Certification Scope Verification for Industrial Compostable Packaging Materials
Verify industrial compostability claims by matching finished pack wall thickness and ink coverage against public register scope lines before shipping.
Biodegradation Testing
Analytical Assessment
Standardised laboratory evaluation determines the degree to which organic materials are consumed by microorganisms under specific temperature and moisture conditions. Through biodegradation testing, developers measure the conversion of carbon into carbon dioxide or methane over a set period. This assessment identifies whether a substrate can return to the environment without leaving persistent chemical residues.
Laboratory Protocol
Controlled exposure to active inoculum from compost, soil, agricultural fields and aqueous media forms the basis of these evaluations. Samples of the test material are incubated in closed chambers where oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide evolution is monitored continuously. For paper and packaging substrates, the process must achieve a specific threshold of mineralization, typically sixty percent or ninety percent depending on the standard, within a set timeframe.
Maintaining precise moisture levels and temperature ranges ensures that the microbial community remains viable and active throughout the exposure cycle.
Environmental Standard
Regulatory frameworks for packaging compostability rely on these metrics to certify products for organic recovery. Testing methods differ based on whether the intended disposal environment is industrial compost, home compost, soil or marine water. A polymer that decomposes in an industrial facility might remain intact in soil for years, meaning that the certification of biodegradation testing must always specify the target environment.