SIST EN 14995:2007
(Main)Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specifications
Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specifications
This European Standard specifies requirements and procedures to determine the compostability or anaerobic treatability of plastic materials by addressing four characteristics:
I) biodegradability,
II) disintegration during biological treatment,
III) effect on the biological treatment process and
IV) effect on the quality of the resulting compost.
NOTE For packaging EN 13432 applies.
Kunststoffe - Bewertung der Kompostierbarkeit - Prüfschema und Spezifikationen
Diese Europäische Norm legt Anforderungen und Verfahren fest zum Bestimmen der Kompostierbarkeit oder anaeroben Behandelbarkeit von Kunststoffmaterialien mit Hilfe folgender vier Eigenschaften:
1) biologische Abbaubarkeit;
2) Desintegration während der biologischen Behandlung;
3) Auswirkung auf den biologischen Behandlungsprozess;
Auswirkung auf die Qualität des entstandenen Komposts.
Matieres plastiques - Evaluation de la compostabilité - Programme d'essais et spécifications
Polimerni materiali - Vrednotenje primernosti za kompostiranje - Preskusna shema in specifikacije
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 31-Mar-2007
- Technical Committee
- IPMA - Polimer materials and products
- Current Stage
- 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 01-Apr-2007
- Due Date
- 01-Apr-2007
- Completion Date
- 01-Apr-2007
Overview
EN 14995:2006 (CEN) - "Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specifications" defines a harmonised European framework to determine whether plastic materials are suitable for organic recovery (composting or anaerobic treatability). The standard addresses four core characteristics: biodegradability, disintegration during biological treatment, effects on the biological treatment process, and effects on the quality of the resulting compost. (Note: packaging-specific requirements fall under EN 13432.)
Key topics and technical requirements
- Four assessment pillars
- Biodegradability (ultimate and inherent)
- Disintegration under biological treatment
- No negative effect on the biological treatment process
- No adverse effect on final compost quality
- Assessment workflow
- Characterization (constituents, hazardous substances, organic carbon, total dry solids, volatile solids)
- Laboratory biodegradability tests
- Pilot-scale or full-scale disintegration tests
- Compost quality and ecotoxicity evaluation
- Recognizability for end users (labelling/identification)
- Required test methods (normative references)
- EN ISO 14855 (controlled aerobic composting, CO2 evolution)
- EN ISO 14851 / EN ISO 14852 (aqueous medium biodegradability with O2/CO2 measures)
- ISO 16929 (pilot-scale disintegration under composting conditions)
- OECD 208 (terrestrial plant growth test) used for ecotoxicity with modifications in Annex D
- Chemical limits and pass criteria
- Minimum volatile solids: 50% (to exclude largely inert materials)
- Heavy metals limits (mg/kg dry substance): e.g., Zn 150, Cu 50, Ni 25, Cd 0.5, Pb 50, Hg 0.5, Cr 50, Mo 1, Se 0.75, As 5, F 100 (Table A.1)
- Exemptions
- Materials demonstrated compostable in one form are accepted in other forms with equal or smaller mass-to-surface ratio and wall thickness.
Applications and users
- Manufacturers of biodegradable/compostable plastics and polymer formulations seeking market claims for organic recoverability.
- Composting facility operators and waste-management authorities evaluating feedstock compatibility and process impacts.
- Test laboratories performing biodegradability, disintegration, and ecotoxicity analyses.
- Product designers and sustainability teams assessing end-of-life recovery routes (composting vs. anaerobic treatment).
- Regulators and certification bodies referencing European harmonised criteria for compostable materials.
Practical value
- Provides a structured, test-based route to support compostability claims.
- Helps prevent introduction of hazardous constituents into biowaste streams.
- Aligns laboratory and pilot/full‑scale testing to real composting conditions, improving reliability of compost quality outcomes.
Related standards
- EN 13432 (packaging compostability)
- EN ISO 14855, EN ISO 14851, EN ISO 14852 (biodegradability test methods)
- ISO 16929 (disintegration pilot-scale test)
- OECD 208 (plant growth ecotoxicity test)
Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN 14995:2007 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specifications". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies requirements and procedures to determine the compostability or anaerobic treatability of plastic materials by addressing four characteristics: I) biodegradability, II) disintegration during biological treatment, III) effect on the biological treatment process and IV) effect on the quality of the resulting compost. NOTE For packaging EN 13432 applies.
