Compostability certifications are the only reliable way to know whether a product will truly break down safely or just claim to. If you have been trying to make a responsible packaging decision for your business, you have likely come across a wall of acronyms. CPCB. BPI. TÜV Austria. ISO-17088. Each one appears on certified compostable products, each sounds official, and almost none come with a clear explanation.
That is a real problem. These certifications are not just badges. In fact, they are what separates packaging that genuinely returns to the earth from packaging that merely says it does.
This guide breaks down each compostability certification in plain, simple language. By the end, you will know exactly what each one means, why it matters for your business, and what to ask your supplier before you commit.
Why Compostability Certifications Exist
The word “compostable” has no legal protection on its own. In other words, any manufacturer can print it on a bag. Without third-party compostability certifications, there is no guarantee that a product will break down in a reasonable time, avoid leaving microplastics behind, or meet any recognised standard.
Certifications change this. First, an independent body tests the product against specific scientific criteria breakdown timelines, temperature thresholds, and toxicity limits. Then, only if the product passes, it gets approved. When a supplier shows you a certified product, you are therefore not taking their word for it. You are relying on an institution that has staked its reputation on the result.
CPCB: The Indian Legal Standard
What CPCB is
The Central Pollution Control Board is India’s national environmental body. It works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and sets the rules that Indian businesses must follow when it comes to packaging.
Why it matters for your business
Under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, every manufacturer or seller of compostable carry bags must get a CPCB certificate before selling in India. No certificate means no legal sale it is that straightforward.
Moreover, CPCB certification also requires products to meet IS/ISO 17088, India’s national specification for compostable plastics. As a result, a CPCB-certified product is not just locally approved. It is also benchmarked against the same global scientific standard used across the world.
For Indian retailers, hospitals, food businesses, and exporters, CPCB certification is therefore the non-negotiable starting point. If your supplier cannot show you a valid CPCB certificate with a registration number, stop there.
BPI: The North American Benchmark
What BPI is
The Biodegradable Products Institute, or BPI, is a nonprofit certification body based in North America. It certifies compostable products against ASTM D6400 the American standard for compostable plastics and ASTM D6868 for fibre-based products with compostable coatings.
How BPI testing works
A BPI-certified product must pass independent scientific testing. Specifically, it must fully break down in an industrial composting facility, convert at least 90% of its organic carbon to CO₂ within 180 days, and leave no toxic residue behind.
Furthermore, BPI certifies individual products, not companies. Every product carrying the BPI logo has been tested separately and is listed in a public, searchable database. As a result, verification is quick and straightforward.
For Indian manufacturers who export to North America or for businesses that simply want international-grade assurance BPI certification is therefore the most relevant credibility marker in that market.
TÜV Austria: Industrial vs Home Composting
What TÜV Austria is
TÜV Austria is a European certification body and one of the most respected names in compostability certifications worldwide. Their OK Compost programme offers two distinct labels. Understanding the difference between them is especially important.
OK Compost INDUSTRIAL
This label confirms that a product breaks down in a controlled industrial composting facility. These facilities run at temperatures between 55°C and 60°C with managed humidity. In addition, products must comply with EN 13432, the European standard for compostable packaging, as well as the EU Packaging Directive.
OK Compost HOME
This label is significantly harder to earn. It confirms that a product composts in a home compost bin at everyday temperatures between 20°C and 30°C, without any controlled conditions. The product must still meet EN 13432, but biodegradation is also tested under real household conditions. Specifically, at least 90% of the material must break down within 12 months.
For businesses whose customers do not have access to industrial composting which applies to most of India OK Compost HOME is therefore the gold standard. It means the product works in a garden bin or kitchen compost container. That is practically useful, not just theoretically sustainable.
Bio-Plastobag holds both TÜV Austria compostability certifications OK Compost INDUSTRIAL and OK Compost HOME which together cover the widest range of real-world composting conditions.
TÜV Austria Seedling Certification: The European Bioplastics Mark
What the Seedling certification is
The Seedling logo is one of the most recognised compostability symbols in Europe. TÜV Austria manages it on behalf of European Bioplastics, the industry association that represents the bioplastics sector across Europe. Although TÜV Austria issues both the OK Compost and the Seedling certification, the two are separate and serve different purposes.
How it differs from OK Compost
OK Compost INDUSTRIAL confirms that a product breaks down in an industrial composting facility. The Seedling certification does the same thing but it also carries the backing of European Bioplastics as an organisation. As a result, it is the label that European retailers, distributors, and procurement teams most commonly recognise on shop shelves and packaging.
Furthermore, any product carrying the Seedling logo must comply with EN 13432, the European standard for compostable packaging. It must also pass tests for biodegradation, disintegration, ecotoxicity, and heavy metal limits. In other words, it is not a lighter version of OK Compost INDUSTRIAL it is an equally rigorous certification with broader European market recognition.
