The Basics of Compostable Certification Standards

The compostable foodware industry runs on certification standards. Without standardized testing and certification, claims of “compostable” would be marketing assertions with no technical backing — exactly the situation that drove the FTC’s Green Guides crackdown on greenwashing in the early 2000s. With standardized certification, claims of “compostable” come backed by lab tests, third-party verification, and consistent technical criteria that customers, regulators, and composting facilities can rely on.

But the certification landscape is more complex than it looks from outside. There’s no single “compostable” certification — there are multiple standards (ASTM in the US, EN in Europe, ISO globally), multiple certification bodies (BPI, TÜV, CMA, others), and multiple end-of-life pathway distinctions (industrial vs home composting, soil vs marine biodegradation). For procurement teams, brand owners, regulatory affairs professionals, and even some sustainability consultants, navigating this landscape requires understanding what each standard actually covers and when it applies.

This article walks through the major compostable certification standards and the bodies that implement them. The goal is comprehensive practical literacy — by the end, you should understand what BPI vs TÜV certifications mean, when ASTM D6400 vs D6868 applies, what home compost certification adds beyond industrial, and how to evaluate certification claims on products you’re considering buying or specifying.

I work with these standards regularly through compostable foodware procurement and consulting. The framework below is what I’ve found most useful in practice.

The two main standards bodies you need to know

In North America, compostable foodware certification is dominated by two standards bodies:

ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) publishes the technical standards that define what “compostable” means. ASTM standards specify the testing methodology — how labs measure whether a product actually meets compostability criteria.

BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) is the certification body that verifies products meet ASTM standards and issues the BPI Certified Compostable logo. BPI is essentially the implementation arm that takes ASTM’s technical standards and turns them into a practical certification program with logos, registered products, and ongoing compliance.

The relationship: ASTM sets the rules; BPI applies the rules to specific products. A product can be tested to ASTM standards independently, but BPI certification adds the marketplace credibility — the BPI logo signals to customers that the product has passed ASTM testing and ongoing BPI review.

In Europe, the parallel structure is:

EN 13432 (European standard) defines the technical criteria for compostable packaging.
TÜV Austria (formerly Vinçotte) is the major certification body issuing OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL and OK COMPOST HOME marks.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) publishes ISO 17088, which is closely aligned with ASTM D6400 and provides international harmonization.

ASTM D6400: The US gold standard for industrial compostability

ASTM D6400 is the foundational US standard for industrially-compostable plastics. It defines:

What it covers: Compostable plastics — bioplastics, blends, coatings, and products made primarily of compostable plastic materials. Items like PLA cutlery, PLA cups, PHA-coated bowls, and most plant-based compostable foodware.

The technical requirements: Products must meet four criteria:

1. Biodegradation: ≥90% conversion to CO2 within 180 days at industrial composting conditions
2. Disintegration: ≥90% physical disintegration to particles ≤2mm within 12 weeks
3. Plant toxicity: Compost containing the disintegrated product must support plant growth ≥90% of control compost
4. Heavy metals: Concentrations below specified limits for 10 metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.)

Testing duration: The actual testing takes 180+ days because the composting test requires that timeframe to verify biodegradation. Testing typically costs $8,000-15,000 per product at accredited labs.

Recognition: ASTM D6400 is the technical foundation for BPI certification. Most US municipalities and state programs reference ASTM D6400 directly in their compostable product acceptance criteria.

ASTM D6868: For coatings on natural substrates

ASTM D6868 is the parallel standard for coated paper products and other items where a thin compostable coating is applied to a natural substrate (paper, fiber, cardboard).

What it covers: Coated paper cups, coated paperboard containers, coated paper plates — items where the coating is compostable but the bulk material is paper or natural fiber. PHA-coated cups, PLA-coated paperboard, beeswax-coated containers.

The technical requirements: Same four criteria as D6400, but the testing is adapted for the coating-and-substrate combination rather than bulk plastic.

The distinction from D6400: D6868 tests the whole product (substrate + coating) as a system. D6400 would test just the coating; D6868 tests how the coating affects the whole package’s compostability.