This European Standard specifies requirements and procedures to determine the compostability or anaerobic treatability of plastic materials by addressing four characteristics: I) biodegradability, II) disintegration during biological treatment, III) effect on the biological treatment process and IV) effect on the quality of the resulting compost. NOTE For packaging EN 13432 applies.
SIST EN 14995:2007 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 13.030.99 - Other standards related to wastes; 83.080.01 - Plastics in general. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN 14995:2007 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2014-01-4040, TP136. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
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Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specificationsPolimerni materiali - Vrednotenje primernosti za kompostiranje - Preskusna shema in specifikacijeMatieres plastiques - Evaluation de la compostabilité - Programme d'essais et spécificationsKunststoffe - Bewertung der Kompostierbarkeit - Prüfschema und SpezifikationenTa slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 14995:2006SIST EN 14995:2007en;fr;de83.080.01Polimerni materiali na splošnoPlastics in general13.030.99Drugi standardi v zvezi z odpadkiOther standards related to wastesICS:SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 14995:200701-april-2007
EUROPEAN STANDARDNORME EUROPÉENNEEUROPÄISCHE NORMEN 14995December 2006ICS 13.030.99; 83.080.01 English VersionPlastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme andspecificationsMatières plastiques - Evaluation de la compostabilité -Programme d'essais et spécificationsKunststoffe - Bewertung der Kompostierbarkeit -Prüfschema und SpezifikationenThis European Standard was approved by CEN on 9 November 2006.CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this EuropeanStandard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such nationalstandards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translationunder the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the officialversions.CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATIONCOMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIONEUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNGManagement Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels© 2006 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reservedworldwide for CEN national Members.Ref. No. EN 14995:2006: E
Evaluation criteria.11 Annex B (informative)
Flow chart of evaluation of organic recoverability of plastic materials.13 Annex C (informative)
Prerequisites and quality of compost for evaluating composting of plastic materials.17 Annex D (normative)
Determination of ecotoxic effects to higher plants.18 Bibliography.20
biodegradability, II)
disintegration during biological treatment, III)
effect on the biological treatment process and IV)
effect on the quality of the resulting compost. NOTE For packaging EN 13432 applies. 2 Normative references The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. EN 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 14851:1999)
EN ISO 14852, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO 14852:1999) EN ISO 14855, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and disintegration of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide (ISO 14855:1999) ISO 16929, Plastics — Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under defined composting conditions in a pilot-scale test OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals 208: Terrestrial Plants, Growth Test; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2 rue André Pascal, F - 75775 Paris
Control of constituents Constituents known to be, or expected to become, harmful to the environment during the biological treatment process (see Clause 8), in excess of the limits given in A.1, shall not be deliberately introduced into plastic materials intended to be designated as suitable for organic recovery. 4.2
Assessment 4.2.1 General Except as identified in 4.3, assessment of the biological treatability of plastic materials shall include the following 5 assessment procedures as a minimum: characterization (4.2.2); biodegradability (4.2.3); disintegration including effects on the biological treatment process (4.2.4); compost quality (4.2.5); recognizability (4.2.6).
