Compostability test

Benefit description

The compostability test is based on the EN 13432 standard where the material is subjected to 4 types of tests and must comply with each of their specifications in order to be certified as compostable. These tests are as follows: - Characterisation of the material: identification of constituents, determination of heavy metals and volatile solids. - Biodegradation: the material must be biodegradable. - Disintegration: it must disintegrate in a biological waste treatment process. - Ecotoxicity: it must not have any negative effect on the quality of the resulting compost. It can be tested under two conditions. Industrial conditions, where the temperature is above 58 ºC and the biodegradation and disintegration times are those indicated by the standards or in home compost conditions where the temperature is reduced to about 30 ºC and the times of the mentioned tests are doubled.