Initiative natürliche Kreislaufwirtschaft e.V. (INAK) is a Berlin-based association focused on the role of biodegradable and compostable materials in a circular economy. The group says its purpose is to reduce microplastic pollution, close gaps in organic waste management, and keep natural resources in biological cycles through composting and biogas production. It emerged from the former association Verbund kompostierbare Produkte e.V., reflecting a broader shift from a product-specific industry group to a wider platform on circular materials.
INAK brings together companies, waste management firms, certifiers and scientists. Its work is centred on applications where conventional mechanical or chemical recycling is less suitable, especially bio-waste bags, fruit and vegetable stickers, tea bags, coffee pods and uses in agriculture, forestry and horticulture. In these areas, INAK argues that certified compostable materials can be the most ecologically efficient option, provided they are used in the right context and backed by clear standards.
The organisation also places emphasis on research and standard-setting. It supports efforts to make biodegradation norms more robust and verifiable across relevant environments and use cases. A key strand of its messaging is that compostable plastics should not replace recyclable plastics broadly, but should be reserved for applications where collection, separation or recovery is difficult and where leakage into the environment is likely.
INAK is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. According to its website, the association’s chair was Peter Brunk until October 2024, when Carmen Michels took over the chairmanship. Managing Director Katrin Schwede appeared as a key representative at the initiative’s launch event in Berlin. Publicly available material points to a strong German base and an agenda that is increasingly connected to European circular-economy policy debates.