Real-world examples of companies using biodegradable plastics

Standout examples of companies using biodegradable plastics in 2024–2025

Let’s start with the real-world, on-the-shelf examples of companies using biodegradable plastics instead of conventional petroleum-based packaging. These are not lab prototypes; they’re products you can actually buy or pilot projects that are already in the market.

Food and beverage: Some of the best examples in consumer packaging

In food and beverage, packaging is often single‑use and short‑lived, which makes it a prime target for biodegradable plastics. A few of the best examples of companies using biodegradable plastics today:

PepsiCo and compostable snack packaging
PepsiCo has been running large‑scale trials of compostable snack bags under its Frito‑Lay and Off The Eaten Path brands. These bags use plant‑based, industrially compostable films. In 2023–2024, PepsiCo expanded pilots in North America and Europe, testing how these biodegradable plastics perform in real supply chains and composting systems.

Why it matters: snack bags are notoriously hard to recycle because of their multilayer structure. Moving them to certified compostable materials, where composting infrastructure exists, can divert significant tonnage from landfills.

Nestlé and paper–bioplastic hybrids
Nestlé has been experimenting with paper-based packaging that incorporates thin layers of bioplastics for moisture and oxygen barriers. For example, certain YES! snack bars and some coffee products in Europe have used these paper‑plus‑bioplastic wrappers designed to be recyclable as paper or compostable, depending on the market.

This is a good example of companies using biodegradable plastics not as a silver bullet, but as part of a broader packaging redesign that also reduces material use and improves recyclability.

Danone and PLA yogurt packaging trials
Danone has tested PLA (polylactic acid, a plant‑based biodegradable plastic) cups and films for dairy products in select markets. PLA can be industrially compostable under the right conditions and is made from renewable resources like corn or sugarcane. While not rolled out everywhere, these pilots are important real examples of big food companies exploring compostable alternatives.

E‑commerce and shipping: Real examples beyond the cardboard box

Online retail has a packaging problem: lots of plastic mailers, air pillows, and bubble wrap. Some of the most interesting examples of companies using biodegradable plastics are coming from the e‑commerce and logistics space.

Amazon and compostable mailer pilots
Amazon has tested biodegradable and compostable mailers in select regions, particularly for grocery and fresh delivery services. Some of these mailers use starch‑based or PLA‑based films designed to break down in industrial composting facilities.

While Amazon’s global footprint is still dominated by conventional plastic and paper, these pilots are important examples of how large logistics networks can integrate biodegradable plastics where collection and composting are available.

Noissue and plant‑based mailers for small brands
Noissue, a packaging supplier used by thousands of small e‑commerce brands, offers compostable mailers made from a blend of corn‑based bioplastics and PBAT (a fossil‑based but biodegradable polymer). These mailers are certified to standards like EN 13432 and are designed for home or industrial composting, depending on the product line.

This is one of the best examples of companies using biodegradable plastics as a service: Noissue enables many small businesses to switch to compostable mailers without having to engineer their own materials.

LimeLoop and reusable + compostable hybrids
LimeLoop focuses on reusable mailers, but some of its partners are experimenting with biodegradable inserts and packaging components. It’s a good example of how biodegradable plastics can complement reuse models instead of replacing them.

Retail and consumer products: Everyday items with biodegradable plastics

Beyond food and shipping, a growing number of consumer brands provide real examples of companies using biodegradable plastics in products you handle daily.

Dell and plant‑based cushioning materials
Dell has long been a leader in alternative packaging materials, including molded pulp and mushroom‑based packaging. In some regions, Dell has used starch‑based biodegradable plastics for cushioning and protective films. These materials are designed to break down more readily than expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) and can sometimes be composted, depending on local facilities.

IKEA and biodegradable alternatives to foam
IKEA has been phasing out polystyrene foam in favor of renewable and biodegradable materials, including molded pulp and plant‑based foams. While not all of these are technically “biodegradable plastics,” several pilot programs have used bio‑based polymers that break down faster than conventional plastics.

