Why Material-Level Certification Is Not Enough for Compostable Packaging
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In the compostable packaging industry, one of the most common misunderstandings is the belief that certified raw materials automatically result in certified compostable products.
This assumption is incorrect.
Material-level certification alone does not guarantee that a finished packaging product complies with compostable standards such as EN 13432, ASTM D6400, or AS 4736. This page explains why, and outlines the compliance risks of relying solely on material certificates.
What Is Material-Level Certification?
Material-level certification refers to certification issued for raw materials, such as compostable resins or polymer pellets, before they are converted into finished products.
These certificates typically apply to:
Base polymer formulations
Resin blends or masterbatches
Unconverted films or test plaques
Material-level certification confirms that the raw material itself meets certain compostability criteria under laboratory conditions.
However, it does not automatically extend to finished packaging products.
Why the Industry Gets This Wrong
Many suppliers, distributors, and even brand owners mistakenly assume that:
“If the material is certified, the bag must be certified.”
This misunderstanding is widespread because:
Raw material certificates are easier to obtain
Finished-product certification is more complex and costly
Marketing language often blurs the difference between materials and products
As a result, material certificates are frequently used to support claims that the finished product is compostable, even when no product-level certification exists.
Finished Products Are Not the Same as Raw Materials
Once raw materials are converted into packaging products, many additional variables are introduced, including:
Film thickness
Multi-layer structures
Printing inks and pigments
Adhesives and coatings
Additives and fillers
Each of these factors can affect compostability performance and environmental safety.
Because of this, compostable standards require testing of the final product, not just its raw components.
Why Finished-Product Testing Is Required
Compostable standards focus on real-world outcomes, not theoretical material properties.
Finished-product testing evaluates whether the entire product, as sold and used, can:
Biodegrade within required timeframes
Disintegrate fully during composting
Avoid leaving harmful residues or microplastics
Meet strict limits for heavy metals and ecotoxicity
A raw material may pass these tests on its own, while the finished product fails once thickness, printing, or structure changes are introduced.
Common Compliance Failure Scenarios
Relying only on material-level certification often leads to failures such as:
Films that are too thick to disintegrate on time
Inks or pigments that introduce heavy metals
Non-compostable barrier layers in multi-layer packaging
Undisclosed additives that affect biodegradation
These issues are only identified during finished-product testing, not material testing.
Legal and Commercial Risks of Material-Only Claims
Using material-level certification to justify compostable claims for finished products can create serious risks, including:
Failed retailer or distributor audits
Rejection by composting facilities or councils
Greenwashing allegations under consumer protection laws
Product recalls or forced relabeling
Loss of trust with buyers and regulators
In regulated markets, unsupported compostable claims may be considered misleading or non-compliant.
What Compostable Certification Actually Covers
Recognized compostable certifications apply to specific finished product constructions, defined by:
Product type and dimensions
Approved thickness ranges
Ink systems and coatings
Manufacturing processes
Any change to these parameters may require additional testing or certification updates.
👉 Related reading: How to verify an EN 13432 certificate
The Correct Compliance Approach
To reduce risk and ensure compliance, buyers and brands should:
Require finished-product certification, not just material certificates
Verify certification scope and product specifications
Confirm certificate validity and issuing bodies
Avoid relying on marketing claims without documentation
A structured verification process helps ensure compostable packaging performs as claimed and meets regulatory expectations.
👉 Reference guide: Compostable packaging compliance checklist
Impact on B2B Packaging Sourcing
For B2B buyers, VerpackG compliance means packaging decisions affect more than cost and performance.
Documentation, material consistency, and supplier transparency all play a role in meeting legal obligations.
This is why German buyers often request detailed compliance documentation before approving suppliers.
FAQ
No. It is valuable for formulation development, but it is not sufficient for product-level compliance.
No. Compostable standards require testing of the final product configuration.
Because they are easier to obtain and often misunderstood by buyers.
