DIN CERTCO operates a certification scheme for compostable products made of biodegradable materials and licenses the use of the corresponding Mark developed by European Bioplastics (the former IBAW Interest Group for Biodegradable Materials).
Certification is here an integral part of an industrial recycling system. It enables compostable products to be identified by a unique mark and channelled for recovery of their constituent materials in specially developed processes. The Compostability Mark thus conveys product information to waste-disposal plant operators and product image to consumers.
With the new version of our certification scheme a certfication can be conducted according to three well accpeted standards:
Laboratory tests have only to be performed for materials, intermediates and additives. In these tests the chemical properties are checked, the ultimate biodegradability is verified and and the desintegration properties are determined.
Chemical testing serves to ensure that neither harmful organic substances, such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dioxins, nor heavy metals, such as lead, mercury and cadmium, pass into the soil via the compost.
The method specified for the testing of biodegradability and of desintegration serve to verify the complete degradation of the materials within the processing period of normal composting plants.
An ecological non toxicity test that is also prescribed ensures that the plastics used have no adverse effect on the quality of the compost. Additionally the maximum compostable layer thickness is determined.
If the results of the tests are in conformity with the standard(s) and/or the certification scheme, the material, intermediate or additive is registered and included in a positive list.
Products that have been manufactured of registered materials, intermediates and additives, may be certified, if they meet the maximum compostable layer thickness of the used materials or intermediates.
Verification tests are performed in order to verify that the same base materials as those declared on application for certification are being used. For this purpose, infrared spectra are recorded and compared.
General information about compostable materials and products are also available at: www.european-bioplastics.org
Internationalisation of certification for compostable products made of biodegradable materials
Please click on the map to get a world-wide overview about the certification ...
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