More than 120 Stakeholders Focus on Circularity in Denver

This is a system-wide event with a goal of system-wide agreement on how to more successfully include compostable packaging in composting emerged with 10 areas of focus, including compost use, infrastructure building through funding and food waste composting initiatives, and national education. The recommendations also include packaging-related initiatives addressing contamination, EPR, and labeling. The group also voted to keep the all-system collaboration platform in action to move forward the projects.

The work was done as part of a model called Future Search, used by industries, communities and cross-functional stakeholder projects to bring disparate players in a system to a place of consensus on best ways to solve problems and move forward obstacles stuck in silos. More than 120 people from all along the supply chain for compostables and compost production and use attended. For three days in a structured and rigorous process, small groups of like-minded stakeholders — as well as mixed-group stakeholders — labored to build mind maps, group theory presentations on consensus-derived priorities, an all-system quantification and refinement of priorities, voting to narrow priorities, and action planning.

The voting process for the recommendations and the final 10 recommendations that received support from the entire group — with those that are held for the future showing in red – are included.

“Many of these projects emerged as things USCC has been working on, or has had on our list but not achieved due to funding and bandwidth,” said Linda Norris-Waldt, deputy director and Steering Committee member for Future Search. “I’m excited to see the whole-system recognition of the urgency of these and look forward to working collaboratively across our industries.”

While the Future Search effort focused on circularity of compostables, compost industry producers of all sizes, consultants and allies who were part of it were adamant any recommendations leave the decision for compostable packaging acceptance up to the compost producer as a critical element of their business planning. The effort itself, through legislation; labeling and standardization of compostables and certifications; compost markets and support for food waste composting access; and focus on compostables handling best practices formally engages the entire supply chain in the success of the compost industry.

Groups are being formed to carry forward the 10 recommendations. If you are interested in joining a group, please contact Linda Norris-Waldt at lnorriswaldt@compostingcouncil.org.