Stella McCartney adopts 100% compostable packaging from Tipa

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Sep 29, 2017

As part of its commitment to sustainability, British brand Stella McCartney plans to convert all industrial cast film packaging into a type of bio-plastic that breaks down into compost.

The bio-plastic has been developed by sustainable packaging specialist Tipa, and offers the same properties as conventional plastic packaging, but with an end of life solution that enables the packaging to safely biodegrade into compost.

To celebrate the innovation, Stella McCartney made the envelopes for the invitations to its upcoming Summer 2018 fashion show on 2 October using the bio-based compostable material.

The initiative will help the brand address the issue of plastic waste, as it takes over hundreds of years for conventional plastic to breakdown. Brands contribute to the problem by continuing to use plastic for packaging, as figures reveal that out of the nearly 300 million tons of plastic produced every year, half is for single use. 

“As a vegetarian brand that never uses leather, fur, skins or feather in any products for both ethical and environmental reasons, Stella McCartney has made a firm commitment to being a responsible and modern company. By working with TIPA, Stella McCartney continues to turn this pledge of sustainability into solutions,” said the brand.

The Tipa plastic is made with fully compostable polymers, which break down to small pieces that are then eaten by bacteria that allow for natural recycling. This means the packaging can be disposed along with organic waste, returning to nature with no harmful impact on the environment.