As consumer demand for sustainable products grows, businesses must develop materials that align with environmental objectives. Intertek’s Biodegradability & Compostability Testing services provide comprehensive solutions for manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers to validate the environmental impact of their products.
The global biodegradable plastics market is anticipated to reach US$12.4 billion by 2027 (Source: MarketsandMarkets™ INC.), underscoring the growing emphasis on sustainable product development. While numerous products, including textiles, tableware, and trash bags, are marketed as biodegradable, it is critical to define and substantiate this claim. Biodegradability refers to the capacity of a material to naturally decompose through microbial activity, breaking down into fundamental substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane. The production of biodegradable materials often results in lower energy consumption and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals. To support environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance, it is essential to rigorously test and verify biodegradability claims through standardized assessment methodologies.
Intertek evaluates the biodegradation rate of products under specific temperature, time, conditions, and microorganism exposure in controlled environments. Our advanced analytical capabilities help businesses validate their sustainability claims and achieve regulatory compliance.
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and BPI certification Accredited: Ensuring compliance with global biodegradability and compostability standards.
- Global Certification Support: Meet international regulatory requirements with ASTM, ISO, OECD, and EN testing methodologies.
- Industry Expertise: Supporting FMCG, packaging, textiles, chemicals, homecare, and more.
- End-to-End Solutions: From R&D support to certification and benchmarking studies.
Comprehensive Testing Capabilities
Biodegradability & Compostability Studies
- Anaerobic Biodegradation: Testing in landfill conditions, anaerobic digestors, and aqueous mediums (ASTM D5511, ISO 15985, ISO 14853, ASTM D5526).
- Aerobic Biodegradation: Controlled composting, soil, sludge, and aqueous testing (ISO 14855, ISO 17556, ISO 14851, ISO 14852, ASTM D5338, ASTM D5988).
- Readily and Ultimate Biodegradable: Biodegradability of Chemicals, Lubes, Polymers, Cosmetics testing (OECD 301 A –F, OECD 302, OECD 301, IS 13933, ISO 9439)
- Marine Biodegradation: Analysis of non-floating plastic materials in seawater and sediment (ISO 16221, ISO 19679, ASTM D6691, ISO 22403, ISO 22404, ISO 18830, ASTM D5864, OECD 306).
- Compostability Testing: Home and industrial composting evaluations (ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, EN 13432, ISO 17088, NF T51-800, EN 14995, AS 5810, AS 4736, ISO 16929, ISO 20200).
- Textile & Leather Biodegradability: Assessing natural and synthetic fiber decomposition (ISO 21701, ISO 20136).
Microplastics Evaluation & Failure Analysis
- Microplastics evaluation in air, water, and soil.
- Remanent analysis for residual plastic and textile degradation.
- Microplastics analysis in food, cosmetics, and hard products using Light, FTR, RAMAN microscopy, SEM/EDX, DSC/TGA.
Toxicity Studies
- Algal toxicity, Plant toxicity, Earthworm toxicity & Fish toxicity assessments.
- Residue and contaminant analysis, including heavy metals.
- Corrosion studies to determine material degradation impact.
Microbiology Services
- Antimicrobial testing for product efficacy and product benchmarking.
- Bioburden testing to measure microbial contamination.
- Food & Agri product testing to ensure compliance and safety.
Environmental Monitoring & Laboratory Services
- Water testing for quality assurance.
- Soil & Sludge analysis to assess contamination levels.
- Ambient Air Quality testing for environmental safety.
- Shelf-life testing under accelerated weather conditions.
Advanced Analytical Capabilities: SEM-EDX Microscopy
Intertek’s Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) provides detailed insights into material composition and degradation processes. Applications include:
- Polymer & Packaging Material Analysis
- Environmental Microplastics Identification
- Chemical & Petrochemical Product Examination