For a paper hot cup with PHA coating, D6868 is the right standard. For an all-PLA cup, D6400 is the right standard. Manufacturers need to know which applies to their product and get the correct certification.

EN 13432: The European parallel

EN 13432 is the European compostable packaging standard, closely parallel to ASTM D6400.

Key requirements: Very similar to ASTM D6400 — biodegradation, disintegration, plant toxicity, heavy metals. The technical criteria are nearly identical.

The differences: EN 13432 includes additional requirements around packaging design (preventing leachate from the package material during composting) and is harmonized with EU packaging waste directive requirements.

Recognition: EN 13432 is the standard for compostable packaging in the EU. Products certified to EN 13432 are accepted across EU member states.

Mutual recognition: Most ASTM D6400 certified products also meet EN 13432 requirements (the standards are close enough that test data from one can usually support certification under the other). TÜV Austria certification of products under EN 13432 is broadly recognized in the EU; BPI certification under ASTM D6400 is broadly recognized in North America.

ISO 17088: International harmonization

ISO 17088 is the international standard for compostable plastics, designed to harmonize ASTM D6400, EN 13432, and similar national standards into a single international framework.

What it provides: A unified set of technical requirements that combine the most-stringent elements of ASTM D6400 and EN 13432. Most products that meet either ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 also meet ISO 17088.

Practical use: Multinational companies often reference ISO 17088 to support compostable claims in markets without their own national standard. The ISO 17088 framework is broadly accepted globally.

BPI Certified Compostable

BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) is the primary certification body in North America for compostable products.

What BPI certification means: A product carries the BPI Certified Compostable logo if it has been tested to ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards, passed all required tests, and undergone BPI’s certification review process. The certification is renewed annually.

The BPI logo: A standardized logo that customers can recognize on packaging. Use of the logo requires active BPI certification.

Recognition: BPI certification is referenced by:
– Most US municipalities and state composting programs
– Major foodservice distributors (Sysco, US Foods, PFG) as supplier qualification
– Major retail chains (Whole Foods, Sprouts) as supplier qualification
– State-level laws referencing ASTM compliance use BPI as practical evidence

Cost: Annual BPI certification fees range from $1,500-10,000+ per product family depending on company size. Plus lab testing fees of $8,000-15,000 per product.

Database: BPI maintains a public database of all certified products at bpiworld.org/certified-products — a useful resource for verifying claims.

TÜV OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL

TÜV OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL is the European parallel to BPI Certified Compostable, certifying compliance with EN 13432.

What it covers: Products that meet EN 13432 requirements for industrial composting in the EU regulatory framework.

Logo: Distinctive TÜV OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL logo, typically displayed in green.

Recognition: Standard certification for compostable products sold in EU markets. Also recognized in markets that import EU products. Increasingly cross-recognized in other regions as well.

The relationship to BPI: A product can hold both BPI and TÜV OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL certifications. Many manufacturers serving both US and EU markets hold both. The two certifications cover similar but not identical technical criteria; some products qualify for one but not the other.

TÜV OK COMPOST HOME

TÜV OK COMPOST HOME is a distinct certification for products that compost in home (backyard) composting conditions, not just industrial. This is a higher bar than industrial compostability.

Why it matters: Home composting runs at lower temperatures (typically 60-90°F vs 130°F+ for industrial), without controlled aeration, often without precise moisture management. Products that compost in industrial systems may not compost in home systems, especially items containing PLA (which requires industrial temperatures to break down).

Technical requirements: Similar to industrial but tested at home-compost conditions (lower temperature, longer time). Specifically:
– Biodegradation: ≥90% within 12 months at 28°C (instead of 6 months at 58°C for industrial)
– Disintegration: ≥90% within 6 months at home-compost conditions

Recognition: TÜV OK COMPOST HOME logo is the global gold standard for home compostability claims. Other certifications also exist (CMA’s Home Compostable certification in the US, ABA’s Home Compostable certification in Australia) but TÜV is the most widely recognized.

Products that typically qualify: Cellulose-based products, certain plant-fiber items, some bagasse products, items with home-compost-compatible coatings (PHA, beeswax). Products that typically don’t qualify: PLA-only products, PLA-coated paper, most conventional bioplastics.

