ASTM D6400: Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities

ASTM D6400 is a standard specification that outlines the requirements for compostable plastics or many other types of solid materials. Specifically, ASTM D6400 provides guidelines for the biodegradation, disintegration, and compostability of plastic materials in aerobic municipal and industrial composting facilities.

This standard establishes criteria for plastic materials and products to be considered compostable, meaning they can undergo a biological degradation process during composting that is similar to the degradation of organic materials. ASTM D6400 sets forth parameters for evaluating the extent to which a plastic material breaks down under composting conditions and ensures that it does not leave behind harmful residues.

Products that meet the requirements outlined in ASTM D6400 can be labeled and marketed as "compostable in municipal or industrial aerobic facilities" in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Federal Trade Commission as long as proper qualifications as to the availability of such facilities are included on the label. This standard is particularly relevant for environmentally conscious industries seeking to minimize their environmental impact by using materials that are designed to degrade naturally within composting systems.

ASTM D6400 is equivalent to ISO 17088.