US-based plastic packaging startup Sway has entered a partnership with The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) through the 1% for the Planet network.
Under the arrangement, Sway has named BPI as one of the organisations to receive funding through its 1% for the Planet commitment, which directs 1% of annual sales to environmental groups in the network.
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The startup has been a certified 1% for the Planet Business Member since it was established in 2020.
BPI executive director Rhodes Yepsen commented: “The work that Sway is doing is truly cutting-edge, and its commitment to BPI emphasises the important relationship between innovation that puts our planet first, and the regulations that ensure its value to the planet.
“By engaging early and supporting the systems that uphold compostability standards, Sway is helping strengthen the entire ecosystem and demonstrating what responsible innovation looks like in practice.”
The BPI assesses compostable packaging in North America to confirm that materials meet or surpass ASTM standards and decompose in commercial composting settings without leaving harmful residue.
Its testing covers disintegration, biodegradation and ecotoxicity, along with checks for substances, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals and other chemicals considered potentially hazardous. These requirements are designed to support the production of safe, good-quality compost within a circular waste system.
Sway’s packaging has already received Certified Home & Industrial Compostable status from TUV Austria in Europe. The company said it will now work with BPI to secure its home compatibility certification.
Sway co-founder and CEO Julia Marsh said: “We believe in BPI’s mission and the importance of their certification program, and as Sway grows, we want our success to interlink with the partners and organisations creating real, on-the-ground impact for circularity.
“Becoming BPI-certified is an important milestone on our roadmap, and we’re looking forward to working closely with BPI through this partnership.”
The partners plan to work with lawmakers, waste haulers, and other industry participants on rules intended to help expand the use of certified compostable packaging across the US.
The partnership is intended to show how businesses at different stages can take part in aligned collaborations, support necessary infrastructure and contribute to a move towards compostable, circular packaging systems.
