Summary
ISO 17088 specifies the procedures and requirements for plastics and plastic products that are suitable for organic recycling through industrial composting. This includes products that will disintegrate and biodegrade satisfactorily together with biowaste and produce compost as an outcome without leaving any persistent or hazardous residues. The ISO 17088 test is intended to be used as the basis for labeling and claiming compostable plastics and products. It is similar to ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 composting specifications.
ISO 17088 Testing Method
The ISO 17088 test provides guidelines for disintegration during composting, ultimate aerobic biodegradation, no adverse effects of compost on terrestrial organisms, and control of constituents. Plastic products and materials that meet all of the requirements may be considered as:
- Recoverable by organic recycling
- Organically recyclable
- Compostable in industrial composting
- Suitable for organic recycling
It is important to note that this test does not constitute plastic products as “biodegradable”.
Are You Looking for a Partner for ISO 17088 Testing? Aropha is Here to Help
At Aropha, our team’s goal is to provide our customers with streamlined and efficient compostability testing for a wide range of products. With our extensive experience and capabilities, we have the ability to test biopolymers, plastics, packaging, and more. With the combination of our unique digital twin simulation platform and lab compostability testing, we can provide our customers with accurate results with low lead times throughout development. Our team can also provide you with the necessary test documentation to submit to regulatory agencies or certain certification bodies to substantiate marketing claims made on your products.
ISO 17088 Requirement and Applicability
Different testing methods are applicable for materials with different properties. Below is a summary of the applicability of ISO 17088. Please check our Method Selection Guide to select the most appropriate method for your materials. You can also find the applicability for many other methods in our Resource Center.| Test | Test | Method | Experimental Details | Duration | Pass Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disintegration during composting | Disintegration during composting | ISO 16929 (preferred) or ISO 20200 | 2 blanks + 2 tests | 84 days | ≥ 90% of its original dry weight pass a 2.0-mm sieve |
| Biodegradation during composting | Biodegradation during composting | ISO 14855 | 3 blanks + 3 references + 3 tests | Normally 45 days, but up to 6 months | ≥ 90% of organic carbon degradation (absolute or relative to reference) |
| Ecotoxicity of resulting compost | Plant growth test | OECD 208 or ISO 11269-2 with modifications | 12 blanks + 12 tests | 14-21 days | ≥ 90% seed germination rate and plant biomass compared to blank |
| Ecotoxicity of resulting compost | Acute earthworm toxicity test | ISO 11268-1 with modifications | N/A | N/A | ≥ 90% of the survival and biomass of the adult earthworms compared to blank |
| Control of constituents | • Regulated metals and other elements • Poly-fluorinated compounds • Other hazardous substances • ≥ 50% volatile solids | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Pricing
$9799/sample for High-Throughput Screening$16499/sample for Biodegradability Certification