Are Compostable Shipping Bags More Expensive Than Plastic?

For many e-commerce brands, a key question regarding Compostable Shipping Bags is whether the cost is significantly higher than that of conventional plastic mailers. Yes, Compostable Shipping Bags generally cost more than conventional polyethylene mailers, but they are only one cost element. The actual cost differential varies depending on materials, order size, certifications, printing, and the regulatory environment where the bags will be used.

Cost Differential Explained

Polyethylene mailers will almost always cost less than compostable mailers due to the large-scale, almost ubiquitous, global production of polyethylene, a mature material. Because of this, conventional mailers will dominate the cost structure, especially for large orders.

Compostable Shipping Bags are also made from one of the several compostable, as well as biobased and biodegradable, polymer blends. Manufacturing these polymers is still relatively specialized and small-scale as compared to polyethylene. Because of this, these materials will also cost more.

Considering bulk orders, conventional plastic mailers will generally cost between a couple of cents and  several cents per mailer, depending on size and order quantity. Certified Compostable Shipping Bags, in general, will cost more, and in many cases, will cost two to three times the cost of basic PE mailers. If the Compostable Shipping Bags are made from thicker materials, are no longer than a small minimum order quantity (MOQ), and require certification for design for home compostability, the cost differential may be greater.

Why Compostable Shipping Bags Cost More

1. Higher Material Costs

Compostable Shipping Bags are more expensive largely due to the structure of the raw materials. Waste management and recycling infrastructures around PE and PP resins have been established and optimized over decades. Compostable polymers require more complicated processing and blending of materials.

PLA is made of renewable resources, like corn or sugarcane, and is more easily composted than PBAT. These resources undergo more processing through the methods of fermentation and polymerization. PBAT infuses flexible, tear resistant qualities, but at a higher cost and complexity than traditional polyolefins. Many Compostable Shipping Bags incorporate these combinations of materials.

2. Certification and Testing

Not all biodegradable bags can truly be termed compostable. To be sold as certified Compostable Shipping Bags, the products must comply with one or more of the recognized standards of ASTM D6400 in the US or EN 13432 in Europe.

These standards require testing and assurance in the areas of biodegradation, disintegration, and chemical and compost safety. Certification also requires a testing and an assurance process, documentation, a license, and a fee for renewal. These costs are reflected in the price of the product. Standard PE mailers do not require the same extent of testing for compostability, and so have a lower cost of compliance.

3. Scale of Production

Plastic mailers are made through methods of printing, extrusion, and sealing, which are all processes that have become highly optimized. Although Compostable Shipping Bags would use the same processes, the materials would require a greater degree of control for the sealing, strength, and shelf life of the materials.

Although the current supply for Compostable Shipping Bags is still focused on the more expensive methods of production, the price gap is shrinking with an increase in production.

4. Customization Requirements

From a branding perspective, many companies opt for compostable shipping bags. There are many customization options available (e.g.  custom logo printing, color matching, etc.) and these options may come at an additional cost.

For packaging buyers, the most practical approach is to compare bags with the same size, thickness, printing area, order quantity, and certification level. A certified custom compostable mailer should not be compared directly with a plain, thin, non-certified plastic mailer.

The D2W Option: A Different Degradable Category

The Eco-Friendly D2W Shipping Mailer belongs to a different category from fully certified Compostable Shipping Bags. D2W mailers are typically made from polyethylene blended with an oxo-biodegradable additive. This additive is intended to promote and support controlled degradation in specific environments.

The D2W mailers are designed to maintain most of the common attributes of conventional poly mailers. This includes, but is not limited to:flexibility, moisture resistance, lightweightness, and ease of printing on the mailers. Because the base material remains polyethylene, the cost profile may be closer to traditional plastic mailers than PLA/PBAT-based Compostable Shipping Bags.

However, it is important to describe D2W accurately. D2W mailers should not be positioned as certified compostable bags unless they have passed the relevant compostability standards. They are better described as degradable or oxo-biodegradable shipping mailers.

Looking Beyond Unit Price

The cost of Compostable Shipping Bags should not be judged only by the unit price. For many brands, the full cost picture includes the cost of compliance, consumer perceptions, waste, and how they will package products in the future.

In countries with plastic taxes, recycled content mandates, or some version of Extended Producer Responsibility, conventional plastic packaging may have cost burdens related to compliance. An example of that is the Plastic Packaging Tax in the UK, which taxes packaging that contains less than 30% recycled plastic. As a result, in some countries the cost of conventional plastic is less.

Brand trust becomes important here. There is a direct correlation for e-commerce brands between the environmental concern shown in the packaging and the Compostable Shipping Bags used.

Are Compostable Shipping Bags Too Costly?

In most circumstances, Compostable Shipping Bags are costlier than the standard plastic mailers, but not in every situation. Cost is highly variable depending on order volume, bag size, number of printing colors, and certification.

For mailers that need to be cost-efficient, the standards of recycled PE mailers or D2W degradable mailers,may be more affordable. For brands wanting to be more environmentally friendly, a certified Compostable Shipping Bag is the best choice.

Ultimately, the best decision will depend on the product and the market, among other things. Packaging buyers need to focus on the compliance, trust, and value of the packaging to determine if the cost of the Compostable Shipping Bags is worth it.

FAQs

Q1: What materials are used for Compostable Shipping Bags?

Shipping Bags can be made from various materials including PBAT, PLA, starch blends, and other compostable materials.

Q2: Are all biodegradable mailers called Compostable Shipping Bags?

While biodegradable and compostable are used interchangeably, they are two distinct terms that describe different processes.

Q3: Do Compostable Shipping Bags have to be certified?

Compostable Shipping Bags can be certified if they meet certain standards, such as ASTM D6400 or EN 13432.

Q4: Is it possible to get Compostable Shipping Bags printed with a logo?

Yes. Many companies provide printing services for custom sizes and colors with logo printing.

Q5: Do Compostable Shipping Bags work for e-commerce shipping?

Yes. Shipping bags are used for shipping lightweight products such as apparel, cosmetics, and accessories.