According to EN 13432, for a material to be defined as 'compostable', it must have the following characteristics:
1. biodegrade by at least 90% in 6 months; these values are to be tested using the standard method EN 14046 (similar to the international standard ISO 14855);
2. in contact with organic materials over a period of 3 months, the mass of the material shall consist of at least 90% of fragments smaller than 2 mm; these values are to be tested using the standard method EN 14045;
3. the material must not adversely affect the composting process;
4. low concentration of heavy metals added to the material;
5. pH values within set limits;
6. salt content within set limits;
7. concentration of volatile solids within set limits;
8. concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium within set limits.
EN 13432 fills some gaps in the preceding Directive 94/62/EC. Previously, indeed, there was confusion and misunderstandings regarding the terms “compostable” and “biodegradable”.
Biodegradable material and compostable material are not the same thing.
There are important differences, which are defined in detail by the standard EN 13432.
For a material to be considered "biodegradable”, it is necessary that a microorganism able of decomposing, assimilating and lastly mineralizing the material exists in nature.
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