For businesses that export to Europe or work with European brand partners, the Seedling certification is therefore an important mark to look for on your supplier’s products.
ISO 17088: The International Scientific Benchmark
What ISO 17088 is
ISO 17088 is the international standard that defines what compostable plastics must do. The International Organization for Standardization publishes it, and it sets out clear requirements for breakdown rate, disintegration, toxicity, and limits on heavy metals and harmful substances.
How it connects to other certifications
Unlike CPCB or BPI, ISO 17088 is not a certification body you apply to directly. Instead, it is the benchmark standard that other compostability certifications refer to and align with. For example, CPCB requires compliance with it. BPI’s ASTM D6400 mirrors it closely. TÜV Austria’s EN 13432 also aligns with it internationally.
Think of ISO 17088 as a shared language. It connects Indian, American, and European standards into one consistent framework. For this reason, procurement teams and sustainability managers working across multiple countries use ISO 17088 compliance as their common baseline.
GRS: The Global Recycled Standard
What GRS certification is
The Global Recycled Standard, or GRS, is an international certification that verifies a product contains recycled materials. It also checks that the entire supply chain from raw material sourcing to finished product meets strict environmental, social, and chemical management requirements.
Why it matters beyond compostability
Most compostability certifications focus on what happens at the end of a product’s life. GRS, on the other hand, focuses on what goes into making it in the first place. Specifically, it guarantees traceability meaning every step of the production process is documented and verified by an independent body.
For businesses with ESG commitments, sustainability reporting requirements, or ethical sourcing policies, GRS certification is therefore a meaningful signal. It confirms that a supplier is not just making claims about responsible production. Instead, it shows they have opened their supply chain to independent scrutiny and passed.
Moreover, as global buyers increasingly demand full supply chain transparency, GRS certification is becoming a practical requirement in many procurement processes not just a nice-to-have.
SEDEX: Ethical Business Practices
What SEDEX membership means
SEDEX stands for Supplier Ethical Data Exchange. It is a global membership organisation that helps businesses manage and improve their ethical and responsible practices across their supply chains. SEDEX membership means a supplier has committed to meeting international standards across four key areas labour rights, health and safety, environmental protection, and business integrity.
Why it matters for procurement teams
SEDEX is not a product certification. Instead, it is a business-level commitment. It tells you that the company you are buying from operates responsibly not just in terms of what their packaging does to the environment, but in terms of how they run their entire operation.
For procurement managers, sustainability officers, and ESG-focused buyers, SEDEX membership is therefore a practical reassurance. It means the supplier has been assessed against a globally recognised ethical framework and is transparent about their practices.
In short, while compostability certifications tell you what the product does, SEDEX membership tells you something equally important who you are doing business with.
How These Compostability Certifications Work Together
These four certifications are not competing with each other. On the contrary, they are complementary. A product that holds multiple compostability certifications has been reviewed by several independent bodies across different parts of the world.
Here is a simple way to remember each one:
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- CPCB — legally compliant in India
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- BPI — meets North American standards
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- TÜV Austria — verified to compost industrially and at home
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- ISO 17088 — meets the international scientific definition of compostable plastic
In short, a product carrying all four has been tested from every major angle. There is very little room for greenwashing when every leading global certification body has independently approved it.
Three Questions to Ask Your Packaging Supplier
Before you commit to any supplier, ask these three questions first.
Can you show me the actual certificate?
Logos can be copied easily. Real certificates carry registration numbers that you can verify independently. Always ask for the document itself, not just the printed logo.
Does the certification cover industrial or home composting?
The difference matters more than most people realise. Depending on how your customers dispose of packaging, one type of certification may be far more relevant than the other.
Is this certification for this specific product?
Reputable bodies certify individual products, not companies as a whole. A company-level approval does not automatically extend to every item in their range. So always check the specific product is listed.
The Bottom Line
Compostability certifications exist because the word “compostable” alone proves nothing. To summarise: CPCB ensures Indian legal compliance. BPI validates North American standards. TÜV Austria confirms real-world composting performance at both industrial and home levels. And ISO 17088 sets the international scientific benchmark that all of these build on.
Choosing certified compostable packaging is therefore not just a values-based decision. It is a verifiable one backed by institutions that have done the testing so you do not have to take anyone’s word for it.
That is what compostability certifications are for. And that is exactly why they matter.
Sources:
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- Central Pollution Control Board — cpcb.nic.in
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- CPCB SOP for Compostable Plastic Manufacturers — SOP PDF
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- Biodegradable Products Institute — bpiworld.org
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- TÜV Austria OK Compost Overview — compliancegate.com
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- OK Compost HOME Testing Standards — thesustainablepeople.com
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- ISO 17088 & CPCB Guide — greenmatterpackaging.com