Certifications & Compliance
Compostability claims live or die on certification. The guides in this category are written for compliance teams, packaging engineers and procurement specialists who need to verify, not assume — covering the full landscape of certification bodies (BPI, TUV Austria, DIN CERTCO, ABA), the underlying testing standards (ASTM D6400, EN 13432, ISO 17088, AS 4736, AS 5810), and the regulatory frameworks that increasingly mandate certified products in the US, EU, UK and Australia. We treat certifications as a technical subject, not a marketing badge — so expect specifics on testing protocols, verification processes, and the consequences of getting it wrong.
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2002 BPI Founding: Birth of Biodegradable Products Institute
The 2002 founding of the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) established the leading North American compostable products certification organization. Understanding BPI’s 23-year history supports B2B perspective on compostable industry certification infrastructure.
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2000 EN 13432 European Standard: Foundation Standard for European Compostable Industry
The 2000 publication of EN 13432 ‘Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation’ established the foundation European standard for compostable packaging. Understanding this 25-year European foundation supports B2B perspective on European compostable industry.
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1999 ASTM D6400 Standard Development: Foundation Standard for Compostable Industry
The 1999 publication of ASTM D6400 ‘Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities’ established foundation industry standard that compostable certification continues to use today. Understanding this 1999 standard development supports B2B perspective on compostable industry’s standards foundation.
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Which States Have EPR Laws for Packaging?
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging are reshaping how compostable and conventional packaging is funded and regulated in the US. A state-by-state guide to which states have EPR, what each law covers, and timelines for compliance.
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The Basics of Compostable Certification Standards
A comprehensive guide to compostable certification standards — ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, EN 13432, ISO 17088 — and the certification bodies that implement them (BPI, TÜV, CMA). What each covers, when to use them, and how they relate.
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Maine Composting Compliance: A B2B Foodservice Operator’s Reference
Maine has enacted progressive sustainability legislation including 2021 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and various composting infrastructure development. Understanding Maine-specific regulatory landscape supports informed B2B compliance for Maine-located operations.
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How to Audit Your Restaurant for Composting Opportunities
A practical day-by-day audit framework for restaurants evaluating where they could compost more — back of house, front of house, customer-facing packaging, and the operational changes each would require.
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Hawaii Polystyrene Restrictions: A B2B Foodservice Operator’s Compliance Reference
Hawaii has enacted comprehensive polystyrene foam restrictions that affect foodservice operations across all Hawaiian islands. Understanding Hawaii-specific regulatory landscape supports informed B2B compostable procurement for Hawaii-located operations.
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New Jersey Plastic Restrictions: A B2B Foodservice Operator’s Compliance Reference
New Jersey has enacted some of the most aggressive state-level plastic restrictions in the United States, affecting foodservice operations across the state. Understanding New Jersey’s regulatory landscape supports informed B2B compliance for operations serving New Jersey customers.
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How to Audit Your Office for Sustainability Improvements
An office sustainability audit doesn’t need an external consultant or a $30,000 line item. A facilities manager and a willing volunteer can complete a meaningful audit in a few weeks. This walks through the practical steps: what to measure, where to look, what changes will actually move numbers, and what’s not worth your time.
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The Strangest Compostable Item Ever Certified: A Wedding Dress
In 2021, a London-based design house called the Tina Liu Studio created what they marketed as the world’s first compostable wedding dress: a 14-pound gown made from plant fibers and biodegradable binders, designed to decompose in soil within 12 months. The story is partly genuine innovation and partly fashion theater.
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Texas Foodservice Sustainability Regulations: A B2B Operator’s Compliance Reference
Texas foodservice operations navigate state-level regulations that differ substantially from California’s aggressive sustainability framework. Understanding Texas-specific regulatory landscape supports informed B2B compostable program development for Texas operations.