This is a strong example of companies using biodegradable plastics alongside other bio‑materials to reduce fossil‑based content in packaging.

Blueland and dissolvable cleaning refills
Blueland sells cleaning products in tablet form with minimal packaging. Some of their products use water‑soluble films made from PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) or similar materials that dissolve in water and can biodegrade under the right conditions. While there is ongoing debate about the environmental impact of PVA, this is still an important example of companies using biodegradable plastics to rethink product formats entirely.

Fashion and textiles: Biodegradable plastics in clothing and accessories

Fashion is awash in synthetic fibers that shed microplastics. Some of the most promising examples of companies using biodegradable plastics are happening in textiles and packaging for apparel.

Adidas and bio-based performance materials
Adidas has collaborated with material innovators to create shoes and apparel that use bio‑based and biodegradable components, including experiments with biodegradable midsoles and upper materials. While not every product is fully biodegradable, these are meaningful real examples of major brands testing biodegradable plastics at scale.

Stella McCartney and bioplastic collaborations
Stella McCartney has partnered with companies developing bio‑based and biodegradable alternatives to traditional synthetics, such as bio‑based TPU and other polymers. These projects often focus on reducing fossil fuel use and improving end‑of‑life options, including biodegradation or composting.

Pangaia and bio‑based fibers
Pangaia has launched materials that blend natural fibers with bio‑based polymers designed to biodegrade faster than conventional polyester. These are early‑stage but important examples of companies using biodegradable plastics in fashion, where microplastic pollution is a major concern.

Startups built around biodegradable plastics

Some of the best examples of companies using biodegradable plastics are startups whose entire business model depends on them. These companies are worth watching because they tend to push the technology and the standards forward.

NatureWorks (Ingeo PLA)
NatureWorks is a leading producer of PLA bioplastic under the Ingeo brand. While NatureWorks itself is a materials company, its PLA is used by thousands of manufacturers worldwide for cups, food containers, films, and fibers that are industrially compostable. This is a textbook example of companies using biodegradable plastics at the material supply level, enabling others to create compostable products.

Novamont (Mater‑Bi)
Novamont’s Mater‑Bi is a family of starch‑based biodegradable plastics widely used for compostable shopping bags, produce bags, and food waste liners, especially in Europe. Supermarkets that offer certified compostable produce bags are often using Mater‑Bi or similar materials.

This is one of the clearest real examples of companies using biodegradable plastics to support organics collection systems: the bags themselves can go into industrial composting with the food scraps.

Loliware and seaweed‑based bioplastics
Loliware started with edible, seaweed‑based cups and has since expanded into seaweed‑derived bioplastics designed to replace single‑use plastics like straws and utensils. Their materials are designed to be marine‑biodegradable, addressing plastic pollution in oceans more directly than many land‑focused biodegradable plastics.

How to judge these examples of companies using biodegradable plastics

All these case studies sound promising, but not every example of biodegradable plastic use is automatically better for the planet. When you look at examples of companies using biodegradable plastics, there are a few questions worth asking:

1. Where does it actually biodegrade?
Many bioplastics only break down in industrial composting facilities with high temperatures and controlled conditions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), industrial composting is still limited in many regions, and not all facilities accept compostable plastics at all. You can explore their materials on composting and organics recycling here: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

If a “compostable” package ends up in a landfill or the ocean, it may persist far longer than consumers expect.

2. Is it certified to a recognized standard?
Serious examples of companies using biodegradable plastics usually involve third‑party certifications, such as:

• ASTM D6400 (for plastics designed to be composted in municipal or industrial facilities in the U.S.)
• EN 13432 (European standard for industrial compostability)

Organizations like the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certify products to these standards: https://bpiworld.org

If a brand can’t point to any certification, be skeptical.

3. What happens in your local system?
The best examples of companies using biodegradable plastics consider real infrastructure. A compostable mailer is only helpful if:

• Your city has an organics collection program, and
• The composting facility accepts certified compostable plastics.

Otherwise, that mailer is just another piece of trash, even if it’s technically an example of a biodegradable plastic.

