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Product Quality

Bioplastics differ from conventional plastics in two important features:

• the use of renewable resources for their production
• their biodegradability /  compostability

For the first feature standardised measures for evaluation do not exist – please also read the explanations on bioplastics. Therefore it is subject to individual interpretation how big the share of renewable resources in a plastic product has to be in order to be called a bioplastic. No standard is available to approve this, however scientific methods exist to measure the "renewable carbon" in a given product.

For biodegradability and compostability scientific methods have been developed to accurately prove these qualities in terms of plastics: The European norm EN 13432 / EN 14995 was introduced in Europe in 2000. As a so-called harmonised standard it is valid in all EU member states.

The association European Bioplastics calls to approve plastic products according to EN 13432 / EN 14995 if the marketer advertises the product to be "compostable" or "biodegradable". Because these terms are not always used correctly, the association has published information on so-called "degradable" or "oxo-degradable" plastic products. Producers have signed a voluntary self commitment on product certification which had been acknowlegded by the European DG Enterprise. 

The bioplastics industry’s measures to secure highest product quality go even further: Products and materials that have been proven according to EN 13432 / EN 14995 are usually also certified. Certification guarantees, that not only the plastic share of the product is completely biodegradable and eligible for composting. Also other components of the product, such as inks, glues, labels and even the content – if the product is a packaging – have to meet the requirements for composting. Foor the certification the complete components of the plastic product have to be disclosed to the certification institute. This offers also the opportunity to detect the share of renewable resources.

A protected label is assigned in the certification process, which is a valuable and needed tool in communication. Mis-use will be prosecuted. The terms "compostable" and "biodegradable" however cannot be protected. The compostability logo, also called "seedling" enables the user/consumer to identify the product. It is also usually required for the correct sorting and disposing of compostable plastic waste.

The association European Bioplastics strives for implementing a unified certification and labelling scheme of bioplastic products in Europe.

Why all these measures?

These measures were taken in order to assure the highest possible product safety when it is organically recycled. Materials that are returned to the natural closed loop through composting have to meet the following demands:

• may not impair the composting process ("behave like a lettuce leaf"),
• allow high compost quality (meet strict criteria for toxic substances etc.) and
• guarantee a safe compost application.

The following requirements therefore must be fulfilled for compostable plastic products:

• compliance with all criteria of the EN 13432 / EN 14995 standard,
• product certification based on EN 13432 / EN 14995 and
• labelling with a protected compostability mark.

It is strongly recommended to users / vendors of compostable bioplastic products to ask their supplier about product certification and to demand the certificate with the certification number. Even if it is not intended to compost the product, certification guarantees a high product safety. Certification, moreover, distinguishes between bioplastic and conventional plastic and offers marketing and communication possibilities. The German Packaging Ordinance explicitly refers only to certified compostable plastic packaging. Please note: Plastic products – incl. bioplastics – have to fulfil many other criterias and legal requirements. Producers have to secure them within the scope of their product responsibility and liability.