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The standard SIST EN 14995:2007 provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the compostability of plastic materials by establishing clear test schemes and specifications. Its scope is particularly focused on four critical characteristics: biodegradability, disintegration during biological treatment, effects on the biological treatment process, and impacts on the quality of the resulting compost. One of the strengths of this standard lies in its methodical approach to assessing compostability, which is essential in light of increasing environmental concerns regarding plastic waste. By explicitly addressing biodegradability, SIST EN 14995:2007 ensures that plastics can be appropriately evaluated for their potential to break down into non-toxic components within composting environments. Furthermore, the consideration of disintegration during biological treatment is crucial as it assesses the physical decomposition of plastics, thereby facilitating their integration into composting systems. The document also emphasizes the importance of the interaction between plastic materials and the biological treatment process. This characteristic is a key strength, as it promotes the understanding of how these materials affect microbial activity and the overall efficiency of composting operations. Additionally, by examining the quality of the resulting compost, the standard underscores the importance of maintaining high compost standards, which is essential for agricultural and horticultural applications. Moreover, the relevance of SIST EN 14995:2007 aligns with contemporary sustainability initiatives, as it provides a standardized method for manufacturers and composting facilities to verify and communicate the compostability of their products. This standard is pivotal in guiding the development of environmentally friendly plastic materials and supports compliance with growing regulatory requirements. In summary, SIST EN 14995:2007 emerges as a critical document in the field of plastics evaluation, providing necessary guidelines that balance innovation in plastic products with ecological sustainability, thereby playing a vital role in the movement towards reducing plastic pollution through compostability.
Le document SIST EN 14995:2007 se présente comme une référence essentielle dans le domaine de la plasturgie, particulièrement en ce qui concerne l'évaluation de la compostabilité des matériaux plastiques. Sa portée est claire et précise : il établit des exigences et des procédures visant à déterminer la compostabilité ou la traitabilité anaérobie des plastiques, en se basant sur quatre caractéristiques fondamentales. Premièrement, la norme aborde la **biodégradabilité**, ce qui est crucial pour évaluer si un matériau peut être décomposé par des micro-organismes en un environnement naturel. Deuxièmement, la **disintégration pendant le traitement biologique** est traitée, garantissant que les matériaux se décomposent efficacement en petites particules durant le processus de compostage. Troisièmement, l’impact sur le **processus de traitement biologique** est examiné, soulignant l’importance de ce critère sur l’efficacité générale du compostage. Enfin, la norme évalue l'**impact sur la qualité du compost résultant**, un aspect essentiel qui garantit que le produit final est sûr et bénéfique pour le sol. Les forces de cette norme résident dans sa capacité à offrir un cadre rigoureux et standardisé pour les tests de compostabilité, ce qui permet aux fabricants de plastiques de s'assurer que leurs produits respectent les exigences environnementales actuelles. En intégrant des tests spécifiquement conçus et des critères précis, la SIST EN 14995:2007 favorise la transparence et la confiance dans l'usage des plastiques compostables. En tant que norme européenne, sa pertinence est d'autant plus accrue dans le contexte actuel où la durabilité et l'écologie sont au cœur des préoccupations sociétales. Son application est particulièrement pertinente dans le secteur de l'emballage, en complémentarité avec la norme EN 13432, qui encadre les exigences pour les emballages compostables. En somme, le document SIST EN 14995:2007 est un outil indispensable pour évaluer et garantir la compostabilité des matériaux plastiques, contribuant ainsi à des pratiques durables et respectueuses de l'environnement.
Die SIST EN 14995:2007 ist eine wegweisende europäische Norm, die die Anforderungen und Verfahren zur Bewertung der Kompostierbarkeit und anaeroben Behandelbarkeit von Kunststoffmaterialien festlegt. Diese Norm behandelt vier wesentliche Merkmale, die für die Beurteilung der Umweltfreundlichkeit von Kunststoffen von entscheidender Bedeutung sind. Erstens wird die Biodegradierbarkeit von Kunststoffen betrachtet. Dies ist ein zentraler Aspekt, der sicherstellt, dass plastische Materialien unter biologischen Bedingungen abgebaut werden können, ohne langfristige Umweltschäden zu verursachen. Zweitens wird die Zersetzung während der biologischen Behandlung untersucht. Hierbei wird bewertet, inwieweit ein Kunststoff im Kompostierungsprozess zerfällt, was entscheidend ist, um die Effizienz und die ökologischen Vorteile der Kompostierung zu gewährleisten. Drittens befasst sich die Norm mit den Auswirkungen auf den biologischen Behandlungsprozess. Dies ist wichtig, um zu gewährleisten, dass die Verwendung der entsprechenden Kunststoffe keine negativen Effekte auf die mikrobiellen Aktivitätsgrade oder die allgemeinen biologischen Behandlungsmethoden hat. Viertens wird der Einfluss auf die Qualität des resultierenden Komposts analysiert. Ein hochwertiger Kompost ist entscheidend für die Bodenfruchtbarkeit und die gesamte Umwelt, weshalb dieser Punkt nicht vernachlässigt werden darf. Die Relevanz der SIST EN 14995:2007 ist in der heutigen Zeit besonders hoch, da die Gesellschaft zunehmend auf nachhaltige und umweltfreundliche Materialien angewiesen ist. Diese Norm bietet nicht nur klare Richtlinien für Hersteller von Kunststoffprodukten, sondern trägt auch zur Förderung der Kreislaufwirtschaft bei, indem sie Standards für die Integration biologisch abbaubarer Kunststoffe in den Kompostierungsprozess definiert. Insgesamt stellt die SIST EN 14995:2007 einen bedeutenden Fortschritt in der Standardsetzung für die Kompostierbarkeit von Kunststoffen dar, der sowohl ökologischen als auch ökonomischen Nutzen bietet.
