OK Compost

The second well-known (industrial) compostability certification system in Europe is OK Compost, managed by Vin otte based in Brussels, Belgium. Historically, the system was launched in 1994, at the request of local governments who wanted to use compostable biowaste collection bags. 

The OK Compost logo is well known on a B2B level throughout Europe and beyond. On a B2C level it is mainly known in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain. 

---

Wemterra blown films are starch-based biodegradable and compostable materials. They are certified in accordance with DIN V 54900 (Germany) OK Compost and VGS-Tabel (including OK-Compost-Label, Belgium). Wenterra film is used for manufacture of bio-waste disposal bags and sacks. 

OK Compost Label Given to Biodegradable Bag, BioCycle, July 1996, p. 18. 

Certification organization AIB Vingotte (Belgium) is the European international testing and certification company based in Brussels. The OK compost mark guarantees that a material of a product can be composted in an industrial plant. 

Products that fulfil the requirements Examples of polymer materials that obtained the OK compost mark include blends of aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters and polylactic acid (BASF Ecovio), starch based (Biotec BIOPLAST), starch-based blends (Novamont Mater Bi), ahphatic copolyesters (Showa High Polymer Bionolle). 

By the end of the 1990s, when standards and criteria were in place, the first certification systems for compostahility were also started (e.g., OK Compost, seedling logo). Throngh these systems, a third party polices the correct use of the above norms, which shonld facilitate the market introduction of biodegradable materials even further. 

Over the last 20 years, several certification systems for industrial compostability have been started. In Enrope, the two major systems are the Seedling logo and the OK Compost logo while in the USA the BPI logo is best known. Attempts have been made to achieve mutual recognition bnt have not been successful so far. 

OK Compost is based on EN 13432 and also uses an additional certification scheme for further interpretation and use of the norm. The procedure for application is similar to that of the seedling logo. Testing must be performed at recognised laboratories. Approved products can carry the OK Compost logo (Figure 5.9), with a mmiber. 

The general operation of this system is similar to that of OK Compost. More information can be found at ... 

In the UK, the OK Compost Home scheme was adopted by the Association for Organics Recycling (AfOR) in 2011. More information can be found at http //wivw. organics-recycling, org. uk/category.php category=991 name= Certifica tion. 

Furthermore, in the USA, the OK Compost Home scheme has been taken over by the Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative for their specifications on home compostability. In 2011, OK Compost Home was referred to in Californian state legislation. 

In the UK, the lack of industrial composting infrastructures has promoted the compliance of bags with home composting standards such as OK Compost Home developed by Vingotte. 

The biodegradability of the Bionolle family is certified according to the following standards GreenPla , the label of the Japanese Bioplastic Association, European Norms (EN) 13432, DIN CERTCO (Compostable) and Vingotte (OK Compost). 

The OK Compost label has played an important role in the development of the market for compostable biowaste collection bags, which is now well established in Belgium (several million bags sold per year). The biowaste collection bags are now state-of-the-art technology and functionality and true compostability has been proven. 

Originally, the OK Compost system was based on the draft proposals for the European norm on compostability completed with some further technical specifications by AVI. Since the definite publication of EN 13432 [5], this norm is the principal guideline for the OK Compost system. Producers of basic materials or definite products must submit a dossier to AVI, which is making an evaluation and eventually granting the OK Compost certificate. The products can carry the OK Compost logo (see Figure 5.10). More information can be found on their website [80]. In October 2004 about 40 materials, products or additives are certified according to OK Compost. 

Figure 5.10 OK Compost logo Reproduced with kind permission of AIB Vinfotte...

AVI has introduced a second certification and labelling system besides OK Compost. This is OK Biodegradable with further specifications according to whether the applications are for soil... 

OK Compost and OK Biodegradable Marks, http //www.aib-vincotte.com/ uploads/documents/08 6 03 E.pdf... 

The OK Compost logo can be used on the labeling of biodegradable plastics and other materials to signify that the material is 100% compostable and biodegrada-... 

A number of certification systems which provide compostable packaging labels have been established worldwide. These certification systems include DIN CERTCO based on DIN EN 13432, OK Compost by AIB Vincotte (Belgium) based on EN 13432, compostable by the U.S. Composting Council based on ASTM D6400, and GreenPla certification by the Biodegradable Plastics Society (Japan) based on JIS K6953, to mention a few. 

---