The Basics of BPI Certification Process

The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is the dominant compostability certification body in North America. The BPI seal — three diamond shapes with “BPI Compostable” text — appears on tens of thousands of products: foodware, packaging, bags, films, and various other items. For commercial composting operators, foodservice operators, and procurement professionals, BPI certification is the most reliable signal that a product will actually compost in commercial facilities.

This guide explains how BPI certification works, what gets tested, what it costs, who oversees it, and what the certification actually proves. The intended audience is procurement managers, sustainability professionals, and anyone making decisions based on compostable claims.

What BPI is

The Biodegradable Products Institute is a non-profit professional association founded in 1999, based in New York. The mission is to certify and educate about compostable products.

BPI doesn’t make products; it certifies products that other manufacturers make. The certification is independent: BPI tests products in accredited labs and issues certificates if the products meet established standards.

BPI’s certification is based on ASTM D6868, the American Society for Testing and Materials standard for compostability. This standard defines what “compostable” means technically and how to test for it.

BPI is the most widely-recognized compostability certification in the US and Canada. Many state regulations and municipal procurement standards explicitly reference BPI certification.

What BPI tests for

BPI certification verifies three main attributes of a product:

1. Biodegradation: The product breaks down into CO2, water, and biomass through microbial action. Testing measures the percentage of carbon converted to CO2 after 180 days in a controlled aerobic composting environment.

Standard: ≥90% of carbon must be converted to CO2 within 180 days.

2. Disintegration: The product physically breaks down into small enough pieces (less than 2mm) that it can’t be visibly distinguished from finished compost.

Standard: No more than 10% of the original product (by mass) should remain after 12 weeks at industrial composting conditions (58°C/136°F, controlled moisture).

3. Ecotoxicity: The finished compost containing the product should not be toxic to plants or soil organisms.

Standard: Seed germination and plant growth tests on compost containing the product must show no significant inhibition compared to control compost.

All three criteria must be met for BPI certification. A product can biodegrade fully but fail disintegration; or pass disintegration but fail toxicity. Failure on any one disqualifies the certification.

The testing process

The full BPI certification process typically takes 6-12 months and involves:

Step 1: Application. Manufacturer submits product samples, material composition details, and intended use case. Application fee: typically $1,500-3,000.

Step 2: Initial review. BPI staff reviews the application for completeness. Material composition is checked against the BPI prohibited materials list (some materials are categorically excluded from compostable claims).

Step 3: Laboratory testing. Samples are sent to BPI-accredited labs. The lab tests for biodegradation, disintegration, and ecotoxicity according to ASTM D6868 protocols. Testing typically takes 4-8 months because biodegradation testing alone runs for 180 days.

Step 4: Test report review. Lab results are submitted to BPI. Technical staff verify that all three criteria are met.

Step 5: Certification decision. If all criteria are met, BPI issues a certification. The certification specifies which products from which manufacturer at which manufacturing facility are covered.

Step 6: Ongoing maintenance. Certifications expire after 4-5 years and require renewal testing. Manufacturers must notify BPI of any product changes that might affect compostability.

Total cost from application to certification: $5,000-15,000 per product depending on complexity. Annual maintenance fees: $1,000-3,000 per active certification.

What “BPI Compostable” actually means

When a product has BPI certification, it means specifically:

The product was tested at a specific manufacturing facility. The certification is tied to the manufacturing location. If the manufacturer moves production to a different facility, re-certification is required.

The product was tested at industrial composting conditions. Industrial composting means 58°C (136°F), controlled moisture, aerobic conditions. This is what commercial composting facilities provide. Home composting at lower temperatures may not produce the same results.

The product meets the ASTM D6868 standard. This is a specific technical standard that includes the 90%/180-day, 10%/12-week, and ecotoxicity criteria.

The certification is current. Certifications expire. A product manufactured years after the original certification may not still be certified if renewal didn’t happen.

What BPI certification does NOT mean:

• The product will home-compost. Home composting conditions are different. BPI certification is for industrial composting only.

• The product will compost in your local facility. Some commercial facilities have specific rejections (e.g., they don’t accept compostable plastics). Verify locally even with BPI certification.

• The product is environmentally optimal. BPI certification proves compostability, not lowest carbon footprint or best end-of-life outcome.

• All products from the same manufacturer are BPI-certified. Each specific product (SKU) must be individually certified. A manufacturer with 50 SKUs may only have 30 BPI-certified.

How to verify a certification

For a product claiming BPI certification, verify by:

Look up the product on the BPI website. BPI maintains a public database at certified.bpiworld.org. Search by manufacturer, product, or BPI ID number.

Verify certificate expiration. Check that the certification is current. Some products carry expired certifications because the certification hasn’t been renewed.

