Degradable, compostable, repulpable, recyclable testing standards and related institutions

Recently, too many people have come to consult me about the relationship between compostable and degradable, especially the specific testing standards and institutions. They will also ask how to test recyclable and recyclable pulp. Seeing some articles, I think it is necessary to explain together, which is also a popularization of information. Hope to help everyone!

Compostable material certification refers to the independent certification of the compostable performance and composting performance of a certain material by an authoritative third party through certain testing and certification procedures, that is, under the test composting conditions, the material has the following properties: biodegradability, disintegration ability, heavy metal content, and phytotoxicity of composting products.

The current globally recognized standards are as follows:

EU EN13432

The EU standard for compostable degradable plastics is the standard En 13432 "Requirements for the Final Evaluation of Packages Recycled by Composting and Biodecomposition" developed by the European Standards Committee, which is one of the important components of EU Directive 94/62/EC. The En 13432 provides requirements and qualifications for compostable materials in four areas:

A chemical substance limit: specifies the minimum content of organic substances, heavy metals and fluorine in compostable materials;

B Biodegradability: For controlled composting materials, more than 90% must be finally converted into carbon dioxide, water and minerals within a maximum of 6 months under aerobic composting conditions;

C disintegration performance: specify the maximum thickness of the controllable composting material that can be used, and the controllable composting degradation material under this thickness must disintegrate more than 90% of the fragments that can pass through the 22mm screen within the longest 12 weeks of aerobic composting conditions;

D ecotoxicological performance: the original survival rate and biological characteristics of more than 90% after the selected plants are reintroduced into the compost decomposition material of compostable degradable materials;

ASTM D6400

The United States is engaged in the standardization, promotion and technical development of biodegradable materials, which is the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). The current standard for compostable degradable plastics in the United States is ASTM D6400, Specification for Composting Plastics.

ASTM D6400 conclusions include three aspects of biodegradation, disintegration and ecotoxicological performance:

Biodegradability: For a single polymer, it is specified that the controlled composting material must eventually convert more than 60% to carbon dioxide, water and minerals within a maximum of 12 months under aerobic composting conditions. For blends, it is stipulated that more than 90% of the controlled composting material must be finally converted to carbon dioxide, water and minerals within a maximum of 12 months under aerobic composting conditions;

B Disintegration performance: for the maximum thickness of the controllable composting material that can be used, the remaining controllable composting degradable material must disintegrate into more than 90% fragments that can pass through a 22mm screen within a maximum of 12 weeks under aerobic composting conditions;

C eco-toxicological performance: the selected plants are reintroduced into the compost decomposition material of controllable compost degradation material to reach more than 90% of the original survival rate and biological characteristics.

Australia AS4736

The corresponding standard developed by Standards Australia to regulate the entry of controlled composting degradable materials into the Australian market is AS 4736 Biodegradable Plastics-Biodegradable Plastics suitable for composting or other biological treatment methods.

The standard is based on the European standard EN 13432, in addition to the ecotoxicological performance requirements to increase the earthworm ecotoxicological testing.

Specific requirements are:

A chemical substance limit: the minimum content of organic substances, heavy metals and fluorine in controlled composting materials;

B biodegradability: it is stipulated that more than 90% of the controllable composting material must be finally converted into carbon dioxide, water and minerals within the longest month under aerobic composting conditions;

C disintegration performance: it is stipulated that the controllable composting degradation material must disintegrate into more than 90% fragments that can pass through 22mm screen within 12 weeks under aerobic composting conditions;

D eco-toxicological performance: the selected plants can achieve more than 90% of the original survival rate and biological characteristics after introducing the compost decomposition material of the controllable compost degradation material, and at the same time, the earthworm can achieve more than 90% of the original survival rate and biological characteristics after introducing the compost decomposition material of the controllable compost degradation material.

 

Japanese GreenPla

Japan's biodegradable plastic certification is called "GreenPla Certification" and was initiated by the Japan Biodegradable Plastics Association (BPS).

Since June 2000, BPS has implemented the certification standard for biodegradable plastic products, namely "GreenPla" mark certification. The certification standards are OECD 301C, JIS K 6950, JIS K 6951 and JIS K 6953.

