FAQ's

Is Earthtwine® compostable or recyclable?
Earthtwine® was developed to be compostable under industrial composting conditions and it is not recyclable and should not be placed into any recycling systems. Recycling centres NZ are not able to process compostable polymers unless they are set up for it because biodegradable plastics can cause disruptions to the existing recycling systems on a chemical level. Also, twine can get tangled in the blades of chipping machines at recycling stations so it should be kept out of these systems.
The standard indoor and outdoor versions of Earthtwine® are developed to be composted under industrial composting conditions. That means that it needs a relatively high heat profile in the compost heap/bin combined with sufficient humidity before it will start to break down. To start the composting process, the internal temperature in the compost heap needs to reach 55 degrees Celsius for it to break down fast and completely. If your compost heap does not quite reach those temperatures, Earthtwine® will still compost, but it will take longer.
We make different types of Earthtwine®, and each of them have different functional specifications. Check the tensile strength (or average breaking load) of the twine before making a choice, but if you are unsure, you are welcome to contact us. A higher breaking load generally means that the twine can support heavier crops and also withstand stronger winds.
Our standard Earthtwine® is white. The green twine was specifically developed for hop growers working very closely with these growers. Our hop twine was specifically designed to handle outdoor environmental demands such as wind gusts, persistent wind and variations in temperature. The green colour is also visually less obtrusive when used in hop yards. Usually the green twine has a higher tensile strength (breaking load) and works well for any outdoor tying.
The raw material that Earthtwine® is made from, is naturally UV stable. Earthtwine® will eventually weaken if exposed to direct sun, but it will only happen after a couple of years.
Earthtwine® will break down into water, CO2 and biomass molecules. Think of biomass as carbohydrates. No harmful residues are left behind and even the colour pigments we use are organic.
We make all our compostable products from proprietary recipes of bio-based raw materials. For most products these materials are sourced from plants such as corn and sugar cane. The additives we use are from minerals or other organic materials that are non-toxic and food safe.
Keep in mind that it is a combination of high humidity and high heat that starts the composting process, so these are the types of conditions that you want to avoid. We recommend that you keep Earthtwine® in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight and high temperatures. Ideally it should be kept below 25 degrees Celsius to ensure that you get the best performance and longevity from the twine.
In the early days of selling Earthtwine® we wrapped the individual spools in plastic wrap. It was the best thing we had available but clearly not ideal so we now make our own compostable wrap. So since 2022 Earthtwine® comes in compostable wrapping on the individual spools – a first for the industry! The wrapping is sturdy to ensure that the spool will collapse, even when you are using the very last little bit and it is thick enough to protect the spool from moisture when used outside.

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