Confirm manufacturer and facility. The certification specifies which facility made the certified product. If the product came from a different facility, the certification doesn’t apply.

Check for the specific product variant. Some manufacturers have certified some sizes/variants but not all. Verify your specific SKU is certified.

Request the certificate PDF. Manufacturers should be able to provide the actual certificate document. The document shows the certified scope, the test details, and the current expiration date.

Why BPI certification matters

Three practical reasons procurement professionals care about BPI:

Regulatory compliance. Several states (California, NY, Vermont, others) have laws referencing compostable certifications. BPI certification helps meet these requirements.

Audit trail. When sustainability auditors review compostable procurement, BPI certification provides clear documentation. “We bought BPI-certified products” is much stronger than “we bought products labeled compostable.”

Industry recognition. Major commercial composting facilities accept BPI-certified products. Without certification, individual facility acceptance is uncertain.

Customer credibility. Customers (especially commercial customers) trust BPI certification more than vague compostable claims. Brand positioning benefits.

Costs to manufacturers

For manufacturers, getting and maintaining BPI certification is a significant investment:

Initial certification: $5,000-15,000 per product depending on complexity. Simple products (single-material plates) at the lower end; complex multi-layer products at the higher end.

Lab testing: Up to $10,000 per product for full testing. Lab fees are typically the largest component of certification cost.

Ongoing maintenance: $1,000-3,000 per year per active certification, plus renewal costs every 4-5 years.

For a manufacturer with 50 BPI-certified products: approximately $100,000-300,000 in initial certifications, plus $50,000-150,000 in annual maintenance.

This is why smaller manufacturers often have fewer BPI-certified products than larger ones. Certification is a fixed cost that’s harder to amortize across smaller production volumes.

How BPI compares to other certifications

BPI is the dominant North American certification, but other certifications exist:

TÜV OK Compost (European). Tests against EN 13432 standard. Similar criteria to BPI but with European emphasis. Many European products carry both BPI and TÜV certifications.

TÜV OK Compost HOME (European). Tests for home composting conditions (lower temperatures, less control). This is a stricter standard than industrial composting and rare among compostable products.

ASTM D6868. The underlying standard that BPI uses. Some products reference ASTM compliance without specific BPI certification, but BPI provides the formal verification.

Vincotte (Belgian). Another European compostability certifier. Less common in North America.

Cedar Grove Approved (Pacific Northwest). A regional compostability standard from a major composting facility in Washington state. Specific to materials accepted by Cedar Grove facilities.

For North American buyers, BPI is the primary certification to seek. TÜV provides additional credibility for European market or strict compliance situations. Other certifications are useful in specific contexts but less universally accepted.

Industries and product categories using BPI

BPI certifications are most common in:

Foodservice disposables: Plates, bowls, cups, lids, utensils, take-out containers, food trays. The majority of BPI-certified products are in this category.

Packaging: Compostable bags, food packaging, retail packaging. Growing area for BPI certification.

Agricultural films: Mulch films, seedling pot films. Niche but growing.

Personal care: Some toothbrushes, dental floss, makeup wipes with compostable variants.

Industrial: Specialty agricultural and packaging films.

The product categories cover most of the visible compostable products on US shelves.

Common misconceptions about BPI

“BPI certified means home compostable.” No. BPI is industrial composting only. Products may or may not break down in home compost.

“All compostable products have BPI.” No. Some products have other certifications; some have no certification (and the compostable claims should be verified independently).

“BPI is government-issued.” No. BPI is a private non-profit professional association. The certification is industry-recognized but not government-issued.

“BPI certifies environmental benefit.” No. BPI certifies compostability. Environmental benefit (carbon footprint, water use, etc.) is separate from compostability.

“BPI certifies that the product will compost in landfills.” No. Most landfills are anaerobic; BPI tests aerobic composting. Landfilled BPI-certified products don’t compost effectively.

What’s changing in BPI

The BPI certification landscape continues to evolve:

Stricter PFAS testing. Following state-level PFAS bans, BPI requires PFAS testing as part of certification. Products with PFAS cannot be BPI-certified.

Higher rigor in disintegration testing. Lab requirements have become more stringent. Test conditions are more carefully monitored.

Better online verification. BPI’s online database has improved. Buyers can more easily verify certifications.

Expanded categories. New product categories are being added to certification scope. Recent additions include certain compostable adhesives and specialty films.

Better tracking of certification expirations. Manufacturers are required to notify BPI of any changes. The database flags products approaching expiration.

Practical guidance for buyers

For procurement decisions involving BPI certification:

1. Specify BPI in your procurement criteria. “Must be BPI-certified at time of order delivery” should be a contract requirement, not an afterthought.

2. Verify each order’s certification. Don’t assume the supplier’s stated BPI certification is current. Verify at the BPI database.