CMA (Compost Manufacturing Alliance) certification

CMA (Compost Manufacturing Alliance) certification is a separate North American certification focused on whether compostable products actually work in industrial composting facilities.

What’s different about CMA: While BPI tests whether products meet ASTM standards in lab conditions, CMA tests whether products actually compost successfully in real industrial facilities. The certification reflects the operating reality of composting facilities, not just lab conditions.

Why it matters: Many BPI-certified products are rejected by industrial composters for operational reasons (slower decomposition, visual indistinguishability from conventional plastics, contamination concerns). CMA certification confirms the product works at member facilities, addressing the gap between lab certification and facility acceptance.

Growing recognition: CMA certification is becoming a practical requirement for some sophisticated procurement (especially Pacific Northwest customers, where CMA-member facilities are concentrated). Adding CMA certification alongside BPI is increasingly common for compostable foodware brands.

Cost: CMA certification is in addition to BPI certification, with separate fees and testing requirements.

Other certification bodies and standards

A few other certifications you might encounter:

ABA (Australasian Bioplastics Association) Home Compostable. Australian equivalent of TÜV OK COMPOST HOME. Recognized in Australia and New Zealand markets.

DIN-Geprüft Industrial Compostable. German national certification, increasingly subsumed under EN 13432 and TÜV but still seen on some products.

Cradle to Cradle Certified. A broader sustainability certification that sometimes includes compostability among multiple criteria. Not specifically a compostable certification but worth noting.

EcoCert. A French certification body that certifies various sustainability claims including some compostable claims.

Various state and municipal certifications. Some US states and cities have additional certification or verification requirements beyond BPI (California’s compostable verification program, Washington State’s compostable identification requirements). These aren’t separate certifications but add compliance layers.

How to verify a compostable certification

For procurement teams or consumers wanting to verify a compostable claim:

1. Check the certification logo carefully. BPI, TÜV, and other legitimate logos have specific design requirements. Counterfeit or misleading “compostable-looking” logos exist.

2. Look up the product in the certification body’s database. BPI maintains bpiworld.org/certified-products; TÜV maintains okcompost.be. If a product claims certification but isn’t in the database, the claim is suspect.

3. Request the certification documentation. Suppliers should be able to provide BPI certificate numbers, TÜV certification documents, or other proof.

4. Verify the specific product version is certified. Product variants (different sizes, colors, etc.) may have separate certifications. Confirm the version you’re buying is the one that’s certified.

5. Check the certification date. Certifications expire and require renewal. An expired certification doesn’t support current claims.

Common certification confusion

A few patterns of confusion to watch for:

“Biodegradable” without “compostable” certification. Biodegradable means the product will eventually break down; compostable means it breaks down in specific timeframe under specific conditions. Biodegradable claims without compostable certification are usually meaningful in landfill contexts but not in composting contexts.

“Plant-based” without compostable certification. Plant-based materials aren’t necessarily compostable. Some plant-based plastics are designed for durability (long lifecycle) rather than compostability.

“Eco-friendly” without specific certification. Vague claims like eco-friendly, sustainable, or green don’t carry specific technical meaning without backing certifications.

Industrial vs home compostable confusion. A BPI Certified Compostable product is industrially compostable; it may or may not be home compostable. Many compostable products are not home compostable.

Test report vs certification. A test report showing the product passed ASTM D6400 doesn’t automatically mean the product is BPI Certified. BPI certification adds review of additional documentation, ongoing compliance, and logo use rights.

Choosing which certifications to pursue (for manufacturers)

For manufacturers deciding which certifications to pursue:

Baseline for North American market: BPI Certified Compostable. Essentially required for institutional sales and most retail.

For European market: TÜV OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL. Required for EU institutional and most retail.

For home compostable claims: TÜV OK COMPOST HOME or equivalent. Adds specific market access for home-compost-focused products.

For broad industrial composter acceptance: CMA certification (in addition to BPI). Adds practical facility acceptance beyond lab certification.

For multinational markets: ISO 17088 reference plus relevant regional certifications.

