Different certifications and what they mean
Certification Standards Explained: EN 13432 vs EN 17427 – What Do These Certifications Really Mean?
When shopping for compostable bags or selecting packaging for a sustainable business, you will likely encounter certifications such as EN 13432, EN 17427, OK Compost, or BPI. These labels are often presented as proof of environmental responsibility, yet their actual meaning and scope are frequently misunderstood. Understanding what these certifications truly guarantee is essential for making informed purchasing decisions and ensuring that compostable packaging performs as claimed in real-world composting systems.
Why Certification Matters: Preventing Greenwashing
The compostable packaging market has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by regulatory pressure, corporate sustainability commitments, and consumer demand for alternatives to conventional plastics (European Bioplastics). With this growth has come a rise in greenwashing—products marketed as “compostable” without credible, third-party verification. Packaging that fails to properly break down in composting systems can contaminate organic waste streams, disrupt composting operations, and contribute to microplastic pollution rather than preventing it (European Commission).
Third-party certification exists to address this issue. Certified products are independently tested against defined technical standards to verify that they biodegrade, disintegrate, and do not harm compost quality. When a product displays a Seedling logo, OK Compost mark, or a BPI certification number, it indicates that the material has passed standardized laboratory and field-relevant tests rather than relying on unsubstantiated marketing claims (DIN CERTCO; TÜV Austria; BPI).
EN 13432: The European Standard for Industrial Composting
EN 13432 is the primary European standard governing compostable packaging intended for industrial composting facilities. Officially titled “Packaging – Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation,” it defines the conditions under which packaging materials may be labeled as compostable in controlled, high-temperature composting environments operated by professional waste managers (European Committee for Standardization – CEN).
What EN 13432 Requires
To obtain EN 13432 certification, a product must meet four core requirements.
First, biodegradation testing requires that at least 90 % of the organic material is converted into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass within 180 days under industrial composting conditions, typically at temperatures around 55–60 °C. This ensures true chemical breakdown at the molecular level rather than superficial fragmentation (CEN EN 13432; European Bioplastics).
Second, disintegration testing verifies that after 12 weeks in a controlled composting process, no more than 10 % of the material remains in fragments larger than 2 mm. This prevents visible plastic-like residues from contaminating the finished compost (CEN EN 13432).
Third, chemical characterization ensures that the material does not exceed strict threshold limits for heavy metals and other potentially hazardous substances, protecting soil quality and agricultural safety once compost is applied to land (CEN EN 13432; TÜV Austria).
Finally, ecotoxicity testing confirms that compost containing the tested material does not negatively affect plant growth, demonstrating that the compost remains suitable for agricultural and horticultural use (CEN EN 13432).
Certification Bodies and Labels
EN 13432 certification is carried out by accredited organizations, most notably TÜV Austria and DIN CERTCO. Products certified under EN 13432 may display the Seedling logo or OK Compost Industrial mark and are assigned a unique registration number that can be verified in official certification databases (DIN CERTCO; TÜV Austria).
What EN 13432 Does Not Guarantee
It is critical to understand that EN 13432 does not certify home compostability. Products meeting this standard are designed for industrial composting environments and are not guaranteed to break down in backyard compost bins, soil, marine environments, or landfills. Acceptance of EN 13432-certified products also depends on the operational parameters of local composting facilities (European Commission; European Bioplastics).
EN 17427: The European Home Composting Standard
While EN 13432 addresses industrial composting, EN 17427, published in 2022, is the first European standard specifically designed to assess carrier bags suitable for home composting. Home composting systems operate at lower, more variable temperatures and are managed by consumers rather than professionals, requiring a fundamentally different testing approach (CEN EN 17427:2022).
What Makes EN 17427 Distinct
EN 17427 establishes a testing scheme that evaluates whether carrier bags can biodegrade and disintegrate under well-managed home composting conditions, typically over a period of at least 12 months. The standard focuses on material characterization, biodegradation under mesophilic temperatures, physical disintegration over a realistic home composting cycle, and the impact of residues on compost quality and soil health (CEN EN 17427:2022).
Unlike industrial composting, where temperature and aeration are tightly controlled, EN 17427 explicitly accounts for the variability of household compost bins. It does not apply to industrial composting, worm composting, uncontrolled environments, or claims of biodegradability in nature (CEN EN 17427:2022).
Certification and Market Relevance
Certification schemes based on EN 17427, such as DINplus Home Compostable Carrier Bags, allow manufacturers and retailers to credibly label products as suitable for home composting. As municipalities across Europe increasingly promote home bio-waste treatment, EN 17427 certification provides a clear competitive advantage for brands targeting environmentally engaged consumers (DIN CERTCO).
How EN 13432 and EN 17427 Relate in Practice
The key distinction between the two standards reflects their intended environments. EN 13432 applies to high-temperature, professionally managed industrial composting facilities, while EN 17427 applies to lower-temperature, long-duration home composting systems. Products certified to EN 17427 generally also meet EN 13432 requirements, but the reverse is not automatically true (European Bioplastics).
International Equivalents and Global Alignment
Outside Europe, comparable standards exist. ASTM D6400, administered in North America and certified through the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), is broadly equivalent to EN 13432 for industrial composting. AS 4736 serves a similar role in Australia and New Zealand, while AS 5810 covers home compostability in those markets. Many global brands pursue multiple certifications to ensure compliance and credibility across regions (BPI; Australasian Bioplastics Association).
What This Means for Consumers and Businesses
For consumers, certification marks provide assurance that a product has been independently tested. It is important to verify whether a product is certified for industrial or home composting and whether local waste infrastructure supports that pathway (European Commission).
For businesses, sourcing certified compostable packaging requires more than checking a logo. Certification documents should be verified, and material choices must align with the actual composting systems available. Misalignment creates environmental, regulatory, and reputational risk, whereas transparent communication of certification builds trust and supports premium positioning (European Bioplastics).
Regulatory Outlook
Within the European Union, compostable packaging claims are increasingly regulated. Under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), compostability claims must be supported by recognized standards such as EN 13432 or equivalent certification, reinforcing certification as a legal and commercial necessity rather than a marketing option (European Commission, PPWR).
Conclusion
EN 13432 and EN 17427 are the result of extensive scientific research and practical experience translated into enforceable standards. They exist to prevent misleading claims, protect composting systems, and ensure that compostable packaging delivers real environmental benefits. Certifications are not interchangeable labels; they are precise technical guarantees tied to specific composting environments. For both businesses and consumers, choosing certified products—and verifying those certifications—is essential to supporting a genuinely circular economy rather than contributing to well-intentioned but ineffective greenwashing.