BPI
The BPI Certification Mark indicates third-party verification of compostability for manufacturers and brand owners to use on products and packaging and for consumers, end-users, and composters to use when determining whether or not a product or package is compostable. BPI is the only third-party verification of ASTM-6400 or ASTM-6868 standards for compostable products in North America. Meeting the ASTM standards is only the beginning of what BPI’s compostability certification verifies for the entire value chain. Additional elements of BPI’s program include: - Eligibility Requirements – Only items that are associated with desirable feedstocks like food scraps and yard trimming are eligible for BPI Certification. This helps keep the total volume of packaging in organics streams lower, which gives composters accepting compostable products a better chance at managing contamination from non-compostable products. - Fluorinated Chemicals (PFAS) – BPI's standard for fluorinated chemicals went into effect on January 1, 2020. Products may no longer be claimed as BPI-Certified unless they meet all conditions of the rule, including no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals, a test report showing less than 100 ppm total organic fluorine, and a technical review of the formulation. - Labeling Requirements – No organization has done more work on compostable product labeling than BPI. Part of that work entails reviewing every piece of product and packaging artwork to make sure the BPI Certification Mark is present, and to help guide other labeling decisions. - Online Product Database - Every BPI-Certified item can be referenced in a searchable, online product database. This gives downstream audiences the ability to independently verify that items are certified by BPI and in good standing.
In order to achieve BPI Compostable accreditation, materials need to meet the following requirements in an industrial compost environment: - Minimum of 90% biodegradation of bioplastic materials within 180 days in compost. - Minimum of 90% of plastic materials should disintegrate into less than 2mm pieces in compost within 90 days. - Hazardous substances such as heavy metals should not be present above the maximum allowed levels. - Additional requirements can be found in the BPI Commercial Compostability Certification Scheme.