ASTM D6868-21

Standard 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

ABSTRACT
This specification establishes the requirements for labelling of materials and products (including packaging), wherein a biodegradable plastic film or coating is attached (either through lamination or extrusion directly onto the paper) to compostable substrates and the entire product or package is designed to be composted in municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities. This specification, however, does not describe the contents of the product or their performance with regards to compostability or biodegradability. In order to compost satisfactorily, the product must demonstrate each of the three characteristics as follows: (1) proper disintegration during composting; (2) adequate level of inherent biodegradation; and (3) no adverse impacts on the ability of composts to support plant growth.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers end items that include plastics or polymers where plastic film/ sheet or polymers are incorporated (either through lamination, extrusion or mixing) to substrates and the entire end item is designed to be composted under aerobic conditions in municipal and industrial composting facilities, where thermophilic temperatures are achieved.  
1.2 This specification is intended to establish the requirements for labeling of end items which use plastics or polymers as coatings or binders, 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 where maximum throughput is a high priority and where intermediate stages of plastic biodegradation must 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: There is no known ISO equivalent for this standard.  
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-2021
• ICS: 13.030.99 - Other standards related to wastes
• 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:D6868 −21
Standard 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
1
Municipal or Industrial Facilities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6868; 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 end items that include plastics 2.1 ASTM Standards:
or polymers where plastic film/ sheet or polymers are incor- D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
porated (either through lamination, extrusion or mixing) to D3715/D3715M Practice for QualityAssurance of Pressure-
substrates and the entire end item is designed to be composted Sensitive Tapes
under aerobic conditions in municipal and industrial compost- D5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegrada-
ing facilities, where thermophilic temperatures are achieved. tion of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting
Conditions, Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
1.2 This specification is intended to establish the require-
D6002 Guide for Assessing the Compostability of Environ-
ments for labeling of end items which use plastics or polymers
3
mentally Degradable Plastics (Withdrawn 2011)
as coatings or binders, as “compostable in aerobic municipal
D6400 Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be
and industrial composting facilities.”
Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facili-
1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to
ties
determine if end items (including packaging) which use
D6866 Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content
plastics and polymers as coatings or binders will compost
of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocar-
satisfactorily, in large scale aerobic municipal or industrial
bon Analysis
composting where maximum throughput is a high priority and
2.2 Organization for Economic Development (OECD) Stan-
where intermediate stages of plastic biodegradation must not
dard:
be visible to the end user for aesthetic reasons. 4
OECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plants, Growth Test
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test
2.3 Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN):
methods portion of this standard: This standard does not
EN 13432 Packaging-Requirements for Packaging Recover-
purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated
able through Composting and Biodegradation-Test
with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard
Scheme and Evaluation Criteria for the Final Acceptance
5
to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
of Packaging
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita- 5
2.4 ISO Standards:
tions prior to use.
ISO 14851 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegrad-
ability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium—
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent for this standard.
Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
respirometer
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on www.astm.org.
4
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen- Available from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
tally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products. (OECD), 2 rue André Pascal, F-75775, Paris Cedex 16, France, http://
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021. Published February 2021. Originally www.oecd.org.
5
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D6868 - 19. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D6868-21. 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 Bar
...

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: D6868 − 19 D6868 − 21
Standard 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
1
Municipal or Industrial Facilities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6868; 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 end items that include plastics or polymers where plastic film/ sheet or polymers are incorporated
(either through lamination, extrusion or mixing) to substrates and the entire end item is designed to be composted under aerobic
conditions in municipal and industrial composting facilities, where thermophilic temperatures are achieved.
1.2 This specification is intended to establish the requirements for labeling of end items which use plastics or polymers as coatings
or binders, 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 where
maximum throughput is a high priority and where intermediate stages of plastic biodegradation must 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—There is no known ISO equivalent for this standard.
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
D3715/D3715M Practice for Quality Assurance of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes
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 Oct. 1, 2019Feb. 1, 2021. Published October 2019February 2021. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 20172019 as
D6868 - 17.D6868 - 19. DOI: 10.1520/D6868-19.10.1520/D6868-21.
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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D6868 − 21
D5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions,
Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
3
D6002 Guide for Assessing the Compostability of Environmentally Degradable Plastics (Withdrawn 2011)
D6400 Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
D6866 Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
2.2 Organization for Economic Development (OECD) Standard:
4
OECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plants, Growth Test
2.3 Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN):
EN 13432 Packaging-Requirements for Packaging Recoverable through Composting and Biodegradation-Test Scheme and
5
Evaluation Criteria for the Final Acceptance of Packaging
5
2.4 ISO Standards:
ISO 14851 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium—Method by
measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer
ISO 14852 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability
...