ISO 16929 is a standard composting method that determines the degree of disintegration of materials in a pilot-scale test under defined composting conditions. Situ Biosciences has currently suspended testing according to the ISO 16929 due to complications associated with the COVID-19 mandatory quarantine. ISO 16929 is a standard composting method that determines the degree of disintegration of materials in […]
ASTM D6868 is a standard method that incorporates plastics and polymers as coatings or additives with paper and other substrates designed to be aerobically composted in municipal or industrial facilities. Situ Biosciences has currently suspended testing according to the ASTM D6868 due to complications associated with the COVID-19 mandatory quarantine. ASTM D6868 is designed to test materials, products, and […]
ASTM D6400 is the standard specification for solid material biodegradation (by composting) required for the labeling of plastics designed to be aerobically composted in municipal or industrial facilities. Situ Biosciences has currently suspended testing according to the ASTM D6400 due to complications associated with the COVID-19 mandatory quarantine. As a globally recognized biodegradation test standard, the […]
ASTM D5338 is a standard biodegradation test that measures aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions. Situ Biosciences has currently suspended testing according to the ASTM D5338 due to complications associated with the COVID-19 mandatory quarantine. This ASTM biodegradation test method is an aerobic biodegradation test that introduces material to a mixed bacterial and fungal environmental inoculum and uses respirometry to measure biodegradation. […]
Composting at commercial compost operations, gardening centers, and backyard bins all depend on microbiological processes to transform the input materials into compost. Quality is not inherent to compost. For producers looking to sell their compost, assuring the customer of the performance characteristics and ultimately the quality of their product is key. Given the significant range […]
Composting depends on microbes. Whether consuming biodegradable plastics and packaging, or converting food and agricultural by-products into usable soil amendments (compost, fertilizer, or mulch), microbes have an important role both within natural settings and in controlled waste disposal systems. Knowing how well the microbes consume a given feed stock helps to determine the value of […]
Certified compostable products are tested with globally recognized industrial test methods. Compostable product testing provides additional assurance of the quality of a manufacturer’s product and its compostability in commercial compost facilities. In competitive markets, assuring the end-customer of the quality of the product through certified test results not only adds value, it also substantiates any […]
Quality Assurance has little meaning without valid testing. Compostability performance is no different. Like any other product, compostable products and their associated performance claims need to be substantiated and backed up by valid scientific test results. Based on standard industrial methods including ASTM D6400, certified compostable products assure end-customers of the quality of the product. Test progress […]
Selecting a Biodegradation Test Plastics, coated materials, and packaging that will likely end up in solid waste streams have specific biodegradation test considerations. Knowing how your product is likely to be disposed of is one important consideration in determining which test method to use. Biodegradation and composting are related but not the same – before […]
ASTM E3364 is a standardized test method designed to evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents in preventing staining caused by Actinomycete and Streptomyces species. These microorganisms produce pigments and melanin, resulting in persistent and unattractive stains on flexible or plasticized synthetic polymers, even after the growth has been removed. By utilizing ASTM E3364, manufacturers can […]