For specific sustainability programs: Consider additional certifications (Cradle to Cradle, EcoCert) if the customer or regulatory requirement specifically references them.

The total certification cost for a comprehensive program (BPI + TÜV INDUSTRIAL + TÜV HOME + CMA) can run $40,000-100,000 per product family in initial costs plus $5,000-20,000 annually for renewals. The cost is justifiable for products targeting broad market access; less so for niche or single-market products.

How certifications interact with regulation

Compostable certifications increasingly intersect with regulation:

California: AB 1276 references ASTM D6400 compliance for items sold as compostable in food service. BPI Certified is the practical compliance evidence.

Washington State: SB 5022 references compostable verification programs; BPI Certified products typically qualify.

EU: Various EU directives reference EN 13432 compliance for compostable packaging claims.

Federal (US): FTC Green Guides require substantiated claims; ASTM/BPI certification provides substantiation for compostable claims.

Increasingly: State EPR (extended producer responsibility) laws are starting to reference compostable certifications in fee structures. Compliance becomes financially significant.

Where the certification landscape is going

Several trends affecting compostable certifications:

Convergence toward ISO 17088 globally. International harmonization efforts continue; ISO 17088 will likely become the dominant global reference.

Tighter certification of marine biodegradation. New standards specifically for marine environments are emerging as plastic pollution in oceans gets regulatory attention.

Soil biodegradation standards. New standards for products designed to biodegrade in soil (agricultural mulch films, etc.) are developing.

Certification of broader sustainability claims. Carbon footprint, water use, and other lifecycle attributes are starting to integrate with compostable certifications.

Greater enforcement of certification claims. As regulatory attention increases, enforcement of false certification claims is intensifying. Brands will need to be more rigorous about claims they make.

A summary cheat sheet

For quick reference:

• ASTM D6400: US standard for compostable plastics (technical)
• ASTM D6868: US standard for compostable coatings on natural substrates (technical)
• EN 13432: European standard for compostable packaging (technical)
• ISO 17088: International standard for compostable plastics (technical)
• BPI Certified Compostable: Main US certification mark (issued by BPI based on ASTM compliance)
• TÜV OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL: Main European industrial compostability mark (issued by TÜV based on EN 13432)
• TÜV OK COMPOST HOME: Home compostability mark (higher bar than industrial)
• CMA Certified: US certification for facility acceptance (in addition to BPI)
• DIN-Geprüft: German national certification (largely subsumed by EN 13432)

How to use this knowledge

For procurement teams sourcing compostable products like compostable food container, compostable bowls, or compostable utensils:

• Require BPI Certified Compostable (US) or TÜV OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL (EU) as baseline supplier requirement
• For products that may be home-composted, require TÜV OK COMPOST HOME or equivalent
• Verify certifications in the relevant database
• Document certification numbers in your supplier qualification records
• Re-verify annually as certifications expire

For sustainability and regulatory affairs teams:

• Maintain documentation of all certifications for compliance audits
• Track regulatory changes that reference certifications
• Update procurement specifications as standards evolve
• Engage with certification bodies on emerging requirements

The bigger picture

Compostable certification standards aren’t bureaucracy for its own sake — they’re the infrastructure that lets compostable claims be trusted. Without these standards, the compostable foodware industry would be the same uncertain landscape that plagued early “biodegradable” claims, with no way for buyers to distinguish credible products from greenwashed marketing.

For everyone working with compostable foodware — manufacturers, procurement teams, retailers, regulators, customers — fluency in the certification landscape is essential. The system isn’t perfect (the gap between lab certification and facility acceptance is real, ongoing innovation creates standards lag), but it’s significantly better than no system. Understanding what each certification means lets you make informed decisions about claims, products, and compliance.

The investment in learning the standards pays off across countless procurement decisions, supplier evaluations, and compliance questions. Worth understanding once, then applying for years.

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

Background on the underlying standards: ASTM D6400 defines the U.S. industrial-compost performance bar, EN 13432 harmonises the EU equivalent, and the FTC Green Guides govern how “compostable” can be marketed on packaging in the United States.