NSF
International, an independent organization committed to protecting
public health and the environment, has expanded its
biodegradable/compostable testing services for plastic products and
resins. Verifying a product’s compliance with biodegradability
standards is becoming increasingly important as more companies strive
to improve their environmental performance.
Concerns
associated with the waste stream resulting from plastic packaging,
cutlery, cups, and the like have led to an increase in the number of
products made from biodegradable or compostable plastic -- products
which can carry the claim “compostable.”
Companies seeking
to verify their compostability claims can rely on NSF International to
substantiate biodegradation, disintegration and eco-toxicity of their
products. NSF International is
accredited by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
to test and verify a product’s compostability against American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods. All biodegradable product
testing is conducted in NSF International’s in-house compostability
lab, which is ISO 17025 accredited by the Standards Council of Canada
(SCC) for ASTM methods:
- ASTM D6400 - Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics
- ASTM D6868 - Standard Specification for Biodegradable Plastics Used as Coatings on Paper and Other Compostable Substrates
-
ASTM D5338 - Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic
Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting
Conditions
- ASTM D5511 - Standard Test Method for Determining
Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids
Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions
“The marketplace is
increasingly focused on developing and purchasing products that
minimize environmental impact and improve sustainability,” said Tom
Bruursema, General Manager for NSF’s Environmental and Research
Services. “NSF’s expanded testing services provide product
manufacturers the ability to make credible, third-party verified claims
of compostability.”
