All of our parcels are sent in certified compostable bags, much better for the environment than standard plastic post bags. Pop it in with your food scraps and garden waste, and give the worms a feed.
FAQs
How should I compose my Smitten parcel mail bag?
To compost our mailers at home, remove any labels or stickers. If you're a busy bee and can be trusted with scissors, you can cut the mailer up to hasten the process.
Our bags can also break down in commercial compost. Find a composter near you, or use your green waste bin (ask your local council for one if you haven't already got one). Check that your council allows home compostable items to be included as it's done on a council-by-council basis, for now.
How long will it take to break down?
Our Ecomailers are certified to break down within 180 days in home compost, and 90 days in commercial compost.
What are they made of?
Our compostable shipping mailers are made from a combination of cornstarch, PLA (vegetable-based plastic material) and PBAT (composting co-polymer). If these sound like they'd be great ingredients for a cake, they're not. But the worms love 'em.
Are your mailers certified?
Absolutely. Our mailers are designed and manufactured in strict accordance with Australian standards for degradation and toxicity AS 5810 and AS 4736.
What happens if they end up in landfill?
Even in landfill, our mailers are better than plastic mailers. Because they're made from fully compostable polymer, they'll decompose without leaving behind any toxic residues or microplastics. They also decompose in 2–3 years, as opposed to the 300+ it takes a traditional plastic mailer.
Similar to food scraps or any other organic waste that goes into landfill however, compostable mailers will break down releasing methane if they're put in the landfill. So if you want to do right by the environment, put them in the compost.