Japan's current implementation of the controllable composting degradation of plastic standards for the BPS to develop the JIS K 6950, the specific requirements are:

A chemical substance limit: the minimum content of organic substances and heavy metals in controlled composting materials;

B Biodegradability: It is stipulated that more than 60% of the controllable composting material must be finally converted into carbon dioxide, water and minerals under aerobic composting conditions, and the specific time span is not clearly specified;

C disintegration performance: specify the maximum thickness of controllable composting material that can be used. under this thickness, controllable composting degradation material must disintegrate into more than 90% fragments that can pass through a 22mm screen within a maximum of 12 weeks under aerobic composting conditions;

D eco-toxicological performance: the selected plants reach more than 90% of the original survival rate and biological characteristics after the introduction of compost decomposition substances of controllable compost degradation materials or earthworms reach more than 90% of the original survival rate and biological characteristics after the introduction of compost decomposition substances of controllable compost degradation materials.

China GB18006/T19277

In 2006, China issued the standard "Definition, Classification, Marking and Degradation Performance Requirements of Degradable Plastics". As a class of degradable plastics, controllable composting materials are clearly defined in the standard, and their biodegradability and disintegration properties are specified. The specific provisions are as follows:

A biodegradability: it is stipulated that the controllable composting material must be converted into carbon dioxide, water and minerals at most 60 within 6 months under aerobic composting conditions;

B Disintegration performance: specify the maximum thickness of the controlled composting material that can be used. At this thickness, the controlled composting degradable material must disintegrate into more than 90% fragments that can pass through a 22mm screen within a maximum of 12 weeks under aerobic composting conditions.

At present, China has published the relevant test standards are as follows:

GB18006.1-1999 "General Technical Conditions for Disposable Degradable Tableware",

GB/T18006.2-1999-Test Method for Degradability of Disposable Degradable Tableware ",

HJBZ12-2000 "Technical Requirements for Environmental Marking Products for Packaging Products",

HBC1-2001 "Technical requirements for environmental labeling products of disposable tableware",

QB/T2461-1999 "Degradable Polyethylene Film for Packaging"

It can be seen that compared with foreign testing standards, our national standard is relatively loose, but at present Hainan has introduced its own strict standards, and the biodegradability also requires more than 90%. For paper packaging can refer to the national standard GB/T19277.1-1, Hainan can refer to the local standard DB 46/T 505-2020.

Of course, special attention is paid to the repulpable and recyclable tests for paper packaging. In fact, the general paper colleges in China can verify the tests, or the Chinese paper institutes have good equipment to verify whether the repulpable can be used. However, there is no specific standard for this piece in our country, so we can only do an experiment to issue the test results. Only the German Pulp and Paper Research Institute, PTS, can do it in the world and is generally recognized. They have test methods and test standards. The following is its official website. Those who are interested can contact directly and will issue Recycle certification documents after passing the test. In addition, you can also contact the United States UL for third-party certification. https://www.ptspaper.com/

The biodegradation certification bodies that can be contacted abroad are:

German DIN CERTCO Standardization Certification Center,

Belgium AIB-Vincotte Agency Certification OK Biobased

BPI (Biodegradable Plastics Institute)

Take the current popular BPI as an example, its certification process is as follows

Way one:

Products made from new raw materials (not certified in Europe and America).

2. Run ASTM D6400 or D6868 tests on end products, infrared spectroscopy FTIR and ash testing in certified laboratories.

3. Contact the BPI.

4. Sign a confidentiality agreement.

5. Review all test results by four reviewers to confirm compliance with the criteria. The cost of obtaining certification through route one is USD4800.

6. Sign the license agreement and obtain the right to use the BPI label. The company's product information will be listed on the BPI website at a USD3000 cost (annual fee: USD3000).

 

Way two:

 

Products made of certified materials (certified in Europe and the United States).

2. Infrared spectroscopy FTIR and ash testing in certified laboratories.

3. Contact the BPI.

4. Sign a confidentiality agreement and pass a reviewer to confirm the formula and whether the original certification meets the standards. The cost of passing through route 2 is USD1500.

6. Sign the license agreement and obtain the right to use the BPI label. The company's product information will be listed on the BPI website at a USD3000 cost (annual fee: USD3000).

In addition to industrial composting certification based on EN 13432 and ASTM D6400, there is also a "home compostable", that is, Home Compost. Currently, there are no specific international or national standards for home compostable packaging and barrier materials, and existing EU standards and versions adopted in other countries involve test methods that simulate industrial-scale composting.

The "OK Compost Home" specification in Belgium, for example, is Vincotte administered by the certification body, which also runs its "OK Compost" (in accordance with EN 13432) certification scheme. This specification contains similar requirements as EN 13432, but for domestic compostable compostable, the specific test temperature and duration are different. The specific comparison can be seen in the following table:

So currently on the market, if there is a product that claims it is "compostable", then this statement only refers to industrial compostability, unless it can be certified by 'Vincotte's Home Compostable "OK Compost Home" logo.