The Improving the Circularity of Compostables + Compost initiative is a 2-year initiative whole system strategic planning and systems change effort focused on engaging pioneers from all parts of the system to come together to create a shared vision and a collective road map toward optimizing the circularity of compostables and compost. This work centers, but is not limited to food-contact compostables.

Circularity for the U.S. composting system means that the intentions of compostability are realized for compostable packaging and organic materials, and that the end products produced are able to be put back into meaningful use.

The planning includes a series of 14 Discovery Workshops that will culminate at a 3-day Future Search strategic planning event September 23-26, 2024, where a microcosm of the U.S. composting industry will work together to create a shared vision and long-term plan for the circularity of compostables and compost. The year following the 3-day event will involve a year-long cross-sector activation of the strategic plan.

A Future Search Steering Committee is guiding this project and is made up of 30 leaders from 26 organizations across the U.S. composting industry and compostables supply chain. Click here to learn more about the background of this work.

Future Search Event Participation Interest Form Sign-up:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFur2F0_1b1VLcPrgoTw1JhaQ28lodzk74O9KU8VW1CCTHrw/viewform

Project Overview (12 min video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpkiLmS7oAQ

Why is this event needed now?

• Inconsistencies exist across the system (policies, labeling, plastic look-alikes, etc.)
• Collective investments from all sides of the system are getting lost in a fragmented system
• Legislation growing around climate change, infrastructure development, and plastic pollution reduction without communication and coordination across the system
• Increase in move away from compostables by compost manufacturers coming from a greater need to manage food-related plastic contamination and non-certified compostables that do not break down

What is this project hoping to achieve?

• Design an inclusive, whole system circularity model for the health of the composting industry that maximizes environmental benefits: enables decarbonization, reduces solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and supports the use of finished compost.
• Improve collaboration and coordination between all stakeholders in the compostables system including policy makers, the supply chain, solid waste systems, and end users.
• Improve information flow between brands, packaging design, point of material sorting, and commercial composting processes for increased value chain effectiveness.
• Identify strategies to direct more food waste to commercial composting facilities that creates value and confidence for all stakeholders in the compostables system.
• Shift stakeholder behavior to mitigate contamination and the cost of contamination linked to non-compostable food-contact packaging.

Building Momentum through 14 Discovery Workshops

A series of 14 Discovery Workshops will take place ahead of the 3-day Future Search event, to begin to build a deeper understanding of the whole, interconnected system impacting compostable packaging. Each workshop will feature a panel of experts who can speak about the opportunities and challenges from where they “sit” in the system. Starting with the piles, the workshops work backwards through the supply chain, solid waste, and regulatory systems. The information generated from these workshops will feed into the strategic planning process. Anyone can register for the Discovery Workshops - they are free and open to all interested parties. Each 90-minute workshop is recorded and available on the project’s YouTube channel.

Project YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@ImprovingtheCircularity

FAQ:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Otlhq6kCzwBH37WRMLAcgB9CH0OUjGXy/

Discovery Workshop RSVP Sign-up:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScB12TpIeHcJVoXjmi2sZnjJv1gFzVMI_7wb6j4pNgLthd5Kw/viewform

What is Future Search?

This Initiative is using a “whole system” strategic planning model called Future Search, which has been used nationally and internationally for complex systems change work. It focuses on generating alignment and collaboration in large, dynamic systems. The Future Search event is a facilitated 3-day large group meeting where participants actively co-create a strategic plan together based on common ground and an emphasis on a preferred future that uplifts the health of the U.S. composting system for all. The events will be held September 23-26th, 2024 at the Colorado History Museum in Denver, CO.