4. What’s the full life‑cycle impact?
Biodegradable doesn’t automatically mean low‑impact. You still need to consider:

• Land use for crops (corn, sugarcane) used to make PLA and other bioplastics
• Fertilizer and pesticide use
• Energy used in manufacturing

Life‑cycle assessments (LCAs) from universities and research institutes can help here. For example, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and various academic groups publish LCAs on bioplastics and conventional plastics. You can browse some research starting from the U.S. Department of Energy’s site: https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/advanced-manufacturing-office

Why these examples matter for policy and consumer behavior

These real examples of companies using biodegradable plastics are shaping policy conversations. Cities and states that ban certain single‑use plastics often create carve‑outs for certified compostable items, especially for food service. That in turn encourages more companies to test biodegradable plastics.

At the same time, regulators are increasingly wary of vague “biodegradable” claims. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides warn against unqualified biodegradability claims unless products fully break down in a reasonably short time in typical disposal environments. You can read the FTC’s guidance here: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/green-guides

So when you see examples of companies using biodegradable plastics on packaging or in marketing, it’s worth checking whether the claims line up with:

• Clear disposal instructions (e.g., “commercially compostable only”)
• Certifications (ASTM, EN standards, BPI, etc.)
• Local infrastructure that can actually handle the material

How businesses can learn from the best examples

If you’re a business looking for examples of companies using biodegradable plastics as a model, a few patterns stand out:

• Start with the right product category. The best examples focus on items that are hard to recycle and heavily contaminated with food (e.g., compostable food service ware, snack bags) or where contamination is inevitable (produce bags used for food scraps).
• Pair materials with systems. Companies like Novamont work directly with municipalities and composters. That system‑level thinking is why their bags are among the most cited real examples of successful biodegradable plastics in practice.
• Communicate clearly. The strongest examples of companies using biodegradable plastics put disposal instructions front and center: where to compost, what certifications apply, and what not to do (like tossing compostable plastic in the recycling bin).
• Pilot, measure, then scale. PepsiCo, Nestlé, Amazon, and others are not flipping everything to biodegradable overnight. They run pilots, measure contamination rates and consumer behavior, and only then decide whether to expand.

FAQ: Common questions about real examples of biodegradable plastic use

What are some well-known examples of companies using biodegradable plastics?
Well‑known examples include PepsiCo’s compostable snack bags, Nestlé’s paper‑and‑bioplastic wrappers, Amazon’s compostable mailer pilots, Dell’s plant‑based cushioning, and supermarkets using Novamont’s Mater‑Bi compostable produce bags. These are widely cited real examples of companies using biodegradable plastics in mainstream products.

Can you give an example of biodegradable plastic used in fashion?
Yes. Brands like Adidas and Stella McCartney have worked with material innovators to incorporate bio‑based and biodegradable plastics into shoes and apparel components. Pangaia has experimented with bio‑based fibers that biodegrade faster than conventional synthetics. These are still emerging, but they are concrete examples of companies using biodegradable plastics in textiles.

Are all examples of biodegradable plastics actually better for the environment?
Not automatically. The environmental benefit depends on where and how the material is disposed of, whether it’s certified to standards like ASTM D6400 or EN 13432, and its full life‑cycle footprint. A compostable cup that ends up in a landfill may not perform much better than a conventional plastic cup.

What should I look for when a company claims its packaging is biodegradable?
Look for:

• Specific standards (ASTM D6400, EN 13432)
• Certifications from organizations like BPI
• Clear instructions such as “commercially compostable only” or “home compostable”

If the packaging just says “biodegradable” with no context, that’s a red flag, even if the brand points to examples of other companies using biodegradable plastics.

Where can I learn more about biodegradable plastics and composting?
Authoritative sources include:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on composting and organics: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
• Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) on certifications: https://bpiworld.org
• U.S. Department of Energy resources on bio‑based materials: https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bio-based-products

These sources provide context that helps you interpret marketing claims and better understand the real‑world impact of the many examples of companies using biodegradable plastics.