What EN 13432 certifies — and what it does not
EN 13432 is the European standard proving that packaging breaks down under INDUSTRIAL composting conditions. It sets four requirements: chemical composition, disintegration within 12 weeks, biodegradation of 90% of carbon within 6 months, and no harm to plant growth. It says nothing about home composting, which is certified separately.
What the standard actually measures
Disintegration and biodegradation are not the same test
The first measures whether the product falls apart into pieces small enough to pass a sieve. The second measures whether the material genuinely converts into carbon dioxide, water and biomass. A product can crumble convincingly and still fail the second test, which is why the standard sets two separate thresholds.
The mistake almost everyone makes
A product carrying EN 13432 is not required to break down in a garden compost bin. The standard assumes an industrial facility running at around 58 °C; a home heap sits at 20-30 °C. Home compostability is a separate certification and has to be asked for by name.
Three questions worth asking a supplier
- Does the certificate cover the finished product, or only one component of it?
- Which body issued it, and can the certificate number be verified online?
- Industrial or home? Whichever the certificate states is the only claim you can make.
Where paper and wood sit
Untreated wood, bamboo and uncoated paper are widely accepted as compostable without carrying this certificate; the need for one usually arises with coatings, laminations or plastic components. Corporate procurement forms still ask for the standard by name, so the document is worth holding even where the material would pass without it.
Frequently asked
- How does EN 13432 differ from EN 14995?
- They use the same test protocol. EN 13432 applies to packaging, EN 14995 to plastic products that are not packaging. Most single-use tableware falls under the second.
- How long does certification stay valid?
- Typically three years, depending on the certifying body. A change of formulation or of supplier triggers retesting.
- If something is compostable, is it also recyclable?
- Usually the opposite. Compostable items entering a paper recycling stream can lower bale quality, so they need to be collected separately.
Last updated: 2026-09-13