Certification Authority
Certification bodies validate the industrial compostability and bio-based content of packaging materials through standardized laboratory testing protocols. Operating as a subsidiary of TÜV Rheinland, din certco issues packaging compliance marks based on European standard EN 13432 and international equivalents. The organization assesses chemical composition, heavy metal thresholds, ecotoxicity and disintegration rates before awarding environmental labels to paperboard substrates and biopolymer laminates.
Materials earning recognition must undergo laboratory verification in accredited testing facilities to confirm full biodegradation without residual environmental toxicity.
Testing Standard
Chemical analysis verifies that organic carbon content exceeds minimum requirements while heavy metal concentrations remain below established ecological thresholds. Chemical characterization forms the initial phase, followed by quantitative aerobic biodegradation tracking through respirometry. Disintegration testing requires that ninety percent of the test material passes through a two millimeter sieve after twelve weeks of exposure to controlled composting conditions.
Earthworm toxicity tests and plant growth assays confirm that residual compost supports biological activity without negative physiological impacts.
Compliance Limit
Certification validity relies on strict adherence to the registered formulation without unapproved chemical additives or substrate modifications. Manufacturers applying the din certco mark on packaging structures must maintain batch traceability and submit to periodic surveillance audits. Any change in coating thickness or binder chemistry invalidates existing credentials and requires full recertification.
Proper qualification ensures that converted packaging items degrade safely in industrial composting infrastructure.
