Compost Manufacturing Alliance - Future Search

FUTURE SEARCH

WHOLE SYSTEM NATIONAL CIRCULARITY INITIATIVE FOR COMPOSTABLES 2023-2025

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPOSTABLES, COMPOSTING FOOD SCRAPS, CIRCULARITY AND THE PLANET Plastic pollution in the environment and initiatives to mitigate climate change impacts are influencing policymaking, solid waste systems, and corporate sustainability goals. As more states in the U.S. consider climate legislation, one of the most critical initiatives is to increase the availability of access to curbside and commercial composting services throughout the country. Over 30% of what is thrown in the landfill by Americans is food scraps. By establishing the option to compost those food scraps in regional programs, there are a multitude of environmental impacts.

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Composting food scraps supports greenhouse gas emissions avoidance by minimizing methane not captured at the landfill.

The compost produced in these programs sequesters carbon in the soil when applied to gardens, landscapes and in carbon farming programs.

Compost provides natural, beneficial nutrients and biology to the soil, and when applied to plant life, minimizes water usage.

Compost is the base of renewable soil amendments used in regenerative rural and urban agriculture.

Applying compost in the environment filters chemicals out and helps keep waterways clean.

Compostable food service packaging serves as the carrier for food scraps from schools, large venues, and dine-in restaurants, which allows the packaging and the food scraps to be transformed into rich, active compost.

Compostable foodservice packaging helps eliminate traditional plastic contamination in solid waste systems and the environment.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTIFIED COMPOSTABLES TO REPLACE TRADITIONAL SINGLE USE ITEMS IN FOOD SERVICE IS A KEY COMPONENT TO A SUCCESSFUL FOOD SCRAP COLLECTION PROGRAM There is a growing gap between initiatives to expand compostables development and use in the supply chain and the solid waste systems they are intended for. These systems operate independently, while the future success of food scrap collection programs requires a strong, collaborative and optimized model of circularity to move all stakeholders forward.

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The History of

COMPOSTABLES Interest in compostable products has grown exponentially over the last two decades as consumers, policy makers and corporations push for more single use packaging that is recyclable and compostable.

The work done to innovate the packaging space is impressive in response, while the solid waste systems intended for the processing of these products continues to face challenges in the collection, visual identification, and processing of compostable materials. In other words, the ability to optimize success in this space is inhibited by disconnected systems across the supply chain and solid waste networks.

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YOUR ORGANIZAT HAS BEEN SELECTED T SUPPORT TH PROCESS, AND THERE URGENCY T Your organization is being specifically invited to join this effort based on your leadership and historical work and contribution to finding solutions and connection between the supply chain or solid waste systems. It is timely and imperative to address the barriers and gaps that are growing between key stakeholders. This work is designed to build a unified vision for composting food scraps with certified compostable plastics within complex systems. Compost manufacturers are dealing with a serious and growing accumulation of plastics coming into their programs from the preponderance of plastics in and around food. In response, more and more facilities are responding to this costly challenge by limiting what compostables they accept, which is having

TION

TO HIS

E IS TO THIS WORK! an impact on the compostables market in major cities.

Concurrently, the development of compostables and the continuing innovation in new compostable materials that foster greater food scrap diversion are entering the market without solid waste systems - which includes composters, integrated into the launch of products in the commercial market.

As the gap between these two industries continues to grow, many of the costs, resources, time, and investments from

all sides of these complex systems are moving towards further disengagement and mistrust. This is affecting the collaborative development of emerging legislation, increasing the options for compostable packaging, and inhibiting food scrap collection. The result is growing a crisis in legitimacy within all sides of the system. The only way forward is to roll up our collective sleeves and create authentic relationships built on trust, and thoughtful assessments and agreements that create a true circular whole system effectively.

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GOA THE

OF THIS PROJECT O

Provide and define an improved circular vision for compostables between the supp

Decrease the barriers for accepting c composting sites by addressing co challenges, as well as food relate

Increase food scrap collection strategies to address climate c plastic pollution in the

TIMEFRAME OF PROJECT

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ALS

EVENT FOLLOW UP & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND ITERATION VIA WORKING GROUP ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES

THREE-DAY FUTURE SEARCH EVENT (TENTATIVELY PLANNED FOR DENVER)

OVERALL ARE TO:

rity model and create a shared ply chain and solid waste systems.

SYSTEMS MAPPING INFORMED BY STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS AND DISCOVERY WORKSHOPS

compostables into industrial ostly collection and process ed plastic contamination.

n to support mitigation change and minimize e environment.

