BioTable, the first ecologic Italian line of disposable products, has been given the OK compost INDUSTRIAL label from TÜV AUSTRIA, which guarantees biodegradability in an industrial composting plant. The product line is made of raw materials not harmful to the environment, through a non-polluting manufacturing process that saves 30% of energy consumption.
OK compost INDUSTRIAL
The OK compost INDUSTRIAL label certifies that all the components of the products are guaranteed to be biodegradable in an industrial composting plant (at temperatures between 55 and 60°) and that the product complies with the requirements of the EU Packaging Directive (94/62/EEC).
Furthermore, the European Norm about compostability of packaging (EN 13432) requires – besides a clear and detailed description of the product – 4 different tests:
- Test on biodegradation (chemical break down of the polymer of fibres)
- Test on disintegration (physically falling apart of the product in small fragments)
- Test on ecotoxicity (test if the composted product does not exert any negative effect on plants)
- Test on heavy metals content
Compostability
It is important to distinguish between the two certifications, OK compost INDUSTRIAL and OK compost HOME: products that solely bear the first label compost only in industrial composting facilities, while products bearing the latter label can also be composted in the compost heap of your garden. Composting can reduce the volume of organic waste quite significantly, while the compost produced can be used for agricultural and horticultural purposes – an important step towards sustainability.