ASTM D6400 Standard for Compostable Plastics
- Andrea Chen
- Compostable Packaging Compliance Specialist
Table of Contents
ASTM D6400 defines requirements for plastics and plastic products designed for aerobic composting in municipal or industrial composting facilities.
This guide explains ASTM D6400 testing, requirements, certification claims and how buyers can verify whether the standard applies to a finished product.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Current ASTM edition checked: ASTM D6400-26
ASTM D6400 at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Edition | ASTM D6400-26 |
| Status | Active |
| Publisher | ASTM International |
| Main Application | Compostable plastics and plastic products |
| Composting Environment | Municipal / industrial aerobic composting |
| Standard Type | Standard Specification |
| Product Certification | Separate third-party certification may apply |
ASTM D6400 is a technical standard specification. It should not be confused with a certification program such as BPI.
What Is ASTM D6400?
ASTM D6400 is the ASTM International standard specification for plastics and products made from plastics that are designed to compost under aerobic conditions in municipal or industrial composting facilities.
Its purpose is to establish requirements for identifying plastics and plastic products that can compost satisfactorily under these controlled conditions.
The standard focuses on finished products and materials intended to be labeled as compostable in aerobic municipal or industrial composting facilities.
It is not a home-composting standard, and it does not mean that a product will biodegrade quickly in soil, water, landfill or other uncontrolled environments.
Where Can I Find the Official ASTM D6400 Standard?
ASTM International is the official publisher of ASTM D6400.
The current active edition is ASTM D6400-26, updated on June 15, 2026.
The full copyrighted standard is available directly from ASTM International.
This page provides a practical explanation for buyers, product developers and packaging companies. It does not reproduce or replace the Official ASTM D6400-26 standard.
What Does ASTM D6400 Cover?
ASTM D6400 applies to plastics and products made from plastics that are intended for aerobic municipal or industrial composting.
The standard evaluates whether the material or finished product can compost satisfactorily under defined conditions.
At a high level, the assessment considers:
- biodegradation
- physical disintegration
- the quality of the resulting compost
- applicable material or chemical limits
- the finished-product configuration
For manufacturers and buyers, the finished product matters.
A compostable raw material certificate should not automatically be treated as proof that every bag, film or packaging product made from that material meets ASTM D6400.
How ASTM D6400 Testing Works
ASTM D6400 testing is one of the most common search topics around this standard, but it is important to understand that ASTM D6400 is a specification that references applicable test methods rather than one single laboratory test.
Testing generally evaluates several aspects of compostability.
1. Biodegradation
Biodegradation testing evaluates whether the organic carbon in the material can be consumed by microorganisms under controlled aerobic composting conditions.
The purpose is to determine whether the material can biologically convert at an appropriate rate under the intended composting environment.
2. Disintegration
Disintegration testing evaluates whether the finished item physically breaks apart during composting.
For finished products, factors such as thickness or grammage can be important because a thicker product may behave differently from a thinner version made from the same material.
3. Compost Quality
Testing also considers whether the resulting compost remains suitable and is not negatively affected by the product.
Depending on the certification or testing scheme, this may involve compost-quality or ecotoxicity-related assessments.
4. Material & Chemical Requirements
Applicable regulated substances and other product-specific requirements may also need to be evaluated.
The exact testing program depends on the current ASTM edition, product construction and certification scheme being used.
5. Finished-Product Verification
The tested product should correspond to the product that will actually be sold.
Changes to:
- thickness
- formulation
- coatings
- additives
- printing
- product construction
may affect whether existing test data can be applied to the new finished product.
ASTM D6400 Requirements: What Is Evaluated?
For procurement and product development, it is more useful to understand the categories of requirements than to rely on one isolated test number.
ASTM D6400 is intended to evaluate whether a plastic product can compost satisfactorily under the specified aerobic municipal or industrial composting conditions.
The main areas include:
| Evaluation Area | What It Helps Determine |
| Biodegradation | Whether the material can be biologically converted under composting conditions |
| Disintegration | Whether the finished item physically breaks down during composting |
| Compost Quality | Whether the resulting compost remains suitable |
| Material Limits | Whether applicable chemical or regulated-substance requirements are met |
| Finished Product | Whether the tested configuration represents the item being sold |
Exact thresholds, test methods and procedures should always be checked against the current ASTM D6400 edition and the applicable certification program.
Is There an ASTM D6400 Certification?
ASTM D6400 itself is a standard specification, not a product certification program.
This distinction matters when a supplier says:
“ASTM D6400 certified.”
That statement may refer to several different things:
- a laboratory test report
- a material test
- finished-product testing
- a third-party certification based on ASTM D6400
These are not automatically equivalent.
A laboratory can test a product against applicable ASTM requirements, while an independent certification body may use ASTM D6400 within a broader certification program.
For example, BPI uses ASTM D6400 as the base assessment standard for its Commercial Compostability Certification program.
Therefore:
ASTM D6400 test documentation ≠ automatic BPI certification.
How to Verify an ASTM D6400 Claim Before Adding a Product to Your Catalog
For importers, distributors and private-label brands, this is often more important than simply asking whether a supplier “has ASTM D6400.”
Use the following checks before approving a product.
Step 1: Ask What Document Is Being Provided
Clarify whether the supplier is providing:
- a laboratory test report
- a third-party certificate
- a BPI certification or listing
- a raw-material certificate
Do not treat these documents as interchangeable.
