Is Wax Paper Compostable? An In-depth Analysis

In the past few years, the issue of climate change has aggravated. People have a huge concern about these changing conditions and to combat this are making deliberate attempts to reduce waste and invest in sustainable products. The growing concern about environmentally friendly choices is also prevalent in the packaging and storage material of food. One of the common household items that is questioned in this regard is whether wax paper compostable or not. 

Custom wax paper is an excellent alternative to cling paper and provides a relatively stable solution for food wrapping. Nonetheless, due to the coating of wax on the surface, there is a huge concern that can wax paper be composted. Let’s read the article and know the facts! 

What Does Compostability Mean? 

Before getting the answer to the question is wax compostable, the first thing that we must know is the basic understanding of the concept of compostability. Generally, the word composting is the ability of any material to break down or decompose into constituent elements such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass within a reasonable time frame under a composting environment. It is also necessary that the composting material or product does not leave any toxic or hazardous elements. This material enriches the soil and supports plant growth. 

Understanding The Composition Of Wax Paper 

Wax paper for food is a custom wrap that is coated on both sides with a thin layer of wax. Due to this coating, this paper can withstand moisture and grease. From wrapping foods to lining baking trays, and serving fast food, this paper is a marvelous choice. 

Owing to the application of wax coatings this custom food wrapping paper has come under scrutiny. It has been a go-to kitchen choice for ages, but the wax coating makes its sustainable nature suspicious. So to understand if you can compost wax paper you must first understand the composition of the paper that gives it its unique characteristics. 

Petroleum-Based Wax Paper

Paraffin is not compostable as it is a non-renewable energy resource. If you burn the paper then this will release harmful fumes that are lethal for humans as well as the environmental health. 

Beeswax Or Soy Wax Paper

On the contrary, customized wax paper coated with beeswax or soy wax is compostable. These waxes are organic and sustainable so can decompose easily without leaving any hazardous products. Nonetheless, due to the complex structure of wax, the decomposition will still take time. 

Is Wax Paper Compostable? Factors to Consider

The base material of all the different types of wax-coated papers is kraft paper. This shows that the coating is the major factor on which the composting depends. Apart from coating, some other factors also impact the process of coatings. When it comes to coatings there are two major types we can conclude is wax paper biodegradable or not: 

• Petroleum-based coatings are un-compostable
• Natural and Biodegradable Waxes are compostable 

Composting Conditions

Even if you are using biodegradable coatings, wax paper for restaurants requires specific conditions specifically for soy-based wax and it has dense properties. Industrial conditions provide high temperatures and consistent moisture that make composting easy and fast. So the answer to the question is waxed paper compostable or not is simply that the type of coating and the prevailing conditions decide the compostability of the paper. 3 factors that you must have to consider for maximum and efficient composting are: 

• Temperature: High temperature is effective for the composting of paper (between 135°F and 160°F). 
• Aeration: Continuous aeration is necessary to accelerate the process of decomposition. 
• Layering: Mixing the compostable paper with “green compost” like vegetable scrap is necessary. 

For composting the paper, you can follow the below-mentioned steps:

Steps To Follow For The Composting Of Paper 

For the compositing of paper, you need to follow certain steps that will make your process fast and efficient. If you chronologically follow the steps then the concept of composting will be efficient such as: 

Coating Type

The first necessary thing to know is the type of coating applied to the paper. If the paper is coated with bees or soy-based wax then you can go to the next step, on the other hand it is of no use to spend time in composting.    

Cut Into Smaller Pieces

Cut the paper into smaller pieces if it’s coated with biodegradable coatings. The cutting of paper into smaller sizes makes the computing process fast. 

Add to Compost Pile

Place the paper in a compatible pile with other compostable kitchen waste. It is better to mix the paper with high nitrogen-based products such as fruit peel, grass clippings, etc. because nitrogen makes the decomposition process easy. 

Maintain Compost Conditions

Make sure that the composted pile that you have collected is moist and under high heat. These two conditions aid in the composting and make decomposition effective.                               

Monitor the Compost

To make sure that the process of composting is continued or not, periodically check the compost file as the wax-coated compostable paper takes a little longer to break down so you need to be patient. 

Conclusion

The comfortable nature of wax paper sheets depends upon the coatings that you select. If you want to use sustainable wraps then it is better to use bees or soy-based wax and after the use compost them under the specified conditions in the blog. If you are looking for economical and compostable options of custom wax paper, then you can contact Waxpapers and avail the best options with personalized specifications.