Certificates for compostability
Seedling
Seedling is an independent third-party certification that verifies the compostability of a product in an industrial composting plant in accordance with the European standard EN 13432. The Seedling certificate does not cover home composting.
BPI
BPI is an independent third-party certification in the USA that verifies the compostability of a product in an industrial composting plant in accordance with the ASTM standards. Similar to the European counterpart EN 13432, the standard ASTM D6400 consist of five parts, as described above. More details on the BPI Certification process, including testing and the certification scheme, can be found in the Get Certified section of BPI website.
An example of a third-party certification that verifies that a product is industrially compostable and helps to communicate about it.
The certification process is conducted by independent certifiers DIN CERTCO (Germany) and Vinçotte TÛV Austria (Belgium). In order to be certified compostable, the product must undergo a stringent test regime carried out by recognised independent accredited laboratories.
The certification process includes the following procedures: 1. chemical characterization of the product, 2. testing of ultimate biodegradability, 3. disintegration under practice-relevant composting conditions, 4. definition of the quality of the compost (ecotoxicity test on two plant species), and 5. infrared spectrum recording to enable the identification of the material. The evaluation criteria as well as test circumstances and methods comply with the EN 13432. To ensure continuous compliance with the certification requirements regular inspections take place.
Products that have successfully passed the strictly defined and documented tests and been formally certified by one of the certification bodies may feature the Seedling logo, a registered trademark owned by European Bioplastics. A product marked with the Seedling logo is ideally disposed of in the organic waste collection. However, if no separate collection of organic waste is available, the product may be disposed of in the residual waste bin. More detailed information on regional specifications can be obtained from the respective municipalities or waste management authorities. Since the establishment of the Seedling certificate approximately 780 products, 110 intermediates and 330 materials have been certified, including the Sulapac Universal Flex 30 Low Flow (registration No 7W0496) and Universal Flex 30 High Flow materials (registration No 7W0981). We are in the process of obtaining the certificate also for our other materials.
BPI is the only third-party
verification of ASTM standards for compostable products in North America. The BPI Certification process is rigorous and ensures that items
can be cycled back into the soil safely at a commercial composting facility. This is done through testing to ASTM standards and applying
additional restrictions on carcinogens and fluorinated chemicals.
Use of the BPI Certification Mark is highly restricted and earning the right to display it is the culmination of the BPI Certification program. It provides assurance that compostability claims have been verified by a trusted third party, and it is the foundation of clear and consistent direction for end-users and consumers who are responsible for making decisions at the point of disposal. You can find the listing of all BPI certified Sulapac materials from the Biodegradable Products Institute website. Read more about BPI’s Value Of Certification.