With the growing interest in bioplastics, certification confirming the declared properties of materials is becoming increasingly important. Certificates are often treated as proof of a product’s ‘environmental friendliness’, but in practice they refer to strictly defined characteristics tested under controlled conditions. A lack of understanding of the scope of certification leads to misinterpretations, marketing abuses and the incorrect implementation of materials in waste systems.

What it is? Bioplastic certification is a process of independent verification of selected material properties, such as:

• compostability,
• biodegradability,
• content of bio-based raw materials,
• compliance with specific technical standards

How it works:

The certification process is based on:

• laboratory testing according to standardised methods
• assessment of compliance with a specific standard (e.g. industrial composting)
• audit of documentation and material repeatability

Certificates are issued by specialised certification bodies (e.g. TÜV Austria, DIN CERTCO) and are valid only within the scope defined in the relevant standard. 

Purpose

• facilitation of product launch
• support for B2B and B2C communication
• compliance with regulatory or tender requirements.

Target group for this tool:

• bioplastics manufacturers and processors,
• brand owners and importers,
• research and certification bodies,
• public administration and regulators,
• ESG, LCA and compliance teams.

Further information: Certification applies to the material or product, not its actual fate after use.

Holding a certificate:

• does not guarantee selective waste collection,
• does not mean biodegradation in the natural environment,
• does not replace LCA analysis or system assessment.

Different certificates refer to different end-of-life scenarios.

Results / Observations – Market experience indicates that:

• Certificates are often misinterpreted as a “universal eco-label”.
• Certified materials end up in the wrong waste streams.
• Certification is sometimes used mainly for marketing purposes, without changing the system.

Conclusion:

Bioplastic certification is a verification tool, not a confirmation of overall sustainability. Its real value depends on the compatibility of the material, its application and the waste infrastructure.

Links:

1. EN 13432:2000 – Packaging – Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation
2. ISO 17088:2021 – Specifications for compostable plastics
3. European Bioplastics Certification & labels for bioplastics  www.european-bioplastics.org/certification
4. TÜV Austria OK compost / OK biodegradable certification schemes www.tuv-at.be/green-marks/
5. DIN CERTCO Certification of biobased and compostable products www.dincertco.de