Composting vs. Recycling: What’s More Sustainable for Pet Care Packaging?

At Doglyness, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s woven into everything we do. From sourcing the highest quality organic, vegan ingredients to ensuring our packaging leaves the smallest footprint possible, we’re constantly pushing ourselves to do better for the planet. And that means asking tough questions, like:

Is compostable packaging really more sustainable than recyclable packaging?

At first glance, compostable packaging (especially when made from renewable, plant-based materials) seems like an obvious win. But when you dig deeper, the reality isn’t so simple. Compostable materials often fall short of delivering the environmental benefits we expect. In many cases, recyclable packaging may actually offer a more sustainable solution in terms of durability, end-of-life processing, and long-term resource conservation.

So, let’s break it down. We’ll start with the basics, including what composting and recycling actually are, before diving into the complexities of compostable packaging, the strengths of recyclable materials, and what all of this means for the future of sustainable pet care packaging.

Understanding Composting: More Than Just “Breaking Down”

Composting, at its core, is a natural process. Organic matter such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and certain biodegradable materials decompose over time through the action of microorganisms, heat, and moisture. What’s left at the end of this process is a nutrient-rich material known as compost, which can be used to enrich soils and support plant growth.

Unlike traditional plastics that persist for hundreds of years, compostable packaging, often made from plants like corn, sugarcane, or cellulose, is designed to break down into water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter without leaving harmful residues behind. But there’s a catch. When it comes to packaging, composting isn’t as straightforward as tossing it in your backyard bin and watching it magically disappear. For packaging to truly compost, it typically requires one of two conditions:

1. Industrial Composting

Industrial composting facilities create the perfect conditions for breaking down compostable packaging, which include high temperatures (55°C to 70°C), controlled humidity, and oxygen flow. Under these conditions, compostable materials can decompose efficiently, usually within 180 days.

However, many communities, even in developed countries, do not have the infrastructure to support industrial composting. In the United States, for example, only about 3% of the total population has access to curbside composting programs that accept compostable plastics based on data from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. If a community lacks access to industrial composting, compostable packaging often ends up where it shouldn’t: landfills.

2. Home Composting

Backyard composting might work for food scraps, but it’s far less effective for packaging. The conditions in home compost bins, which include lower temperatures, inconsistent moisture, and limited microbial activity, often aren’t enough to break down compostable packaging. In many cases, these materials take years to degrade (if they ever do), which means they’re often tossed in the trash instead.

What Happens to Compostable Packaging in Landfills?

Landfills are designed to slow decomposition on purpose. They’re built to contain waste safely, preventing leaks and contamination. To do this, they limit exposure to oxygen and moisture, which are essential for natural breakdown. Without oxygen, organic materials like compostable packaging can’t decompose properly. Instead, they break down anaerobically, producing methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO₂.

Unlike in composting facilities, where organic waste turns into nutrient-rich soil, landfills trap materials for decades. Even “biodegradable” plastics often fail to break down, lingering far longer than expected. That’s why where packaging ends up matters just as much as what it’s made of.

This brings us to a fundamental question: If compostable packaging doesn’t compost in a landfill, and industrial composting facilities are scarce, how sustainable is it really?

Recycling: The Circular Solution That Keeps Materials in Play

While composting is a linear process (use it once, then break it down), recycling is circular. It keeps materials in use, reduces demand for virgin resources, and minimizes waste.

But let’s be honest—recycling isn’t perfect either. It requires proper infrastructure, and not all materials are equally recyclable. Some packaging is difficult to process due to mixed materials or contamination. That said, when done right, recycling significantly reduces energy use, emissions, and resource depletion.

Plastics: Diverse Types with Varying Recyclability

Plastics vary widely in their composition and recyclability, each identified by resin codes that signal how (and whether) they can be recycled. As part of our sustainability mission, we're carefully selecting materials that not only serve their function but also align with a circular economy approach.

• PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Commonly used for beverage bottles and food containers, PET is widely recycled. However, recycling rates vary globally, with some countries achieving rates above 50%, while others, like the US, have lower rates. We're currently testing recycled PET (rPET) for our reusable bottles, as it maintains food safety even after recycling.

• HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Found in products like milk jugs and detergent bottles, HDPE is accepted at most recycling centers due to its ease of recycling.

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Used in items like pipes and toys, PVC is generally not recyclable through standard programs.

• LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene): Commonly used in plastic bags and flexible films, LDPE has had limited recyclability. However, we're leveraging advancements in material science by using recyclable mono-material LDPE films for our refill pouches. These are currently in testing, and early results show that they are highly recyclable in many regions.

• PP (Polypropylene): Used for products like yogurt containers and bottle caps, PP recycling is available in some areas but not universally.

• PS (Polystyrene): Found in disposable cutlery and foam packaging, PS is challenging to recycle and often excluded from recycling programs.

• Other (Various Plastics): This category includes plastics like polycarbonate and bioplastics, which are typically not recyclable through standard programs. 

You can find our deep dive on bio-plastics vs. fossil plastics here. 

Aluminum

Aluminum is one of the most sustainable packaging materials, thanks to its unique properties and well-established recycling systems. It stands out because of its:

• Infinite Recyclability: Aluminum can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality.

• Energy Efficiency: Recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy than producing new aluminum from raw materials.

• High Recovery Rates: Approximately 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today, according to International Aluminium. This is possible because aluminum can be recycled infinitely without loss of quality.

For Doglyness, the use of aluminum packaging has been central to our strategy since the beginning, with our Coat Therapy Line packaged entirely in aluminum, along with our Leave-In Cream and our Skin Relief Ointment. However, even aluminum can present some challenges, especially when it comes to our natural product formulations. There is a reason we only use it for a few of our products, and that is because many of our products are incompatible with aluminum, which leads to corrosion inside the jars, which can impact product quality. We are in the process of testing different aluminum options to determine if there is a way to protect the integrity of our products while packaging them sustainably.

What the Science Says: Compostable vs. Recyclable Packaging

A growing body of research has examined the environmental trade-offs between compostable and recyclable packaging. One of the most comprehensive studies, published in Environmental Science & Technology, analyzed 71 Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), looking at how different materials impact the environment across their entire life cycle—from production to disposal.

Here’s what the data shows:

1. Compostable packaging can sometimes have a higher environmental impact

Some bioplastics used in compostable packaging require large amounts of water and land to produce. In fact, the study found that compostable materials scored worse in categories like water consumption and the amount of nutrient pollution in water systems. 

2. Recycling is only beneficial if done properly

Many plastics are technically recyclable, but if they aren’t sorted correctly, or if they’re contaminated with food or other substances, they can end up in landfills instead of being repurposed.

3. Local infrastructure matters

The effectiveness of both composting and recycling depends heavily on what facilities are available in a given area. Without the right composting or recycling systems in place, packaging may not break down as expected, negating its sustainability benefits.

4. Recycling certain materials can significantly reduce environmental impact

Widely recyclable plastics, like PET and HDPE, have established recycling streams that help keep materials in circulation. And recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy required to produce new aluminum from raw materials.

5. No packaging is sustainable if it isn’t disposed of correctly

Whether compostable or recyclable, packaging only fulfills its environmental potential when it is properly processed at the end of its life. Without consumer awareness and proper waste management systems, even the best-intentioned materials can become waste.

What This Means for Sustainable Pet Care Packaging

As a brand committed to leading the pet care industry in sustainable innovation, Doglyness has had firsthand experience with both the promises and pitfalls of compostable packaging. While we have proudly used materials like Veganbottles—made from 100% plant-based, compostable materials—we have also seen the practical challenges they present. These include limited shelf life, performance issues with liquid products, and the lack of industrial composting access for most customers.

As a result, we are actively shifting our packaging strategy to prioritize materials that support a true circular economy. This includes continuing our use of aluminum, exploring widely recyclable mono-material plastics where appropriate, and continuously researching innovative solutions that protect both our products and the planet.

For pet care packaging to be genuinely sustainable, it must balance durability, functionality, and environmental impact, not just in theory, but in the real-world conditions where customers live and dispose of their waste.

In Summary

While compostable packaging plays a valuable role in reducing waste in some contexts, it is not always the most sustainable choice, especially when infrastructure, product performance, and end-of-life outcomes are taken into account. For industries like pet care, where product integrity is crucial and global composting infrastructure remains limited, recyclable materials may be able to offer a more reliable and environmentally effective path forward.

At Doglyness, we are committed to making informed, transparent choices about our packaging and sharing that journey with our community. Together, we can continue to push for solutions that move us closer to a truly circular, sustainable future for pets, people, and the planet.