Biodegradability & Compostability

When speaking about sustainable packaging, the words biodegradability and compostability often come to mind. What does it mean? How to use biodegradable packaging in food contact products? What are the risks? How to verify biodegradability? What is the true environmental impact?

Let us guide you!

What are Biodegradable & Compostable Packaging?

Biodegradability is the capacity for biological degradation of materials by living organisms down to simpler substances such as water, methane, carbon dioxide, biomass and other basic elements. Thus, every material biodegrades… eventually!

Meanwhile compostability is a certain form of biodegradability: materials are considered compostable when they break down in a timely manner, in controlled and managed environmental conditions (industrial composts or home composters), and without releasing harmful residues or toxins.

How Can We Help You?

Compostability Tests

International standards regulate Industrial and home compostability. These standards are very similar from one region to another, even if they can present some differences. In Europe, the standard for industrial compostability is EN 13432:2002.

Other international standards can be used to support compostability characteristics for producers willing to export worldwide.

Compostability Certification

Food Safety & Quality Risks

Compostable items designed for food contact (containers, plates, dishes, bags) need to be tested to ensure their safety and suitability toward food products.

All food contact packaging needs to comply with the related food contact legislation:

Biodegradable plastics: Food contact plastic regulation 10/2011;
Compostable paper: National regulations.

The analysis of other specific contaminants and non-intentionally added contaminants (NIAS) in compostable materials is also important to test safety in case of:

Use of raw material of natural origin (possible contamination from water and soil);
Use of new production processes (unexpected NIAS);
Use of coatings to increase the permeability of the product (contaminants that can migrate in food).

Thus, some important tests need to be carried, to rule out the major safety and quality risks:

Overall and specific migrations;
Sensory tests (according to ISO 13302:2003) to rule out organoleptic changes in food;
Screening of Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS);
Analysis of specific dangerous contaminants, e.g. PFAS, MOSH/MOAH, etc.
Evaluation of the technological suitability (instrumental and organoleptic tests after use in microwave, refrigerator, etc.).

Environmental Impact

Among the different packaging solutions that exist today, how to make sure we choose a sustainable option? How to compare environmental performances of materials?

Life-cycle assessment of packaging materials is the reference method to compare the environmental performance of different packaging options. The main factors that are drastically inferring on the environmental impact are:

The source of materials: fossil-based or bio-based;
The percentage of virgin materials;
The production process;
End-of-life scenarios: recyclable, compostable, reusable;
Consumers’ behaviors toward the end of life: easiness to sort out, available infrastructures.

Our expert team supports the assessment of the environmental footprint of your packaging and helps you find the best option, taking into account the food products, the safety and quality risks, the socio-economical context and consumers’ acceptance.

Physical and Mechanical Performances

The use of compostable materials can affect the performances of the packaging, such as its resistance to traction, laceration or easiness to break. Some tests can be performed to ensure resistance of the packaging.

We are Food Contact Materials Experts

Strong of our +15 years experience working in the field of Sustainable Packaging, we propose a wide range of studies and tests of biodegradability and compostability, recognized by all major global and local certification bodies.

We have strong assets:

Large infrastructures mimicking industrial composting conditions, with controlled conditions;
Experienced team of project managers dedicated to sustainable packaging studies;
Nanoplastics and ecotoxicity expertise to ensure environmental safety;
A Customer Care center to answer your questions and give you feedback on project completion and results;
A dedicated Packaging laboratory for further safety and quality analysis.