Compostable Certification Standards, Explained by a Factory That Holds Them
When a buyer asks for “compostable tableware,” what they usually mean is “certified to a standard I can trust.” Here is a straight guide to the certification standards we deal with every day—EN 13432, ASTM D6400, BPI, and OK Compost—and what each one actually proves. No jargon about your auditors can’t verify.
EN 13432 (Europe)
EN 13432 is the EU standard for compostable and biodegradable packaging. It is a full framework: the product must biodegrade to CO2, water, and biomass, disintegrate into pieces under 2 mm, pass a heavy-metal limit, and produce compost with no adverse effect on plants. It certifies industrial composting. If you export to the EU, this is the gatekeeper standard for compostable food containers.
ASTM D6400 (United States)
ASTM D6400 is the US equivalent for plastics designed to biodegrade in an aerobic municipal or industrial composting facility. It requires 90% biodegradation within 180 days plus disintegration and ecotoxicity tests. Products carrying ASTM D6400, when verified by a third-party lab and listed by a certifier, are the ones US composters accept. When you see the BPI logo on a product, it means that product was certified under ASTM D6400.
BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute, USA)
BPI is a certification body, not a test standard. It takes ASTM D6400 (and the disposable-foodservice standard ASTM D6868) and issues a certification that a specific product composts in a commercial facility. BPI certification is what tells US buyers “this is genuinely compostable in a municipal composter,” not just labeled so.
OK Compost (TUV Austria)
OK Compost is TUV Austria’s certification scheme. It comes in two tiers:
- OK Compost INDUSTRIAL: certifies compostability in an industrial facility under EN 13432 conditions.
- OK Compost HOME: certifies compostability in a backyard pile at ambient temperature, with stricter ecotoxicity thresholds. This is the one to request for home-composting markets.
The OK Compost HOME mark is increasingly demanded in France, Australia, and other regions that regulate home-compostable claims.
ISO & Other Frameworks
ISO 17088 is the international umbrella specification for compostable plastics and largely harmonizes with EN 13432 and ASTM D6400. You may also see NF T51-800, the French home-composting standard, and Australia’s AS 4736 (industrial) and AS 5810 (home). All of these rest on the same biology: controlled biodegradation, disintegration, and non-toxicity.
What “Certified” Does and Does Not Mean
- It means: a third-party lab tested this exact product, it biodegrades within a defined time, disintegrates, and passes heavy-metal and ecotoxicity limits.
- It does not mean: the product will disappear in any compost pile, or that it is recyclable, or that it is safe for every food type at every temperature.
- It does not mean home compostable unless the label says home or the standard is OK Compost HOME / NF T51-800 / AS 5810.
Responsible Claims & Greenwashing
Marketers like the word “biodegradable” because it has no defined meaning. On the manufacturing side, we prefer language we can prove. If our product says compostable, the certificate is in the shipment. That protects you, and it protects us, and it keeps your claims defamation-safe.
Certifications on Our Tableware
- EN 13432 for EU exports
- ASTM D6400 / BPI for US exports
- OK Compost INDUSTRIAL and OK Compost HOME lines
- Heavy-metal and food-contact test reports per market
- PFAS-free confirmation—see our dedicated page
Get the Full Certificate Pack
Before you place an order, get every certificate in one document. We email you the test reports and certification listings so your own compliance team can verify. Request the certification standards pack and pricing or email sales@bagassepackco.com.
Certified compostable — order factory-direct
Need certified compostable packaging that meets ASTM D6400? See our ASTM D6400 testing & certification guide and browse our certified bagasse tableware range, or request a quote for product-specific test documentation.
Related Reading
Not every certification is equal — see the full comparison in Compostable Certifications 2026: BPI, TÜV, OK Compost & ASTM Matrix, including industrial vs home-compostable claims and how to avoid greenwashing.
Which Certification Covers What: A Comparison Table
Buyers mix these up constantly, because every standard uses the word “compostable.” They are not interchangeable, and a certificate that satisfies a German buyer may not satisfy a Californian one. Use this table to see what each one actually proves, then confirm the detail with your own counsel since national implementations differ.
| Standard / mark | Market | Proves | Typical buyer use |
|---|---|---|---|
| EN 13432 | Europe | Industrial compostability of packaging | Evidence for EU compostable claims |
| ASTM D6400 | United States | US industrial compostability | Core spec for North American SKUs |
| BPI | USA | Third-party verification to ASTM D6400 | Retail programmes that name BPI |
| OK Compost HOME | EU (TÜV Austria) | Home compostability, stricter than industrial | Home-compost claims, garden-waste markets |
| OK Compost INDUSTRIAL | EU (TÜV Austria) | Industrial compostability | Parallel to EN 13432 |
| FDA / LFGB | USA / Germany | Food-contact material safety | Food-service and retail food contact |
Notice what none of them prove: that the item is PFAS-free. Compostability and food-contact safety are separate from the fluorochemical question, which is why PFAS-free declarations have become a standard request alongside the certificate — see the FAQ below.
FAQ: PFAS-Free and Compostable Claims
Do I need PFAS-free disposable plates and cups for my market?
Increasingly, yes. PFAS restrictions on food-contact packaging are tightening across the US, EU and parts of Asia, and some retail groups now reject tenders without a PFAS-free declaration. It is worth asking for the declaration up front rather than discovering the gap at tender stage.
Are bagasse plates and cups naturally PFAS-free?
A well-made molded bagasse plate’s grease barrier is mechanical (the fibre itself), not a fluorochemical coating, so it is inherently PFAS-free. The same is true of uncoated kraft and molded-fibre items. The risk sits in added coatings: if a supplier applies a grease or water barrier to hit a performance spec, you must confirm that barrier is not fluorochemical-based.
Can a product be PFAS-free but not compostable?
Yes, and this is the trap. A plate can be PFAS-free and still fail EN 13432 if its coating or the fibres themselves do not break down in an industrial cycle. The two claims are independent — demand evidence for each separately.
What documentation should I request in a tender?
For each SKU: the applicable compostability certificate (EN 13432 and/or ASTM D6400), the food-contact approval (FDA and/or LFGB), and a PFAS-free declaration covering the barrier chemistry on all food-contact surfaces. Ask for batch-linked paperwork rather than a single generic PDF that could describe any product.
Where can I see the certificates you actually hold?
Our certifications page lists the marks our lines carry, and ASTM D6400 vs EN 13432 vs OK Compost HOME explains how the standards differ by market. To request batch documentation, use the request a quote form.
