irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0BPI SUMMIT.
- #2 $0LEGISLATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
BPI Certification Program
Third-party verification program for compostable products, including testing for biodegradation, disintegration, and regulated metals to ensure compliance with commercial and home composting standards.
BPI Summit
Annual event convening industry stakeholders to advance policy, standards, and innovation in the compostable products sector.
Commercial & Home Composting Certification
Two-tiered certification system that validates products for breakdown in commercial facilities and/or home composting environments, with distinct testing protocols and timeframes.
Legislation and Advocacy Program
Initiative to influence policy and regulatory frameworks supporting compostability standards, organic recycling, and sustainable materials management.
Sublicensing Program
Enables private-label use of the BPI Certification Mark by customers of certified manufacturers, with legally binding agreements and unique company identifiers for traceability.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Community Composting & Organic Waste Diversion 2 activities
- Advocate for compostability and biodegradable products policyConducts education and advocacy efforts to promote diversion of organics from landfills and implements policy initiatives such as a phased ban on PFAS in certified products to protect compost integrity.
- Host BPI Summit and educational eventsOrganizes and hosts the BPI Summit and other educational programs to engage stakeholders in compostability and biodegradable products, with documented expenses and revenue from event operations.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Provide capacity-building resources to membersOffers Foundation Members access to a member hub, monthly webinars, committee participation, governance voting rights, and engagement in standards development, research, and certification programs.
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Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 1 activity
- Support composters through microgrants and event sponsorshipsFunds the Composting Microgrants Program to support composters in expanding access and accepting BPI-certified products, and provides sponsorships for composting events such as the US Composting Council’s COMPOST event and the BioCycle Conference.
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Uncategorized 7 activities
- Conduct research on compostable products and certification standardsProduces special reports on organics diversion and the compostable products industry, conducts rigorous testing to ASTM standards, and develops certification schemes that document test methods and requirements for compostability.
- Maintain public catalog of certified compostable productsOperates a publicly accessible, searchable online database listing BPI-certified products and licensees, enabling verification by consumers, composters, and stakeholders.
- Manage recertification and certification modificationsConducts recertification of compostable products every three years and reviews modifications to certified products, including technical evaluation of test data and samples, with defined fees for application and licensing.
- Operate sublicensing program for BPI-certified productsOffers a sublicensing program that allows companies to sell privately labeled BPI-certified products under their own brand, with authorization to display the BPI Certification Mark, and provides sublicense agreements and certification mark files.
- Operate third-party certification program for compostable productsProvides certification for compostable products, components, and resins that meet ASTM standards and eligibility criteria for food and yard waste, including disintegration and biodegradation testing under commercial and home composting conditions. Certification is valid for three years and includes licensing to use the BPI Certification Mark on products and packaging.
- Provide certification guidance to manufacturersOffers technical support and guidance to manufacturers on designing compostable products and selecting appropriate ingredients to meet certification requirements.
- Provide certification mark usage guidance and supportProvides guidelines and alternative versions of the BPI Certification Mark for correct use on products and packaging, including in space-constrained labeling scenarios.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.55M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$3.51M99%
Investment income$31K1%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$3.32M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$1.84M
Grants paid out$51K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.43M
Cash$1.55M
Investments$1.88M
Liabilities$20K
Net assets$3.41M
Liquid reserves12.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +12.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHODES YEPSEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 60 | $196K |
| DANIEL BRETON | MG DIR-BEG 10/24, OPS DIR-END 10/24 | 50 | $146K |
| CLIFTON PASSOW | MARKETING DIRECTOR | 62 | $140K |
| MARGARET ELDRIDGE | CERTIFICATION DIRECTOR | 45 | $114K |
board members · 13
- DEREK ATIKINSON — DIRECTOR
- JEANETTE HANNA — SEC.-BEG 2/24, PRES.-END 1/24
- JUSTEN GARRITY — DIRECTOR
- KEITH EDWARDS — DIRECTOR
- LYNN DYER — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA TASHJIAN — DIRECTOR
- MOUNIR IZALLALEN — DIRECTOR
- PAUL DARBY — DIRECTOR
- PEGGY HOKS — PRES.-BEG 2/24, VP-END 1/24
- RENAUD DES ROSIERS — VP-FINANCE-BEG 2/24
- SHANNON PINC — DIRECTOR, SEC.-END 1/24
- SRIDEVI NARAYAN-SARATHY — DIRECTOR
- WENDELL SIMONSON — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- ASTM Government — BPI's certification program verifies compliance with ASTM standards for compostability.
- BPI Government — Administers the BPI Certification Scheme and License Agreement for compostable products.
- BPI Standards and Procedures Committee Coalition — Committee responsible for maintaining and updating the BPI Compostability Certification Schemes.
- BPI-Approved Lab Partner — Collaborates with approved laboratories to conduct required testing for certification, including disintegration, biodegradation, and chemical analysis.
- BPI-Approved Lab Partner — Collaborates with third-party laboratories approved by BPI to conduct required testing for certification and recertification.
- BioCycle Conference Partner — Sponsored the conference to promote waste management strategies.
- Composters, Government, and Academia Partner — Provides zero-cost membership to ensure representation of downstream stakeholders in BPI committees and governance.
- Composting Council of Canada Partner — Sponsored an event to promote organic recycling.
- DIN CERTCO Partner — Collaborates on laboratory approval to ensure testing is conducted by accredited labs capable of meeting relevant standards.
- DIN CERTCO Partner — Technical reviewer collaborating with BPI and applicants under a Confidential Disclosure Agreement.
- Shelton Group Partner — Collaborates on consumer data related to compostability and sustainability behavior.
- US Composting Council Partner — Served as Diamond Sponsor for COMPOST 2023 event.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Anti-Greenwashing Certification to Protect Market Integritymethodology: anti-greenwashing certificationBy providing a rigorous, third-party certification mark, we distinguish genuinely compostable products from misleading eco-claims, because verified standards prevent greenwashing and strengthen market credibility for sustainable products.
- Chemical Safety and Environmental Protection via Restricted Substancesmethodology: chemical-restriction-protocolBy imposing strict chemical restrictions—such as banning intentionally added PFAS—we ensure certified compostable products do not contaminate soil or compost, because safe biodegradation requires not just physical breakdown but chemical safety.
- Circular Bioeconomy Transition Through Integrated Research, Standards, and Advocacymethodology: circular-bioeconomy-transitionBy combining certification, standards development, research, and policy advocacy, we advance the transition to a circular bioeconomy, because systemic change requires coordinated infrastructure alignment, scientific validation, and stakeholder engagement.
- Science-Based Certification to Ensure Compostability and Build Trustmethodology: science-based certificationBy verifying compostable products against rigorous scientific standards, we ensure they break down properly in composting systems and maintain compost quality, because independent, third-party certification builds trust among manufacturers, composters, and consumers.