Shipping compostable tableware into the EU or US is not just a logistics problem — it is a compliance problem with two layers. First, the container must be food-contact safe for the market you are entering. Second, if you market it as “compostable,” the claim must be certified to the standard that market recognizes. Miss either layer and a container can sit in customs, a retailer can reject your line, or a regulator can challenge your marketing.
This guide decodes the four most common marks — FDA, BPI, EN 13432 and OK Compost — so you know which applies where, and what documentation to carry.
H2: The Two Layers of Compliance You Must Separate
It helps to think in two distinct checkboxes:
- Food-contact safety — is the material safe for touching food? Regulated per market.
- Compostability claim — does it actually biodegrade, and is that certified by a recognized body?
A product can be food-contact safe without being compostable, and vice versa. Exporters need both layers covered for the specific destination market, and the paperwork for each.
H2: Food-Contact Compliance — FDA and the European Rules
For the US, the key reference is FDA 21 CFR — the food-contact regulations that keep materials safe around food. Buyers and inspectors look for documentation showing the product complies with the applicable FDA food-contact provisions.
For Europe, the framework is EC 1935/2004 (the framework regulation on food contact materials) together with EU 10/2011 (the plastics implementation measure), and, for the German market in particular, LFGB. These are reference standards rather than a single mark; the practical ask is a finished-product food-contact declaration or test report.
What to carry: a food-contact compliance statement/report from your supplier for each SKU, covering the destination market — not a vague factory-wide claim.
H2: Compostability Certification — The Marks That Back Up the Word
“Compostable” is only as strong as the certificate behind it. The four marks buyers most often request:
- BPI (USA) — the Biodegradable Products Institute certifies products to ASTM D6400, the US standard for plastic that is compostable in municipal facilities. The mark US retailers, municipalities and composters look for, and the one behind most “compostable” claims sold into the US.
- DIN EN 13432 (EU) — the European industrial standard, carrying the Seedling logo. Covers biodegradation, disintegration, eco-toxicity and heavy-metal limits. The standard most EU and UK industrial-compost claims reference.
- OK compost (TÜV Austria) — a family of certifications covering both OK compost INDUSTRIAL and OK compost HOME. The HOME mark is the harder test, for backyard-garden composting; it is widely recognized beyond Austria.
- ASTM D6400 / AS 5810 — ASTM D6400 underlies BPI; AS 5810 is the Australian home-composting standard.
Note the distinction repeated by every certifier: industrial (BPI, EN 13432) requires a commercial composting facility; home (OK compost HOME, AS 5810) must work in a backyard bin. Claiming “home compostable” without the home mark is a compliance risk.
H2: Mapping Certification to Your Destination Market
The practical mapping for an exporter:
- US — food contact via FDA 21 CFR; compostability via BPI / ASTM D6400 (industrial) is the mainstream expectation.
- EU — food contact via EC 1935/2004 / EU 10/2011; compostability via EN 13432 (Seedling) for industrial; OK compost HOME for home claims.
- UK — follows European-standard thinking; EN 13432 and OK compost marks are commonly accepted references.
- Australia — AS 5810 for home, and reference to industrial standards where relevant.
When in doubt, ask the importer, retailer or distributor which certificate they need, and provide the document for the exact SKU.
H2: PFAS-Free and Beyond — The Third Layer
One more documentation set increasingly gates entry: PFAS/PFOA/PFOS-free test reports. Regulators in the EU and several US states are restricting PFAS in food contact, and major buyers demand the reports as a matter of course. Carry product-level test reports for PFAS-free stated claims, plus any management-system certifications (such as ISO 9001 quality and BRCGS for packaging safety) your buyer requests.
H2: Building a Compliant Documentation File
Assemble a per-SKU compliance folder before shipping, rather than scrambling at customs:
- Food-contact compliance statement/report (FDA 21 CFR for US; EC 1935/2004 + EU 10/2011 for EU; LFGB where relevant).
- Compostability certificate matching your claim (BPI/ASTM D6400, EN 13432, OK compost HOME/INDUSTRIAL, AS 5810).
- PFAS/PFOA/PFOS-free test report.
- Any management-system certificates your buyer asks for.
Keep this file current — reformulation or line changes can affect results, so renew reports on a schedule.
H2: FAQ
Q: Does BPI certification work for the EU?
A: Not directly. Europe’s mainstream industrial standard is EN 13432 (Seedling); BPI/ASTM D6400 is the US expectation. Request the mark for your destination.
Q: Is EN 13432 valid in the US?
A: US buyers typically expect BPI/ASTM D6400 for industrial compostability. Carry the mark your market asks for.
Q: What is the difference between OK compost INDUSTRIAL and HOME?
A: HOME is the stricter test for backyard composting; INDUSTRIAL assumes a commercial facility. Match the claim to the certification.
Q: Can one certificate cover my whole range?
A: Certificates are usually per product/SKU. Confirm coverage for each item rather than assuming range-wide validity.
H2: Export With the Right Paperwork
Compliance is not a slogan — it is a documented file that matches your claims to the right destination-market standards. Choose a supplier that provides product-level food-contact and compostability certification, and keep the file ready.
→ Review our certifications or contact us to discuss your target market’s requirements.
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