Claims about biodegradability and compostability are widely used to label products and packaging regarding their end-of-life. Biodegradation can take place in different systems (industrial or home composting) and environments (soil, water).
In general, the sole claim “biodegradable” on products and packaging, without indicating specific standards or environments in which the biodegradation takes place, is misleading and therefore should not be used. Biodegradability claims must be transparent and verifiable and supported by standards that define the scope, i.e. the reference framework, the testing methodologies and criteria to be used, as well as the relevant environment.