Compostable packaging is widely presented as a sustainable alternative to plastic. But does it solve the core issue?

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, Clare Brass, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Moree, examines why compostables often fail in practice and why recycling cannot keep pace with rising consumption.

“Very often if you switch one material for another material, you’re just putting the problem somewhere else,” she says.

Claire explains how contamination undermines recycling streams, why recycled material degrades in quality, and why disposal systems were never designed to absorb endless growth. “We have to turn off the tap.”

The conversation then turns to reuse. At Moree, Claire works with coffee roasteries to replace single-use one-kilogram bags with reusable five-kilogram vessels, supported by tracking software and clear commercial incentives. Over time, most clients reduce packaging costs while cutting waste and emissions.

The episode explores upfront cost barriers, incumbent business models built on volume, and why start-ups may be better positioned to test alternative systems.

Listen to the full conversation for a detailed examination of what systemic change in packaging really requires.

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