DISCOVERY WORKSHOPS (10)

STEERING COMMITTEE-GUIDED EVENT PLANNING

STEERING COMMITTEE RECRUITMENT AND TEAM FORMATION

TASK I

OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2023

TASK II

NOVEMBER 2023 – SEPTEMBER 2024

TASK III

NOVEMBER 2023 – JUNE 2024

TASK IV

NOVEMBER 2023 JUNE 2024

TASK V

SEPTEMBER 2024

TASK VI OCTOBER 2024 NOVEMBER 2025

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THE FUTURE OF COMPOSTABLES DEPENDS ON SYSTEMS ENGAGEMENT There have been many workshops, conferences, and webinars within supply chain, solid waste, and compost industry associations over the years that bring forth opportunities and issues with compostables, yet solutions remain underdeveloped. As industries, agencies, and policymakers often, without intent, work in silos, sectors remain disconnected to the development of a larger, inclusive system of engagement that accounts for all parts of the broader system.

Solution-oriented leadership is needed to collaboratively

WHO IS BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE?

address system challenges. With that, we are leveraging expertIse in systems transformation and engaging the organizations interested in a real and deep systems change effort.

This is an invitation where the experience of pioneers from all parts of the system come together for a 3-day strategic planning event to create a shared vision and a collective road map toward optimizing the use of compostables to increase food scrap diversion, as well as minimize contamination in compost streams.

YOU.

CMA is leading the charge to invite leaders and innovators from around the world to take part in a system-wide strategic planning process called Future Search to work at the highest levels for real change with a shared vision in a myriad of disconnected sub-systems.

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WHO IS BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE?

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CMA is leading the charge to invite leaders and innovators from around the world to take part in a process called Future Search to work at the highest levels for real change in a complex supply chain and solid waste system.

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WHAT DOES THIS WORK ENTAIL? To promote this effort, the Future Search Leadership Team (FSLT) is working to bring together invited stakeholders to take on this important and exciting work, and the title roles of the project team are shown below.

SUSAN THOMAN

CMA, Project Communications and Outreach Lead

JANET THOMAN

CMA, Organizational Leadership Liaison

ARIELLE SULLIVAN

Conscious Transformation Agents, Systems Change Facilitator

CANDY CASTELLANOS Radiant Consulting, Project Facilitator and Lead Advisor

FUTURE SEARCH LEADERSHIP TEAM (FSLT)

The Future Search Leadership Team has established a list of desired collaborators and participants for this effort. The list of invited organizations is balanced to represent various aspects of the supply chain and solid waste system.

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SPECIFIC TARGETED PARTICIPANTS WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOUR SECTOR GROUP IF YOU TAKE PART IN THE FUTURE SEARCH STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE?

The pioneering spirit and hard work of all stakeholders means that significant investments of time, funds, resources, research, and policy tracking have been expended to continue expanding organics diversion and compostable product programs within all respective areas of the overall system and its many subsystems. In evaluating the need to have a comprehensive working group to engage in this work, the following considerations were developed to address how the whole system is defined, and how this program may benefit the whole system, as well as participating sub-groups in the overall system.

See table on following page for this projected value analysis.

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SUPPLY CHAIN STAKEHOLDERS CATEGORIES SC- Supply Chain SC-Associations SC-Certifiers SC- Big Brands QSR SC-Materials SC-Mfr. SC- Distribution SC-FS Contractor SC- Grocery/Retail/Online SC- Regional QSR

DESCRIPTION This is a category for organizations that make, distribute, or use compostable products or relevant materials These are supply chain related associations that have a focus or interest in the advancement of certified compostable plastics into solid waste systems These are domestic and/or country specific compostable product certifiers These are national quick serve restaurant chains These are organizations that make compostable materials used to manufacture compostable products These are compostable product manufacturers, converters and thermo formers that make certified compostable products for the marketplace These are companies that supply generators with products, and supply the logistics and warehousing of products regionally These are foodservice contractors customarily used to perform all aspects of foodservice at large venues, stadiums, college campuses and events These are stores or online sellers that sell products B to C, and sell directly to individual, private consumers This is a quick serve restaurant or chain that is regional, not national, to an area in the U.S.

VALUE ANALYSIS: SUB-GROUP Associations

BENEFIT VALUE OF BENEFIT Insights on a whole systems Adds more value and knowledge of current systems for approach to compostables staff, increases resources and strategic engagement

for members Certifiers Promotes mutual engagement More effective and harmonized alignment with policy and alignment making and legislative rule implementation and

advising Big Brands Utilization of high-level Allows brands to work with all sides of the system and corporate leaders’ systems and influence, to scale policies and programs in the future. sustainability knowledge Creates space to expand its initiatives with vital

components of the solid waste system Materials and Direct partnership development More successful strategic engagement with planned Manufacturers with solid waste haulers and solid waste initiatives, and more streamlined focus on composting sites cohesive market growth for compostables Distribution More knowledgeable planning Ability to more effectively sell and educate end users position for bringing certified and markets on the opportunities and system needs for products to market successful commercial organics collection programs Food Service Better planning and product Effective program development to add value to Contractors and procurement policies that client’s service, fewer load surcharges and Food Scrap support cleaner feedstocks contamination fees Generators to compost manufacturers Grocery/Retail/ Better platform for educating More knowledgeable generators are sourcing Online consumers on good sustainable appropriate products. practices regarding compostables 14

SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS STAKEHOLDERS CATEGORIES SWS SWS- Agencies

SWS-Associations SWS-Cities SWS-Counties SWS- Compost Mfr. SWS- Non-profits SWS-Special Groups

DESCRIPTION Solid Waste Systems These are government agencies that work within some regulatory or program building capacity related to organics collection These are non-profit industry groups that work to improve and advance solid waste systems and increase organics diversion These are solid waste division staff members and program developers within cities offering organic waste collection and processing These are solid waste division staff members and program developers within counties offering organic waste collection and processing These are private and municipally owned sites that process food scraps commercially and/or residentially within specific regional areas These are industry groups that have some involvement in growing and supporting solid waste systems and compost manufacturing These are groups that have some interest in the development of composting infrastructure and increasing organics diversion from landfills

FUTURE SEARCH STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE SUB-GROUP Agencies/Regulators

BENEFIT Enlightens regulators and government groups on the real challenges within organics diversion programs, and works to develop solutions Cities/Counties Provides whole system information to help inform public and businesses of best management practices to employing compostables Compost Less inbound contamination from Manufacturers traditional plastics

Generators Large venues have better plan (DAPCAP) for its compostables strategy to keep accountability at source Haulers Less contamination in loads

VALUE OF BENEFIT Improvement in policy advising and program development

Cleaner feedstocks at composting sites, lower cost in contamination disposal

Less cost to screen out plastics and other contaminants resulting from product identification issues Fewer load issues with haulers, more streamlined collection, lower contamination fees Fewer load rejections and contamination fees at compost sites

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1 LEADERSHIP THROUGH SHARED INVESTMENT

CMA is promoting a shared funding model to collectively fund this important 2-year effort and launch this process. The goal is to gain commitments from each participating organization in the amount of $4000 (Any deductions form this amount would be determined by sponsorship commitment offsets from sponsors). To acquire financial commitments to begin this process, we are requesting organizations fillout the Future Search Commitment Form included in this link. The link also includes opportunities to share your interest in supporting this effort through sponsorship, involvement in the Steering Committee, or involvement in the Logistics Team.

*Actual venue and food costs will be charged separately for large facility, meals and equipment at an estimated additional rate of $595/person. See event underwriters, next page.

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To address the cost, the leadership team is also promoting interest in the project via a minimum investment model, while also pursuing sponsorship support and/or grant funding by municipalities, sustainability organizations, and agencies that see the value of the development of a shared vision for compostables.

For this reason, the project encourages sponsorship to begin the process of assembling a Steering Committee to guide this project, and a Discovery Process that the leadership team seeks to initiate in November 2023 and that will run into Q2 2024.

For interested parties wanting to play a leadership role through investment, the following page shows additional sponsorship levels for this project. This project fits well into sustainability budgets that may help realize goals related to:

SHARED FUNDING MODEL

• Corporate ESG initiatives • Plastic pollution reduction • Climate change mitigation initiatives • Product stewardship development • EPR planning for future potential compostable packaging inclusion

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SPONSORSHIP 2 OPTIONS

To further help support participant involvement, and to include potential non-profit or governmental groups that may not be able to take part in the shared funding model of $4000 for this two-year project (plus cost of event venue, meals and equipment, at $595/person in attendance.) CMA is promoting/ seeking a full-title sponsor for the entire program, or for various levels of financial sponsorship support to ensure this process launches in a short timeframe. See sponsorship levels listed for the first phase and second phase of this planned project in next section.

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PROJECT INITIATION

Phase I Sponsors # Amount NOV 2023

Platinum 1 $25,000 SEPT 2024

Diamond 2 $10,000 Gold 4 $7500 Silver 8 $5000

Bronze 12 $2500

Supporters 20 $1000

Phase II Sponsors # Amount SEPT 2024

Platinum 1 $25,000 SEPT 2025

Diamond 2 $10,000 Gold 4 $7500 Silver 8 $5000

Bronze 12 $2500

Supporters 20 $1000

EVENT

Event Participants # Underwriters 110

Amount $595

PLEASE HELP THIS WORK GET STARTED BY MAKING A COMMITMENT TO THIS PROCESS BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023!

The Future Search Leadership Team is working diligently to define the participation interest of many organizations being recruited to this BIG effort in change leadership and circularity system improvement.. Please provide feedback on this process through this quick survey. To meet the goals for an event in Q3 2024, work must start now. If you have ideas on how you want to participate and invest in this process, please contact Susan Thoman via email at susan@composterapproved.com. We look forward to collaborating with you with our large network of compost facilities at the base of the process. This is needed for meaningful engagement across the whole system, and we invite you to work with us on this rare and groundbreaking circularity project!

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