London 2012 could be the 'compostable' Olympics

An environmental body hopes that plastic packaging used at the London Olympics that is not recyclable is made from compostable materials.

The NNFCC, the UK’s national centre for bio-renewable energy, fuels, and materials, has signed up to be an advisor to the Olympics Delivery Authority and London Organising Committee for the games on using renewable packaging throughout the event.

The body is helping to create a supply chain for bio-based packaging at London 2012 and will ensure that materials used comply with European Standard EN13432 – the certification requirement for packaging recovery through composting and biodegradation.

The NNFCC said this certification would mean non-reusable, non-recyclable packaging would be suitable for ‘in-vessel’ composting or anerobic digestion.

It said it was promoting the UK certification scheme for compostable materials through its UK Renewable Packaging Group "and raising awareness of the benefits offered by more sustainable materials to key players in the packaging supply chain".

John Williams, NNFCC’s head of materials, said his organisation wanted any plastics used at the Olympics that were not recyclable to be made out of certified compostable plastic.

Williams admitted the scale of the venture would be relatively small but added: “2012 is a perfect way to show how waste can be dealt with.”

The NNFCC said it was working with a number of retail brands, including McDonalds, as the London Olympics strives to live up to claims that it will be the greenest games in the event’s history.