3. Build certification expiration into supplier reviews. When evaluating suppliers, check whether their certifications are current and how often they renew.

4. Document the certification in audit trails. Keep PDFs of current certificates with each major order.

5. Pay attention to product variant scope. Not all SKUs from a certified manufacturer are themselves certified. Verify the specific variant.

For compostable food containers, compostable cups and straws, and other foodservice products, BPI certification is the standard verification path. Most reliable suppliers maintain current BPI certifications for their major product lines.

What about home composting?

For consumers buying products for home composting, BPI certification is less directly relevant because BPI tests for industrial conditions, not home conditions.

For home composting, look for:
– “Home compostable” claims (rare, requires different testing)
– TÜV OK Compost HOME certification
– Products explicitly tested for home composting conditions

Many BPI-certified products will eventually break down in home compost, but timelines are much longer than the 12-week industrial composting standard. Home compost users should expect 6-18 months for many BPI-certified items, not the 12 weeks specified by the industrial standard.

Worked example: certifying a new product

To illustrate the process, let’s walk through a hypothetical new product certification:

The product: A new 12-inch bagasse plate from a manufacturer called GreenPlate Inc. The plate is single-material (100% bagasse, no coatings or laminates).

Month 1: GreenPlate submits the BPI application with samples, material composition (bagasse with trace lime for pH buffering), and intended use (commercial foodservice). Application fee: $2,200.

Month 2: BPI staff reviews. The bagasse composition is straightforward and on the BPI accepted materials list. Application is approved for testing. Samples sent to BPI-accredited lab in Indiana.

Months 2-8: Lab runs the testing protocol. Biodegradation chamber runs for 180 days at 58°C with controlled moisture. Concurrent disintegration testing at 12 weeks shows the plates broken into <5% remaining mass (well under the 10% threshold). Ecotoxicity testing on the resulting compost shows normal seed germination and plant growth — no inhibition.

Month 9: Lab submits test report to BPI. Testing results: 94% biodegradation in 180 days (passes), 4% mass remaining at 12 weeks (passes), seed germination 95% of control (passes).

Month 10: BPI technical staff reviews. All criteria met. Certificate issued. GreenPlate is officially BPI-certified for the 12-inch plate manufactured at their California facility, valid until 2030.

Month 11+: GreenPlate adds the BPI logo to product packaging, lists on BPI database, markets to commercial composters and foodservice customers. They also notify BPI that they plan to add an 8-inch plate in 6 months, which will require a separate certification process.

Total cost from application to certification: approximately $9,000. The plate is now eligible for marketing as compostable, accepted by commercial composters using the BPI standard, and meets regulatory requirements in California and other states with PFAS-style certification requirements.

Real failure scenarios

Not every certification application succeeds. Common failure modes:

Disintegration failure. Multi-layer products sometimes have inner layers that don’t break down within the 12-week window. The outer paper layer disintegrates fine; the inner PLA layer is too thick or improperly formulated. Reformulation typically takes 3-6 months and additional testing.

Ecotoxicity failure. Some products contain trace residues from manufacturing (cleaning agents, anti-caking agents) that show toxicity to test plants. Reformulation of the manufacturing process is required.

Biodegradation failure. Products that fail to reach 90% CO2 conversion in 180 days. Common causes: hidden plastic components, slow-degrading additives, materials outside BPI accepted list.

Documentation gaps. Some applications fail because the material composition disclosure is incomplete. BPI requires full transparency about manufacturing process; partial disclosure leads to delays or rejection.

Manufacturers typically allow 12-18 months from initial product design to actual market launch of a BPI-certified product, accounting for these potential setbacks.

The bigger picture

BPI certification is the foundation of the North American compostable packaging industry’s credibility. The certification provides a reliable signal that distinguishes genuinely compostable products from greenwashed alternatives. For procurement professionals, sustainability managers, and conscientious consumers, BPI certification is the practical standard to look for.

The certification isn’t perfect — it’s industrial composting-specific, it doesn’t address all environmental concerns, and it has commercial costs that affect small manufacturers more than large ones. But within its scope (verifying compostability under industrial conditions), it does the job well.

For the broader compostable packaging industry, BPI represents one of several certification bodies working toward common standards. The harmonization of standards across regions (BPI, TÜV, Vincotte, etc.) is ongoing. Eventually, a more global certification system may emerge, but for now BPI is the dominant North American option.

Understanding BPI certification gives buyers a reliable tool for navigating the compostable packaging market. Look for the seal, verify the database, document the certification, and you have the foundation for credible compostable procurement.

For B2B sourcing, see our compostable supplies catalog or compostable bags catalog.

For procurement teams verifying compostable claims, the controlling references are BPI certification (North America), EN 13432 (EU), and the FTC Green Guides on environmental marketing claims — these are the only sources U.S. enforcement actions cite.