Biodegradable products are seen as a lifeline for addressing the massive plastic waste crisis due to their environmental friendliness. However, it’s not always easy to identify genuine biodegradable products amidst a sea of similarly labeled items. That is why the BPI Compostable certification was introduced to help consumers and introduce them to genuine compostable products.
The Concept of Compostability
Compostability refers to a natural decomposition process that takes between 2 and over 12 months, depending on environmental conditions. During this process, organic materials are broken down by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) into simple compounds such as CO2, water, or biomass at the end of their lifecycle. Because it is a relatively environmentally friendly form of decomposition, biodegradation is applied in the creation of new types of plastics to replace traditional plastics, most notably biodegradable plastics.
The Emergence of BPI Compostable
The first standards for assessing biodegradability began to emerge in 1999 when the nonprofit Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) was established in North America. However, it wasn’t until 2002 that the concept of “Compostable” was introduced by BPI, and the scope of certification began to expand globally. To date, BPI Compostable certification (Biodegradable Products Institute Compostable) has been granted to 53,000 products from over 900 companies worldwide.
BPI Compostable certification serves as proof of a product’s biodegradability in industrial composting environments, such as commercial facilities and municipal waste management systems equipped with industrial composting technology. This helps businesses minimize risks associated with plastic waste management while enhancing their reputation and successfully attracting customers and partners seeking environmentally friendly products.
Criteria and Technical Standards
To obtain BPI Compostable certification, a product must meet strict technical standards, including ASTM D6400 (for plastic products) or ASTM D6868 (for plastic-coated paper). However, regardless of the material composition, the product must meet four core criteria:
- Degradability: Under industrial composting conditions, the product must break down within 12 weeks, with 90% of the fragments passing through a 2mm sieve and leaving no large plastic pieces visible to the naked eye.
- Biodegradability: To ensure the material truly becomes part of the natural cycle at the end of the decomposition process rather than microplastics, at least 90% of the product’s organic carbon must convert to CO₂ within 180 days.
- Non-toxic: Since the final products resulting from the material’s decomposition will be used as fertilizer for plants, the company must minimize heavy metal content while ensuring that the germination rate and plant biomass exceed 90%.
- Fluorine Limits (PFAS-Free): The concentration of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are used as oil-repellent chemicals, must be below 100 ppm to ensure the compost is absolutely safe for clean agriculture.
Why is BPI Compostable important?
It can be said that BPI Compostable plays a crucial role for businesses, as they can use this certification to declare and verify that their products fully meet biodegradability standards and are environmentally friendly. This declaration not only builds consumer trust but also provides a competitive advantage for businesses looking to expand into international markets.
This certification also contributes to promoting the development of sustainable, high-quality products that are safe for both the environment and consumer health. Additionally, when consumers see products labeled with BPI Compostable, they can choose them with confidence without worrying about falling into the greenwashing trap.
Conclusion
As the sustainable market gains prominence, biodegradable and recycled products are increasingly becoming consumers’ top choices. To avoid the greenwashing trap, prioritize products with BPI Compost or OK Compost certification.