SIST EN 14995:2007は、プラスチック材料の堆肥化評価に関する欧州標準として、非常に重要な役割を果たしています。この標準は、プラスチック材料の堆肥化または嫌気性処理可能性を判断するための要件と手順を明確に定めており、以下の四つの特性に焦点を当てています。 まず第一に、バイオ分解性（biodegradability）についての評価が行われ、プラスチックが自然環境中でどの程度分解されるかの指標が提供されます。これは環境保護の観点から非常に重要です。 次に、プラスチックが生物処理中にどのように分解されるか、すなわち生物処理中の崩壊（disintegration during biological treatment）の過程を確認することで、堆肥化材料としての適正を測ります。このプロセスは、処理システムの持続可能性に直結します。 さらに、生物処理プロセスに対する影響（effect on the biological treatment process）も考慮されています。プラスチックが処理過程でどのように振る舞うのか、他の有機物と混合された際の影響が評価され、堆肥の質を損なわないことが求められます。 最後に、生成される堆肥の質（effect on the quality of the resulting compost）についても重要なポイントです。この評価により、プラスチックが堆肥化の結果として得られる製品の利用価値にどのように影響するかが明らかになります。 SIST EN 14995:2007は、これらの特性を通じてプラスチック材料の環境に対する影響を評価し、持続可能な廃棄物管理の促進に寄与します。また、この標準は、包装用プラスチックに関しては、EN 13432が適用されることに留意しつつ、広範な用途にわたってプラスチックの堆肥化可能性を確実に評価するための基準を提供しています。 そのため、SIST EN 14995:2007は、プラスチックの環境影響を正確に評価するための不可欠なツールであり、持続可能な未来を築くための一助といえるでしょう。
SIST EN 14995:2007 표준은 플라스틱의 퇴비화 가능성을 평가하기 위한 기준과 절차를 구체화하고 있습니다. 이 표준은 생분해성, 생물학적 처리 중 분해, 생물학적 처리 과정에 대한 영향, 그리고 최종 퇴비의 품질에 미치는 영향을 포함하여 네 가지 주요 특성을 강조합니다. 이 표준의 강점 중 하나는 플라스틱 재료의 생분해성 평가에 대한 명확한 요구 사항과 절차를 제공한다는 점입니다. 이는 제조업체와 연구자들에게 퇴비화 가능성을 공정하게 측정할 수 있는 기준을 제시하여, 지속 가능한 제품 개발을 지원합니다. 또한, 생물학적 처리 과정에서의 플라스틱의 영향에 대한 평가를 통해 환경에 미치는 부정적인 영향을 줄일 수 있는 방법론을 제시합니다. SIST EN 14995:2007 표준은 유럽 내에서 플라스틱 제품의 환경적 영향을 줄이는 데 매우 중요한 역할을 합니다. 퇴비화 가능성을 평가하는 기준을 설정함으로써 이 표준은 플라스틱 산업의 지속 가능한 발전을 촉진하고 있습니다. 이처럼 표준의 관련성은 환경 보호와 지속 가능한 자원 관리를 지원하는 데 큰 기여를 하고 있습니다.
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