Compostable or biodegradable: two very different promises
“Biodegradable” packaging eventually breaks down through the action of microorganisms. The term specifies neither the timeframe nor the conditions, nor what remains at the end. Compostable packaging makes a stronger commitment. It must turn into compost within a defined timeframe, without leaving fragments or substances harmful to the soil.
In France, the AGEC law has prohibited the use of the term “biodegradable” on a product or packaging since 1 January 2022. The term “compostable” remains authorised, but is regulated for plastics. Plastic packaging that is only compostable in an industrial facility cannot claim this, and all compostable plastic packaging must bear the warning “Do not litter.”
OK compost HOME: what the label verifies
Home compost is much cooler and less consistent than an industrial facility, where the material reaches 55–60°C. The OK compost HOME label, created in 2003 and now issued by the certification body TÜV AUSTRIA, is designed precisely to prove that a material breaks down under these less favourable conditions—those in your garden. According to TÜV AUSTRIA, its specifications subsequently inspired the standards adopted in Australia, France, and Europe. To obtain it, a material must pass four tests.
Biodegradation: 90% in 12 months maximum
At least 90% of the material must be broken down by microorganisms, in 12 months maximum, at a temperature maintained between 20 and 30°C throughout the test.
Disintegration: 90% in 6 months maximum
Within the same temperature range, at least 90% of the material must have disintegrated in 6 months maximum.
Ecotoxicity: compost with no effect on plants
The material is composted at 10% of the wet weight of the mixture. The resulting compost must not harm plant growth.
Heavy metals: controlled levels
Mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, and zinc are tested in the material’s components. Their levels must remain below the thresholds set by the standard.
Industrial or domestic: why the distinction matters
The OK compost INDUSTRIAL label certifies compostability in an industrial facility at 55–60°C. TÜV AUSTRIA specifies that these products have no place in home compost, which is too cool to break them down properly.
The reverse is no problem. A material compostable at home is also compostable in an industrial facility. Of the two levels, HOME is therefore the more demanding, and the one that leaves the choice of disposal method to you.
Martinet & Hirondelle, the Breton cardboard box maker behind our boxes
Martinet & Hirondelle has been making premium cardboard boxes and cases for over 30 years in Saint-Martin-sur-Oust, in the Morbihan. This company in the Firopa group works notably for perfumery, cosmetics, laboratories, and fine foods, with its own design office and offset and digital printing workshops.
Its boxes are OK compost HOME certified by TÜV. The company presents them as the first boxes compostable at home. For its president, Denis François-Rio, this certification “highlights a long period of internal research.”
Its general manager, Lydia Bienvenu, explains that it was necessary to “develop the right combination” of available components.
Each element of the box must meet the certification. The cardboard is “pure cellulose” from Stora Enso, the inks are water-based and plant-derived, and the varnishes and glues must also meet TÜV’s criteria.
The deep blue of our boxes comes from this vegetable ink.
The boxes come off the press as flat sheets, which are then cut, folded, and glued. The company summarises the approach as follows: “Visually, nothing changes, but in practical terms, it changes everything.”
Why we chose them
The box is often the first thing thrown away after purchase. For skincare formulated with Breton marine actives, we wanted it to be able to end up in the compost, not just in the recycling bin. Four criteria guided our choice.
- Independent proof. OK compost HOME is based on tests with quantified results verified by a third-party organisation, not on an in-house promise.
- The highest level of certification. Compostable both in the garden and in an industrial facility, the box does not depend on any specialised disposal method.
- Made in Brittany. Our boxes are produced in the Morbihan, the region where the marine actives in our skincare come from.
- Monitored quality. Martinet & Hirondelle is ISO 9001 certified and assessed by EcoVadis, and its boxes retain the finish of premium packaging.
Thaléïs is the first brand in France to package its skincare in these home-compostable boxes. They now accompany Élixir Visage N°1 and Crème Visage N°2. The OK compost HOME logo appears on them with the TÜV AUSTRIA certificate number, S3174.
The downside: a box more sensitive to light
Compostable packaging forgoes certain finishes. At Martinet & Hirondelle, hot foil stamping and heavy ink loads fall outside the scope of the certification. These constraints leave less room for the usual protections of printed boxes. Prolonged exposure to the sun could therefore, over time, cause the colours of the box to fade.
We have not observed this to date. We still prefer to tell you about it, because it is a trade-off we have consciously made. A box slightly less resistant to UV rays, in exchange for packaging compostable even in your garden.
The useful action is simple. Store your skincare away from direct light, away from the windowsill. The box, moreover, reminds you in writing: “Limit prolonged exposure of the product to heat and light.”
What to do with your box once empty?
You have two options, both equally valid.
- In the compost. Tear the box into small pieces and mix them with dry materials (dead leaves, twigs). The smaller the pieces, the faster the decomposition progresses. Martinet & Hirondelle states that the box breaks down in under 180 days in a home compost. The actual duration varies depending on humidity, aeration, and the season.
- In the recycling bin. Without a composter, the box goes into the packaging recycling bin, as indicated by the pictogram printed on it.
Only the box is compostable. The dropper, bottle, or jar follows the recycling instructions printed on the box. In any case, never discard it outdoors: a ditch or woodland does not meet the conditions of a compost.