CEN Standard on organic recovery (EN 13432:2004)
This standard defines the requirements for packaging to be considered as recoverable through composting and biodegradation. Each packaging material/component must fulfil the following criteria:
- Being biodegradable as demonstrated in laboratory tests, and to criteria and pass levels laid down
- Disintegrating in a biological waste treatment process to the criteria and pass levels laid down, without any observable negative effect on the process
- No negative effect on the quality of the resulting compost when submitted to a biological waste treatment process
Packaging intended for the bio waste stream must be recognisable by the end-user as compostable or biodegradable.
The results of each assessment or test undertaken must be recorded on an assessment checklist and their combined outcome used to determine whether a packaging material is suitable for organic recovery.
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