Biodegradable Claims & Certification Testing
A biodegradable claim is only as strong as the test data behind it. Regulators in the U.S., California, Canada and the EU require biodegradability and compostability claims to be backed by reliable scientific evidence for the environment where the product will end up. Situ Biosciences runs the standard OECD, ASTM and ISO biodegradation tests that support those claims in our ISO 17025 accredited, GLP compliant lab, and certifies products through our future™ Certified Biodegradable.
What It Takes to Make a Biodegradable Claim
- Name the environment. Say where the product biodegrades: wastewater, soil, freshwater, seawater, industrial compost or landfill.
- Prove complete breakdown in a reasonable time. The whole product, not just part of it, should break down under the conditions where it is customarily disposed of.
- Use a recognized method and an accredited lab. Standard OECD, ASTM and ISO methods run in an ISO 17025 accredited lab make your evidence defensible.
- Qualify the claim. State the conditions and the rate and extent of biodegradation, rather than an unqualified “biodegradable.”
Biodegradable Claim Rules by Market
| Market | Rule | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FTC Green Guides (16 CFR 260.8) | Competent and reliable scientific evidence that the entire item will completely break down and return to nature within a reasonably short time after customary disposal. For solid waste, unqualified claims are deceptive if the item won’t decompose within one year, so products usually sent to landfills, incinerators or recycling facilities shouldn’t carry them. |
| California | Public Resources Code §42357 | Plastic products can’t be sold labeled “biodegradable,” “degradable” or “decomposable,” or implying they will break down. Products labeled “compostable” must meet the applicable ASTM standard (or OK compost HOME certification for “home compostable”). |
| Canada | Competition Act; Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act | The Competition Bureau can act against biodegradability claims that aren’t supported by adequate and proper testing. |
| European Union | Directive (EU) 2024/825, applying from 27 September 2026 | Generic claims such as “eco-friendly” are banned unless the product shows recognised excellent environmental performance, such as the EU Ecolabel. Specific claims like “biodegradable” still need test evidence for the conditions claimed, typically from OECD methods. |
| International | ISO 14021 (self-declared environmental claims) | Claims must be accurate, specific and verifiable, and must not mislead. |
This table summarizes the rules for planning purposes. Confirm label language with your regulatory or legal team.
Match the Test to Your Claim
| Claim | Environment | Test methods |
|---|---|---|
| Readily biodegradable (chemicals, detergents, surfactants) | Wastewater and freshwater | OECD 301 (A–F), OECD 310 |
| Biodegradable in soil | Soil | ISO 17556 |
| Marine biodegradable | Seawater | ASTM D6691, OECD 306 |
| Biodegradable under composting conditions | Industrial compost | ASTM D5338, ISO 14855 |
| Compostable | Industrial compost | ASTM D6400 (plastics), ASTM D6868 (coatings on paper and other substrates) |
| Anaerobic / landfill conditions | Landfill or digester | ASTM D5511 |
| Biodegradable lubricant | Water | ASTM D5864 |
Not sure which method fits your product and claim? Tell us the claim and the market, and we will recommend a test plan. See all biodegradation and compostability testing.
Certify Your Claim: our future™ Certified Biodegradable
Our our future™ Certified Biodegradable program certifies products based on their biodegradation test results. Certification is backed by ISO 17025 accredited biodegradation analysis and ISO 17034 certified reference materials. Every certified product comes with a data-driven test report showing the methods, conditions and evaluation parameters, so your claim can be checked.
For compostable products, we also run the ASTM D6400 and D6868 testing needed for third-party compostability certification.
Lubricants and Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs)
Lubricants used on vessels have their own requirements. Under EPA vessel permits, an environmentally acceptable lubricant must meet criteria for biodegradability, aquatic toxicity and bioaccumulation. See lubricant testing and our article on the VGP transition to VIDA.
Further Reading
- Biodegradability vs. Compostability Claims in California: Regulatory Risk and Testing Strategy
- Situ Biosciences Supports Compliance with New EU Microplastics Regulations
Ready to back your claim? Call 847-483-9950, email info@situtest.com or request a quote →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I label my product “biodegradable”?
Only if you have competent and reliable scientific evidence that the entire product will completely break down and return to nature within a reasonably short time after customary disposal, according to the U.S. FTC Green Guides. Claims should be qualified with the environment (such as soil, marine or industrial compost) and the rate and extent of breakdown. Some places restrict the word entirely: California prohibits labeling plastic products “biodegradable.”
How quickly does a product have to biodegrade to make a claim?
For items that go into the solid waste stream, the FTC says an unqualified degradable claim is deceptive if the item won’t completely decompose within one year after customary disposal. Because landfills, incinerators and recycling facilities don’t provide those conditions, products usually disposed of there should not carry unqualified biodegradable claims.
What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable claims?
A biodegradable claim says microorganisms break the material down in a stated environment. A compostable claim is narrower: the product must break down in a compost facility within a set time without harming the compost, which is proven by meeting a standard such as ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868.
Which test supports a “readily biodegradable” claim?
Ready biodegradability is shown with the OECD 301 series or OECD 310. A substance passes when it reaches 60% of its theoretical CO₂ or oxygen demand (or 70% dissolved organic carbon removal) within a 10-day window inside the 28-day test.
Do the new EU green-claims rules affect biodegradable claims?
Yes. Directive (EU) 2024/825 applies from 27 September 2026. It bans generic claims such as “eco-friendly” unless the product shows recognised excellent environmental performance, such as the EU Ecolabel. Specific claims like “biodegradable” still need test evidence for the conditions claimed.
Does Situ Biosciences certify biodegradable products?
Yes. Our our future™ Certified Biodegradable program certifies products based on ISO 17025 accredited biodegradation testing and ISO 17034 certified reference materials, with a data-driven test report behind every certification.