ASTM D6400-19

Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities

ABSTRACT
This specification covers plastics and products made from plastics that are designed to be composted in municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities. The properties in this specification are those required to determine if plastics and products made from plastics will compost satisfactorily, including biodegrading at a rate comparable to known compostable materials. The purpose of this specification is to establish standards for identifying products and materials that will compost satisfactorily in commercial and municipal composting facilities.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers plastics and products made from plastics that are designed to be composted under aerobic conditions in municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities, where thermophilic conditions are achieved.  
1.2 This specification is intended to establish the requirements for labeling of materials and products, including packaging made from plastics, as “compostable in aerobic municipal and industrial composting facilities.”  
1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to determine if end items (including packaging), which use plastics and polymers as coatings or binders will compost satisfactorily, in large scale aerobic municipal or industrial composting facilities. Maximum throughput is a high priority to composters and the intermediate stages of plastic disintegration and biodegradation not be visible to the end user for aesthetic reasons.  
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test methods portion of this standard: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1: This test method is equivalent to ISO 17088.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2019
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.96 - Environmentally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D6400 −19
Standard Specification for
Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted
1
in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6400; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This specification covers plastics and products made 2.1 ASTM Standards:
from plastics that are designed to be composted under aerobic D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
conditions in municipal and industrial aerobic composting D5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegrada-
facilities, where thermophilic conditions are achieved. tion of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting
Conditions, Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
1.2 This specification is intended to establish the require-
2.2 Organization for Economic Development (OECD) Stan-
ments for labeling of materials and products, including pack-
3
dard:
aging made from plastics, as “compostable in aerobic munici-
OECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plant Test: Seedling Emer-
pal and industrial composting facilities.”
gence and Seedling Growth Test
1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to
4
2.3 Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN):
determine if end items (including packaging), which use
EN 13432: 2000, 2000 CEN/TC 261/SC4N99 Packag-
plastics and polymers as coatings or binders will compost
ing—Requirements for Packaging Recoverable through
satisfactorily, in large scale aerobic municipal or industrial
Composting and Biodegradation—Test Scheme and
composting facilities. Maximum throughput is a high priority
Evaluation Criteria for the FinalAcceptance of Packaging
to composters and the intermediate stages of plastic disintegra-
(EN 13432)
tion and biodegradation not be visible to the end user for
4
2.4 ISO Standard:
aesthetic reasons.
ISO 14855–1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biode-
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test
gradability of plastic materials under controlled compost-
methods portion of this standard: This standard does not
ing conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon
purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated
dioxide—Part 1: General method
with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard
ISO 14855–2 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biode-
to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
gradability of plastic materials under controlled compost-
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
ing conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon
tions prior to use.
dioxide—Part 2: Gravimetric measurement of carbon
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 17088.
dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test
ISO 16929 Plastics—Determination of the Degree of Disin-
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
tegration of Plastic Materials under Defined Composting
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Conditions in a Pilot-Scale Test
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ISO 17088 Specifications for Compostable Plastics
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen- the ASTM website.
3
tally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products. Available from Organization for Economic Development, Director of
Current edition approved May 1, 2019. Published May 2019. Originally Information, 2 rue Andre' Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
4
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D6400 - 12. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D6400-19. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6400−19
ISO 20200 Determination of the degree of disintegration of ucts meeting the requirements outlined below be labeled as
plastic materials under simulated composting conditions “compostable in m
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6400 − 12 D6400 − 19
Standard Specification for
Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted
1
in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6400; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers plastics and products made from plastics that are designed to be composted under aerobic
conditions in municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities, where thermophilic conditions are achieved.
1.2 This specification is intended to establish the requirements for labeling of materials and products, including packaging made
from plastics, as “compostable in aerobic municipal and industrial composting facilities.”
1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to determine if end items (including packaging), which use plastics
and polymers as coatings or binders will compost satisfactorily, in large scale aerobic municipal or industrial composting facilities.
Maximum throughput is a high priority to composters and the intermediate stages of plastic disintegration and biodegradation not
be visible to the end user for aesthetic reasons.
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test methods portion of this standard: This standard does not purport
to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate health safety, health, and safetyenvironmental practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations
prior to use.
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 17088.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions,
Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
3
2.2 Organization for Economic Development (OECD) Standard:
OECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plant Test: Seedling Emergence and Seedling Growth Test
4
2.3 Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN):
EN 13432: 2000, 2000 CEN/TC 261/SC 4 N 99 Packaging—Requirements for Packaging Recoverable through Composting and
Biodegradation—Test Scheme and Evaluation Criteria for the Final Acceptance of Packaging (EN 13432)
4
2.4 ISO Standard:
ISO 14855–1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting
conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide—Part 1: General method
ISO 14855–2 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting
conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide—Part 2: Gravimetric measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in
a laboratory-scale test
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally Degradable
Plastics and Biobased Products.
Current edition approved May 15, 2012May 1, 2019. Published May 2012May 2019. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 20042012 as
D6400 - 04.D6400 - 12. DOI: 10.1520/D6400-12.10.1520/D6400-19.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Organization for Economic Development, Director of Information, 2 rue Andre' Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
4
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6400 − 19
ISO 16929 Plastics—Determination of the Degree of Dis
...