Step 2: Check the Finished Product
Confirm whether the document applies to the finished product being quoted.
Compare:
- product name
- SKU where applicable
- formulation
- product structure
- thickness
- printing or coatings
A raw-material report alone does not automatically prove that every finished product made from that resin meets ASTM D6400.
Step 3: Check the Laboratory
Identify which laboratory performed the testing.
If the product will also require a certification program such as BPI, confirm that the laboratory and test data meet that program’s requirements.
Step 4: Verify Third-Party Certification Separately
If your purchasing specification requires BPI certification, verify the exact product through BPI’s official database.
Do not treat an ASTM D6400 test report as proof of BPI certification.
For supplier and SKU verification, see our BPI certification verification guide.
Step 5: Review Any Custom Changes
If you change:
- thickness
- color
- printing
- formulation
- coating
- product structure
confirm whether the existing test or certification documentation still applies.
Step 6: Confirm the End-of-Life Requirement
ASTM D6400 addresses compostability under defined municipal or industrial aerobic composting conditions.
It does not guarantee that every commercial composting facility or collection program will accept every product meeting the standard.
Confirm the requirements of the intended end-of-life program before procurement.
ASTM D6400 vs BPI Certification
ASTM D6400 and BPI are closely related, but they serve different purposes.
| ASTM D6400 | BPI Certification | |
| Type | Technical standard specification | Third-party certification program |
| Main Purpose | Defines compostability requirements | Evaluates and certifies eligible products |
| Commercial Compostability | Technical basis | Uses ASTM D6400 as base assessment |
| Product Database | No ASTM certified-product catalog | BPI Online Product Catalog |
| Certification Mark | No ASTM product certification mark | BPI Certification Mark |
| Additional Program Rules | Not a certification scheme | BPI-specific eligibility and certification requirements apply |
A product can have ASTM-related test data without being BPI certified.
Likewise, BPI certification involves more than simply presenting one ASTM D6400 test result.
For a detailed explanation of how BPI uses ASTM standards, see what BPI certification means.
For supplier certificate and SKU checking, use our BPI certification verification page.
Which Products Commonly Use ASTM D6400?
ASTM D6400 is commonly relevant to plastic products intended to make a commercial-compostability claim.
Examples may include:
- compostable plastic bags
- food-waste liners
- compostable bin liners
- compostable plastic films
- selected flexible packaging
- certain PLA- or other compostable-polymer products
Whether ASTM D6400 applies should be determined by the finished-product construction and intended claim.
If you are looking for product specifications, customization and B2B supply rather than standard information, see our ASTM D6400 compostable bags page.
ASTM D6400 vs ASTM D6868
ASTM D6400 primarily addresses compostable plastics and plastic products.
ASTM D6868 applies to certain end items in which plastics or polymers are incorporated with paper or other substrates, such as eligible coated or laminated products.
Within BPI’s current Commercial Compostability Certification program, ASTM D6400 is the base assessment standard. ASTM D6868 may be used as an additional assessment for eligible items.
For a detailed comparison, see our ASTM D6400 vs ASTM D6868 guide.
Common Misunderstandings About ASTM D6400
“ASTM D6400 certified” always means BPI certified.
No.
ASTM D6400 is a standard specification. BPI is a separate third-party certification program.
Always check what certificate or test document the supplier actually holds.
A compostable resin certificate automatically covers the finished bag.
Not necessarily.
Finished-product thickness, formulation, printing, coatings and construction can affect testing or certification coverage.
ASTM D6400 means home compostable.
No.
ASTM D6400 addresses plastics designed for municipal or industrial aerobic composting conditions.
Home-compostability claims require separate evaluation under an applicable home-composting standard or certification scheme.
Every composting facility accepts ASTM D6400 products.
Not automatically.
Facilities and collection programs can set their own accepted-material requirements.
Certification and facility acceptance should therefore be checked separately.
FAQ About ASTM D6400
The current active edition is ASTM D6400-26.
ASTM International lists it as the active edition of the Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities.
It was last updated on June 15, 2026.
ASTM D6400 is a standard specification.
It defines requirements for plastics and plastic products intended for aerobic municipal or industrial composting and references applicable testing used to evaluate those requirements.
Calling ASTM D6400 one single “test method” is an oversimplification.
ASTM D6400-related testing evaluates key areas such as biodegradation, disintegration and whether the resulting compost remains suitable.
The exact tests and requirements depend on the product and the current standard or certification scheme being applied.
ASTM D6400 itself is not a product-certification program.
A laboratory may test a product against ASTM D6400, while certification organizations such as BPI may use ASTM D6400 within their own third-party certification programs.
Ask suppliers whether they are providing a test report, finished-product certification or another type of compliance document.
Start by checking what document the supplier is providing and whether it applies to the exact finished product.
Compare the product structure, formulation, thickness and printing with the test or certification documentation.
If BPI certification is required, verify the exact product separately through the BPI product database.
No.
ASTM D6400 is a technical standard specification.
BPI is a third-party certification program that uses ASTM D6400 as the base standard for its Commercial Compostability Certification program and applies additional program requirements.
Related ASTM & BPI Resources
ASTM D6400 is one of the most important standards for compostable plastics in the United States. It tells us how to test plastics for safe industrial composting. It protects soil, supports composting facilities, and helps businesses make honest claims.
If you use compostable bags or packaging, understanding this standard helps you choose products that truly break down—not just those with green labels.
