This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D6400 − 19

Standard Specification for

Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted
in Municipal or Industrial Facilities1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6400; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This specification covers plastics and products made 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
from plastics that are designed to be composted under aerobic D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
conditions in municipal and industrial aerobic composting D5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegrada-
facilities, where thermophilic conditions are achieved. tion of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting
1.2 This specification is intended to establish the require- Conditions, Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
ments for labeling of materials and products, including pack- 2.2 Organization for Economic Development (OECD) Stan-
aging made from plastics, as “compostable in aerobic munici- dard:3
pal and industrial composting facilities.” OECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plant Test: Seedling Emer-
gence and Seedling Growth Test
1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to
determine if end items (including packaging), which use 2.3 Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN):4
plastics and polymers as coatings or binders will compost EN 13432: 2000, 2000 CEN/TC 261/SC 4 N 99 Packag-
satisfactorily, in large scale aerobic municipal or industrial ing—Requirements for Packaging Recoverable through
composting facilities. Maximum throughput is a high priority Composting and Biodegradation—Test Scheme and
to composters and the intermediate stages of plastic disintegra- Evaluation Criteria for the Final Acceptance of Packaging
tion and biodegradation not be visible to the end user for (EN 13432)
aesthetic reasons. 2.4 ISO Standard:4
ISO 14855–1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biode-
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test
gradability of plastic materials under controlled compost-
methods portion of this standard: This standard does not
ing conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon
purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated
dioxide—Part 1: General method
with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard
ISO 14855–2 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biode-
to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
gradability of plastic materials under controlled compost-
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
ing conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon
tions prior to use.
dioxide—Part 2: Gravimetric measurement of carbon
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 17088. dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- ISO 16929 Plastics—Determination of the Degree of Disin-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- tegration of Plastic Materials under Defined Composting
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the Conditions in a Pilot-Scale Test
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- ISO 17088 Specifications for Compostable Plastics
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen- the ASTM website.
3
tally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products. Available from Organization for Economic Development, Director of
Current edition approved May 1, 2019. Published May 2019. Originally Information, 2 rue Andre' Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
4
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D6400 - 12. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D6400-19. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

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 D6400 − 19
ISO 20200 Determination of the degree of disintegration of ucts meeting the requirements outlined below be labeled as
plastic materials under simulated composting conditions “compostable in municipal or industrial aerobic facilities” in
in a laboratory-scale test accordance with the guidelines issued by the Federal Trade
2.5 U.S. Government Standard:5 Commission8 as long as proper qualifications as to the avail-
40 CFR Part 503.13 Standards for the Use or Disposal of ability of such facilities are included on the label.
Sewage Sludge
2.6 Canadian Government Standard:6 5. Basic Requirements
Trade Memorandum T-4-93 Standards for Metals in Fertil- 5.1 In order to compost satisfactorily, a product or material
izers and Supplements must demonstrate each of the characteristics found in 5.1.1 –
5.1.3, and which are quantified in Section 6.
3. Terminology 5.1.1 Disintegration During Composting—A plastic product
3.1 Definitions: Definitions appearing in this specification or material will disintegrate during composting such that any
are found in Terminology D883, unless otherwise noted. remaining plastic residuals are not readily distinguishable from
3.1.1 biodegradable plastic—a degradable plastic in which the other organic materials in the finished product.
the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring Additionally, the material or product must not be found in
microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae. significant quantities during screening prior to final distribution
3.1.2 compostable plastic—a plastic that undergoes degra- of the compost.
dation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2, 5.1.2 Biodegradation—A level of biodegradation for the
water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent plastic products shall be established by tests under controlled
with other known compostable materials and leave no visible, conditions.
distinguishable or toxic residue. 5.1.3 No Adverse Impacts on Ability of Compost to Support
Plant Growth—The tested materials shall not adversely impact
3.1.3 composting7—a managed process that controls the
on the ability of composts to support plant growth, when
biological decomposition and transformation of biodegradable
compared to composts derived from biowaste without any
materials into a humus-like substance called compost: the
addition of tested products or reference materials. Additionally,
aerobic mesophilic and thermophilic degradation of organic
the polymeric products or materials must not introduce unac-
matter to make compost; the transformation of biologically
ceptable levels of regulated metals or hazardous substances
decomposable material through a controlled process of biooxi-
into the environment, upon sample decomposition.
dation that proceed through mesophilic and thermophilic
phases and results in the production of carbon dioxide, water, NOTE 2—For a better understanding of why these criteria are important,
minerals, and stabilized organic matter (compost or humus). consult the Compost Facility Operating Guide,7 and CEN/TC 261/SC 4 N
99.
3.1.4 degradable plastic—a plastic designed to undergo a
significant change in its chemical structure under specific 6. Detailed Requirements
environmental conditions, resulting in a loss of properties as 6.1 In order to be identified as compostable in municipal or
measured by standard test methods appropriate to the plastic industrial aerobic facilities, products must pass the require-
and the application in a period of time that determines its ments of 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4 using the appropriate laboratory tests,
classification. representative of the conditions found in aerobic composting
3.1.5 plastic—a material that contains as an essential ingre- facilities, which reach thermophilic temperatures. Finished
dient one or more organic polymeric substances of large articles and products shall be tested in the same form as they
molecular weight, is solid in its finished state, and, at some are intended to be used. For products that are made in multiple
stage in its manufacture or processing into finished articles, can thicknesses or densities, such as films, containers and foams,
be shaped by flow. only the thickest or most dense products need to be tested as
3.1.6 polymer—a substance consisting of molecules charac- long as the chemical composition and structure remains other-
terized by the repetition (neglecting ends, branch junctions, wise the same. It is assumed that thinner gages and lower
other minor irregularities) of one or more types of monomeric densities will also compost satisfactorily. Similarly, if additives
units. are present in test samples that pass testing, lower levels of the
same additives are similarly passed.
4. Classification 6.2 Disintegration During Composting—A plastic product
4.1 The purpose of this specification is to establish require- is considered to have demonstrated satisfactory disintegration
ments for identifying items made from plastics or polymers so if after twelve weeks (84 days) in a controlled composting test,
that they do not interfere with their satisfactorily composting in no more than 10 % of its original dry weight remains after
commercial and municipal aerobic composting facilities. Prod- sieving on a 2.0-mm sieve. The test shall be carried out in
accordance with ISO 16929 with a minimum vessel volume of
5
Code of Federal Regulations, available from U.S. Government Printing Office,
35 L, or ISO 20200 under thermophilic aerobic composting
Washington, DC 20402. conditions.
6
Available from the Canadian Food Inspections Agency, Fertilizer Section,
Ottawa, Canada
7 8
Compost Facility Operating Guide, Composting Council, Alexandria, VA, Guidelines for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, Federal Trade
1995. Commission, Washington, DC, 1992.

