Home composting is a private gardening practice that allows individuals to transform their kitchen and garden waste into valuable compost for personal use. While not considered recycling under EU law, it plays a valuable role in reducing the amount of organic material entering traditional waste systems.
European Bioplastics (EUBP) views home composting as a complement to industrial composting and anaerobic digestion, not a replacement. When managed properly, home composting supports local sustainability goals, particularly in areas with space and favourable conditions. However, if not done properly, it can lead to methane emissions or hygiene issues.
To ensure that products break down safely and effectively in home composting environments, specific standards and labels are in place. These include:
- TÜV AUSTRIA’s OK Compost Home
- DIN CERTCO’s DIN-geprüft Home Compostable
- NF T51-800 (France)
- UNI 11183:2006 (Italy)
- EN 17427 & EN 17428 (EU standards for carrier bags)
EUBP supports the upcoming harmonisation of home compostability standards as proposed under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and recommends aligning future EU-wide standards with EN 17427 and EN 17428 while expanding their scope to match that of EN 13432.
In regions where home composting is encouraged, considering home compostability in addition to industrial compostability for relevant products like food packaging and gardening items can further advance circular waste practices.
Find out more at www.european-bioplastics.org/bioplastics-in-home-composting