A Practical Guide to Compostable Certifications

A compostability standard and a certification are not the same. ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 describe requirements for defined composting claims. BPI and TÜV AUSTRIA operate certification schemes that assess eligible products and authorize marks under their rules. Buyers should verify the certifier, certificate holder, covered product or SKU, standard, and disposal environment before relying on a claim.

Certification vs. Standard: The Practical Difference

A standard is a technical document. It defines scope, criteria, or test methods. A certification program applies a published scheme, reviews evidence for an eligible product, and controls use of its certification mark. Passing a material test does not automatically authorize a certification logo, and certification of one item does not extend to unrelated products from the same seller.

This distinction also protects purchasing teams: it gives them a repeatable way to compare evidence from different suppliers instead of accepting similar-looking environmental language at face value.

ASTM describes D6400 as covering plastics and plastic-containing products designed for aerobic municipal or industrial composting. BPI states that ASTM D6400 is the base standard for its commercial compostability certification. EN 13432 addresses packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation. TÜV AUSTRIA separates OK compost INDUSTRIAL from OK compost HOME; an industrial mark must not be used to claim home compostability.

Compare the Main Standards and Programs

For deeper background, read the individual ECO-Lipak guides to ASTM D6400, BPI certification, EN 13432, and OK compost.

Industrial Composting Is Not Home Composting

Industrial composting facilities operate managed processes, and acceptance policies vary by facility. A product intended for industrial composting should not be put in a backyard compost pile solely because it says “compostable.” Likewise, a certification mark does not guarantee that every local organics program will accept the product. Collection rules, sorting systems, contamination controls, and facility capabilities still matter.

What a Certification Review Usually Examines

The exact process varies by scheme, but a credible review begins by defining the product and every relevant component. The applicant supplies formulation and manufacturing information, identifies pigments, coatings, adhesives, labels, and other additions, and follows the testing route set by the certification body. Laboratory results are reviewed against the scheme’s criteria before a product is listed or a certification mark is authorized.

For buyers, the practical point is that certification is scope-specific. A change in thickness, formulation, colorant, coating, supplier, or manufacturing process can matter. Documentation should therefore connect the claim to the finished product being purchased, not merely to a generic material name such as PLA, fiber, or “bioplastic.”

A useful evidence packet contains:

• certificate holder and manufacturer or brand relationship;
• certificate or directory identifier and current status;
• covered product names, SKUs, dimensions, thicknesses, or grammage;
• applicable standard and the composting environment;
• conditions governing use of the mark and required labeling;
• separate food-contact, PFAS, BPA, or other chemical documentation when those claims are relevant.

How to Verify a Compostability Claim

1. Identify the exact item. Record the product name, SKU, size, color, material, coating, lid, liner, label, and any bundled accessories.
2. Identify the certifier. Look for the certification body’s name and an authorized mark, not only words such as “eco-friendly” or “plant-based.”
3. Search the certifier’s directory. Match the certificate holder, brand or manufacturer, product description, and SKU where available.
4. Review the scope. Confirm whether the evidence covers the finished product or only a resin, substrate, or component.
5. Check the disposal environment. Distinguish commercial or industrial composting from home composting, soil, water, or marine claims.
6. Confirm current acceptance. Ask the local collector or composting facility whether it accepts that product category and certification.

Common Claim and Greenwashing Risks

• Material-only evidence: a certified resin is presented as proof for a finished item containing inks, adhesives, coatings, or mixed materials.
• Brand-wide wording: certification for one product family is described as if it applies to every product sold by the company.
• Industrial-to-home leap: an industrial composting result is used to imply backyard compostability.
• Logo without traceability: a certification mark appears without a searchable certificate holder, product listing, or usable product identifier.
• Disposal promise without infrastructure: the claim ignores local collection and facility acceptance.

Using ECO-Lipak Product and Collection Labels

ECO-Lipak currently organizes relevant items in its Certified Products, BPI Certified Products, and PFAS-Free Products collections. Product titles and descriptions may also display certification or material claims.

Examples currently labeled in the catalog include compostable trash bags shown with BPI Certified and OK compost wording and clear PLA cold cups shown with BPI Certified wording. Treat the product page as the start of verification, not the end. If certification is material to your purchasing decision, request documentation that matches the exact product or SKU.

Buyer Checklist Before Approving a Product

• The product and SKU match the supporting document or certifier directory.
• The finished item—including coatings and accessories—is within scope.
• The certification is current and the mark is used under the certifier’s rules.
• The composting environment is clearly stated.
• The receiving program accepts the item.
• Food-contact, PFAS-free, or BPA-free claims are verified separately when required.
• Samples have been tested with the real food, temperature, hold time, and service process.

Certification Questions by Product Type

A Procurement Workflow for Businesses

1. Screen: compare the supplier claim with the certifier’s current directory and reject ambiguous brand-wide statements.
2. Match: record the precise SKU, size, material, color, thickness or pack variant that will be ordered.
3. Document: store the supporting certificate, directory result, product specification, and approved artwork together.
4. Test: evaluate the item with the real menu, service equipment, hold time, and waste stream.
5. Approve conditionally: require review when the supplier, formulation, factory, label, or product specification changes.
6. Recheck: verify directory status and local facility acceptance on a scheduled basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ASTM D6400 mean a product is BPI certified?

No. ASTM D6400 is a specification. BPI operates a certification program that uses ASTM D6400 as its base standard. A product should be checked in the certifier’s directory or against current supporting documentation before it is described as BPI certified.

Is BPI certification for home composting?

BPI’s longstanding program addresses commercial compostability. BPI also has a separate home-compostability program with its own requirements. Verify which program and mark apply to the exact product.

Is OK compost INDUSTRIAL the same as OK compost HOME?

No. TÜV AUSTRIA treats them as separate certification schemes. An INDUSTRIAL certification cannot be used by itself to claim home compostability.

Does EN 13432 apply to every compostable product?

EN 13432 is a packaging standard. Buyers should confirm that the finished packaging and all relevant components are within the evidence or certification scope.

Can a certified product go in any organics bin?

Not automatically. Local programs decide what they collect and facilities decide what they accept. Verify local rules even when a product carries a recognized certification.

What should a business request from a supplier?

Request a current certificate or directory listing, certificate holder, applicable product or SKU list, standard and composting environment, plus any relevant food-contact or chemical testing documentation.

Primary References

• ASTM D6400 specification page
• BPI commercial compostability certification
• European Commission list including EN 13432
• TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost certification information