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 D6400 − 19
6.3 Biodegradation—A plastic product must demonstrate a or composts in the country where the product is sold. Specifi-
satisfactory rate of biodegradation by achieving the following cally in the United States, the regulated metal concentrations
ratio of conversion to carbon dioxide found in 6.3.1 and 6.3.1.1 are found in Table 3 of 40 CFR Part 503.13. In Canada, the
within 180 days using Test Method D5338, ISO 14855–1, or regulated metals concentrations are found in Table II of the
ISO 14855–2. Trade Memorandum T-4-93.
6.3.1 Ninety percent (90 %) of the organic carbon in the 6.4.2 The germination rate and the plant biomass of the
whole item or for each organic constituent, which is present in sample composts shall be no less than 90% that of the
the material at a concentration of more than 1 % (by dry mass), corresponding blank composts for two different plant species
shall be converted to carbon dioxide by the end of the test following OECD Guideline 208 with the modifications found
period when compared to the positive control or in the in Annex E of EN 13432.
absolute. NOTE 4—Sample composts generated in accordance with ISO 20200
6.3.1.1 Organic constituents present at levels between 1 to should not be used for ecotoxicity testing unless the concentration of the
10 % shall be tested individually for compliance to 6.3.1. test items at the start of testing is in accordance with the requirements of
6.3.2 Organic constituents which are present at concentra- ISO 16929.
tions of less than 1 % do not need to demonstrate biodegrad- 7. Sampling
ability. However, the sum of such unproven constituents shall
7.1 Sampling shall be conducted as indicated in the speci-
not exceed 5 %.
fied test method.
6.3.3 Plastic product test samples shall not be subjected to
conditions designed to accelerate biodegradation, prior to 8. Specimen Preparation
testing in 6.3. 8.1 Specimen preparation shall be in accordance with the
NOTE 3—While the end points of biodegradation include incorporation specified test method.
into biomass or humic substances as well as carbon dioxide, no recognized
standard test methods and specifications exist to quantify these outcomes. 9. Marking and Labeling
When these tests and specifications become available, this standard will be 9.1 Marking and labeling shall conform to national and
revised.
local regulations.
6.4 A plastic product can demonstrate satisfactory terrestrial
safety if it fulfills the requirements in 6.4.1 and 6.4.2: 10. Keywords
6.4.1 The plastic or product shall have concentrations of 10.1 biodegradable; compostable plastic; composting; de-
regulated metals less than 50 % of those prescribed for sludges gradable plastics; labeling

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee D20 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (D6400 - 12)
that may impact the use of this standard. (May 1, 2019)

(1) Revised definition for degradable plastic.

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