Customers
Independent cafes that have invested in genuinely compostable packaging have a marketing asset — but only if they communicate it accurately. The following claim hierarchy, from most to least defensible:
- Most defensible: “Our bagasse containers are home compostable — certified to IS 17088. You can compost them at home.” Specific, accurate, verifiable, and actionable for the customer.
- Defensible: “Our cold food containers are industrially compostable — certified to EN 13432. They require an industrial composting facility to break down.” Accurate and honest about the limitation.
- Acceptable: “Our packaging is paper-based and recyclable.” Accurate for uncoated kraft paper. Not accurate for PE-lined bags.
- Risky: “Our packaging is eco-friendly.” Vague, unsubstantiated, and invites scrutiny. Only use if you can substantiate it with specific claims.
- Avoid: “Our packaging is biodegradable.” Without qualification and certification, this claim is meaningless and potentially misleading.
The Practical Decision for Independent Cafes
For an independent cafe that wants to make honest, defensible sustainability claims, the packaging decision is straightforward:
- For hot food containers: Bagasse. Home compostable, genuinely sustainable, and the most defensible environmental claim available in food service packaging. The cost premium over PP is real but modest — see Eco-Friendly Packaging That Doesn’t Cost More — Myth or Reality? for the full cost analysis.
- For cold food containers: PLA. Industrially compostable, plant-derived, and visually premium. Qualify the claim accurately: “industrially compostable,” not “biodegradable.”
- For outer bags: Kraft paper. Recyclable and paper-based. Do not claim compostable for PE-lined bags.
- For cutlery: Birchwood or bamboo. Genuinely biodegradable and home compostable. Also SUP-compliant — a legal requirement, not just a preference. Browse our full wooden cutlery range.
For the complete packaging selection guide covering all categories, see The Complete Packaging Checklist for Cloud Kitchen Launches.
Asking the Right Questions When Sourcing
When evaluating a packaging supplier’s environmental claims, ask these questions before placing an order:
- What certification standard backs this claim? IS 17088, EN 13432, or ASTM D6400 for compostable. If the supplier cannot name a standard, the claim is unsubstantiated.
- Is this industrially compostable or home compostable? The distinction matters for the claim you can make to your customers.
- Can you provide the certification documentation? A reputable supplier will have this on file and will share it without hesitation.
- What is the material composition? A “biodegradable” claim on a product that contains PE lining, synthetic coatings, or petroleum-derived additives is a red flag.
- Is this FSSAI food-grade certified? Environmental claims and food safety compliance are separate requirements. Confirm both.