Brand Rating:

Matter

Conscious

8/10

Score 8/10

The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:

Certifications

BPI compostable certified

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Rated: October 15, 2025
Category: Home
Subcategory: General Household

Overview:

Sustainability 7.0/10

Non-toxicity 10.0/10

Matter makes compostable alternatives for common single-use plastic items like cutlery and tableware.

Highlights

• 100% compostable products (mixed home compostable & industrial compostable only)

• Plant-based materials and upcycling

• Toxin-free

Sustainability

score : 7.0/10

Packaging

Matter does not publicly disclose details about its product packaging or shipping materials. There is no specific information on whether the retail packaging for its cutlery or tableware is made from recycled or compostable materials.

Ingredient Sustainability

Matter's products score high on material sustainability by replacing conventional plastic with plant-based inputs. The disposable forks, knives, plates, cups, etc. are made from natural, renewable fibers and biopolymer resins derived from plants. The brand uses agricultural waste (such as crop by-products) as its raw material instead of wood pulp from trees, which reduces strain on forests. Matter avoids potentially unsustainable additives like petroleum-based coatings or toxic chemicals that would impede biodegradability.

Energy Use and Footprint

Matter claims an “eco-smart” manufacturing process focused on efficiency. According to the company, producing its plant-based products uses far less energy than conventional plastic production, which contributes to a smaller carbon footprint throughout each product's lifecycle. However, quantitative details are not provided and the brand does not publish data on its factories' energy sources or emissions. There is also no mention of renewable energy usage or carbon-neutral shipping practices.

Waste Management

Waste management is at the core of Matter's mission, as the products themselves are the solution to waste caused by single-use plastics. All Matter items are designed to compost at end-of-life instead of accumulating in landfills. However, many of Matter's products are industrially compostable – it needs to go to a commercial compost facility to fully biodegrade. This means impact is positive where composting is available and consumers participate. There is no public information on how Matter handles manufacturing waste.

Business Model

Matter operates as a mainstream consumer goods brand with a sustainability ethos. Staple items are intended for evergreen availability.

Non-toxicity

score : 10.0/10

Matter explicitly assures that no toxic substances are present in the material makeup. All Matter products are certified as non-toxic for everyday use. This means the biopolymers and fibers contain no added chemicals that could harm human health or the environment. For instance, Matter's latest compostable cup release was confirmed to contain zero conventional plastic, no PFAS, and no BPA (PFAS are often used in disposable foodware for grease resistance but are linked to health and environmental hazards). Additionally, the materials meet food safety standards – they are noted as FDA approved for food contact and free of heavy metals.