We’re having a hard time finding a home for a lot of our trash.

Between 56.4 million tons of paper and 8.4 million tons of plastic waste, the European Union found itself in a tight spot after 2016 as the exportation of those materials to China drastically decreased with new laws that placed strict restrictions on 24 types of waste. In response, the EU has made a series of changes including a union-wide ban on single-use plastics by 2021.

But it’s not just countries and brands that are seeking out solutions. In recent years, designers are stepping into the realm of biodegradable and fully compostable materials for packaging.