This document provides an overview of biodegradation standards and certifications. It discusses that biodegradation is important for managing waste production but the term is misleading without specifying the environment and rate. The key standard is EN13432 which evaluates compostability by testing biodegradation in compost, disintegration, heavy metals, and ecotoxicity. Certification according to standards like EN13432 provides verification of material performance and allows products to be easily recognized in the market. The new global reference standard is ISO17088 which is compatible with European standards.

1. An overview on biodegradation:
standards and certifications
Fernanda Farachi and Francesco Degli Innocenti
NOVAMONT S.p.A.
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2. What is biodegradation?
Why is biodegradation ‘‘important’’ today?
Which materials/products are
‘‘biodegradable’’?
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3. everything is ““biodegradable””!
•• the organic carbon of any substance, after a
series of degradation processes, more or less
extreme and more or less prolonged, can be
oxidized into carbon dioxide through
microbial respiration.
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4. The term ““biodegradable”” can be
misleading
In spite of its very large use (and abuse), the term
biodegradable is not helpful because it is not
informative. The term does not convey any
information about the specific environment
where the biodegradation is supposed to happen,
the rate which will regulate the process (fast,
slow, geological), and the extent of
biodegradation (partial or total conversion into
CO2).
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5. Why is biodegradation important?
•• The impact of polymers on our current society, having a
degradation time of decades and decades is different from
the impact of polymers degrading with a rate compatible
with the input rate in the environment.
•• The key factor, in waste management, is the rate of waste
production which, nowadays, is very high.
•• The vast diffusion of plastics in the society can only be
solved by a ““removal rate”” which is similar to the
““production rate””.
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6. The solution!
•• Biodegradation can be a solution to the problem
of waste production and management……..
•• ……on condition that ‘‘biodegradation’’ is defined
and verified in a ‘‘standard way’’, suitable to the
current needs in the environmental area!
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7. Need for standardisation
•• Biodegradable materials and products have been
on the market since 15-20years.
•• During this period there has been a great effort for
the development of :
–– Testing procedures able to generate reliable,
reproducible and quantitative experimental
results.
–– Accepted evaluation criteria: standards
in order to allow the transparency of the
evaluation process and to avoid claims based on
qualitative elements.
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8. Available standards
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9. The European norm
•• EN13432 Requirements for packaging recoverable
through composting and biodegradation- Test
scheme and evaluation criteria for the final
acceptance of packaging.
•• EN14995 Plastics - Evaluation of compostability -
Test scheme and specifications
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10. Starting point
•• Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994
on packaging and packaging waste
•• (Official Journal L 365 , 31/12/1994 p. 0010 –– 0023)
•• http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/dat/1994/en_394L0062.html
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11. Final point
•• EN 13432:2000
•• Mentioned by the Official Journal of the
European Communities L 190 12/07/2001
P.0021-0023 (Harmonised norm)
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12. Technical content of EN 13432:
the key point is that ‘‘biodegradation’’ is
considered in the context of a
real organic waste treatment called
‘‘composting’’
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13. Compostability is a set of properties
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14. Biodegradability
•• Organic carbon CO2 + water
•• Test method: EN 14046 (ISO 14855)
•• Matrix: mature compost
•• Temperature: 58°C
100
90
80
70
biodegradation %
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Time (months)
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15. Disintegrability (EN 14045)
Item under test
compost
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16. Heavy metals and other elements
subject to restriction
•• Limits to be checked (mg/kg) or ppm
Zn 150 Cr 50
Cu 50 Mo 1
Ni 25 Se 0,75
Cd 0,5 As 5
Pb 50 F 100
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17. ECOTOXICITY:
A compostable material shall not have
Ecotoxic effects
( 2 plant germination and growth tests)
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18. Need for certification
•• Compliance to EN13432 is today assessed within a
certification process.
•• The Certification is released to ‘‘compostable products
producers’’ by a third party institute (a certification body)
based on clear identification of products, scientific
documentation based on the EN13432 tests requirements,
continuous surveillance activity.
•• Certification is a ““garantee”” of material performance and
the certified product/material is ‘‘easily recognizable’’ by
the public, by means of a LOGO.
•• Certification allows transparency in the market
•• Certification can be a very effective means of
communication and marketing.
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19. Certification
•• Certification programmes
have been established on
the basis of the EN 13432
•• Well established LOGOs
are today available in
Europe.
•• The two main certification
bodies are Vinçotte
(Belgium) and DIN
CERTCO (Germany).
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20. Certification Process
Material Laboratory tests
EN 13432
Certified Material Certification
carrying a LOGO Certificate Institute
Surveillance/inspection activity
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21. The most recent developments
•• Standard norm ISO17088 has been recently issued
and it will be the global reference for the next
years.
•• ISO17088 is perfectly compatible with the
European Norms.
•• China is developing a standard in this area:
•• ISO 17088 can be a very helpful reference for
harmonization, in view of a growing global market
of biodegradable and compostable items.
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22. Summarizing
•• The main standards on biodegradation and composting are:
–– EN 13432 (focused on packaging)
–– EN 14995 (with criteria identical to EN 13432, focused on
plastics)
–– ISO17088 which is the international reference globally accepted
•• All of the above mentioned standard norms deal with
biodegradation within the terms of organic recovery
through composting
•• Certification according to the above mentioned standards
offers a valid marketing tool and a guarantee of
performance for the final user.
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23. Thank you for your attention.
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