ASTM D6400-23

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: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2023
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.96 - Environmentally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: D6400 − 23
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-
D6866 Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content
ments for labeling of materials and products, including pack-
of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocar-
aging made from plastics, as “compostable in aerobic munici-
bon Analysis
pal and industrial composting facilities.”
D6868 Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incor-
1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to
porate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives
determine if end items (including packaging), which use
with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobi-
plastics and polymers as coatings or binders will compost
cally Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
satisfactorily, in large scale aerobic municipal or industrial
2.2 Organization for Economic Development (OECD) Stan-
composting facilities. Maximum throughput is a high priority
3
dard:
to composters and the intermediate stages of plastic disintegra-
OECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plant Test: Seedling Emer-
tion and biodegradation not be visible to the end user for
gence and Seedling Growth Test
aesthetic reasons.
4
2.3 Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN):
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test
EN 13432: 2000, 2000 CEN/TC 261/SC 4 N 99 Packag-
methods portion of this standard: This standard does not
ing—Requirements for Packaging Recoverable through
purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated
Composting and Biodegradation—Test Scheme and
with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard
Evaluation Criteria for the Final Acceptance of Packaging
to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
(EN 13432)
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
4
2.4 ISO Standard:
tions prior to use.
ISO 14855–1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biode-
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 17088.
gradability of plastic materials under controlled compost-
ing conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dioxide—Part 1: General method
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ISO 14855–2 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biode-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
gradability of plastic materials under controlled compost-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ing conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon
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 Feb. 1, 2023. Published February 2023. Originally Information, 2 rue Andre' Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
4
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as D6400 - 22. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D6400-23. 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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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 − 22 D6400 − 23
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 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.
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
D6866 Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
D6868 Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and
Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
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 Dec. 1, 2022Feb. 1, 2023. Published December 2022February 2023. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 20212022
as D6400 - 21.D6400 - 22. DOI: 10.1520/D6400-22.10.1520/D6400-23.
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.
*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 − 23
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 labora
...