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When evaluating the environmental impact of the products a business offers, it’s essential to consider the production stage, the use stage, and the end-of-life stage. Compostability is one of the best strategies for managing a product’s end-of-life. There are many specific requirements to enable a product to be compostable; in this post, let’s take a look at the various commonly accepted compostability certifications in the EU and US.

While compostable packaging certifications aren’t universally mandatory, the most significant benefit of getting your product certified is having an authoritative body back your claims of compostability. This fosters consumer trust and brand loyalty. In the market, many companies and brands take advantage of environmentally conscious consumers by making false or misleading claims, a practice known as greenwashing.

The most common standards are EN 13432 (EU) and ASTM D6400 (US). Both standards are suitable for industrial (commercial) composting. Certifications from TÜV Austria are commonly accepted in the EU/UK markets, while BPI certification is preferred in the US market.

OK Compost Home certification from TÜV Austria is the most recognized certification for home compostable plastics.

Below is a chart listing the compostability certifications:

Certification	Region	Standard	Key Criteria
OK Compost Industrial	Global	EN 13432	– Suitable for industrial composting – Biodegradation: ≥ 90% within 6 months – No toxic residues
OK Compost Home	Global	TÜV Austria standard*	– Suitable for home composting – Biodegradation: ≥ 90% within 12 months – Disintegration: ≤ 10% of the original dry weight remaining after 6 months – No toxic residues
OK Biodegradable Soil	Global	TÜV Austria standard	– Suitable for biodegradation in soil – Biodegradation within 24 months – No toxic residues
OK Biodegradable Water	Global	TÜV Austria standard	– Suitable for biodegradation in water – Biodegradation within 56 days in freshwater – No toxic residues
OK Biodegradable Marine	Global	TÜV Austria standard	– Suitable for biodegradation in marine environments – Biodegradation within 60 days in marine environments – No toxic residues
EN 13432	EU, UK	EN 13432	– Specific to packaging materials – Biodegradation: ≥ 90% within 6 months – Disintegration: ≥ 90% within 12 weeks – No toxic residues – Suitable for industrial composting
EN 14995	EU, UK	EN 14995	– Similar to EN 13432, but applies to all plastics, not just packaging – Biodegradation: ≥ 90% within 6 months – No toxic residues – Suitable for industrial composting
ASTM D6400	US	ASTM D6400	– Biodegradation: ≥ 60% within 180 days – Disintegration: ≥ 90% within 84 days – No toxic residues – Suitable for industrial composting
BPI Certification	US	ASTM D6400 or D6868	– Third-party verification – Compliance with ASTM standards – Suitable for industrial composting

Businesses should ensure their products and packaging materials aim to minimize environmental impact, helping to reduce waste and support sustainable practices. Even if obtaining certifications imposes a significant financial burden, there is still value in adhering to the requirements set by these certifications and applying them to your products. By clearly communicating and being transparent with consumers about the materials and processes involved in producing your product, you can still win the trust and loyalty of eco-conscious consumers.

For more detailed information on each certification, please refer to the respective certification bodies such as TÜV Austria, BPI, and European Bioplastics.