The compostability testing service offered by the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology is helping packaging manufacturers meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly materials.
Watch a short video about WIST compostability testing.
In October 2012 the Federal Trade Commission published a revised "Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims," commonly called the Green Guides. The guides outline how companies may advertise environmental attributes of their products. WIST compostability testing helps companies in the compostable packaging industry understand the compostability profile of their packaging. With that information, they may make certain claims regarding compostability in their marketing.
Compostable packaging is becoming more important, particularly in the food industry. For one thing, packaging contaminated with food or composed of several different types of material is difficult to recycle. Compostability provide a useful alternative solution. At the same time, consumers are increasingly aware of environmental impacts and companies have an opportunity to gain market share by addressing consumer concerns. Compostable materials can be diverted from landfills and the compost put to productive use, yielding a double environmental gain.
View a brochure on WIST compostability testing
Regulatory change is adding to the demand for biodegradable packaging. Some communities, such as Seattle, have banned from landfills single-use food packaging, napkins, beverage cups and related items. Those must be composted or recycled. And the push to divert food waste from landfills has created a market for "bio bags" – biodegradable bags used to collect food waste. The bag and food waste can all be tossed in the compost bin.
Paper products typically require additional coatings or other modifications to perform well as food containers, and that affects how well they decompose. Manufacturers are scrambling to develop compostable packaging, but only a handful of labs currently offer testing in the U.S.
WIST's testing protocol is designed to meet US standards for compostability. The testing protocol includes three stages: a disintegration trial, plant seed germination trial, and biodegradability trial. It takes a minimum of 120 days to complete the full protocol.
The disintegration trial tests how well the material will break down in a stable environment. The plant germination trial determines how well the material will germinate seeds. Finally, in a biodegradability trial, the material being tested is placed in a sealed vessel, and instruments record the amount of CO2
is produced during decomposition and release of CO2
is then compared to that of cellulose decomposition. Cellulose is what paper and paperboard is typically made of, and provides a baseline for compostability comparison.
Laboratory Services Price List
To request a copy of the WIST Laboratory Services Price List, click here
and complete the price list order form.