EN 13432 Explained: Tests, Markets, Products and Certification Logos
EN 13432 Explained: Tests, Markets, Products and Certification Logos
EN 13432 is an important reference for industrially compostable packaging in Europe. This guide explains what the standard tests, where it is used, which packaging products may need supporting evidence, how certification logos differ, and how Torise helps B2B buyers review relevant documentation.
What Is EN 13432?
EN 13432 is a European standard for packaging that can be recovered through industrial composting and biodegradation. Its full title is Packaging — Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation — Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging.
It sets out how packaging should be tested and evaluated before it can be considered suitable for industrial composting under the standard's conditions.
EN 13432 is a standard, not a certification body or a single certification logo. Independent certification schemes, such as TÜV AUSTRIA's OK compost INDUSTRIAL and the Seedling logo programme, use EN 13432 as a technical basis for evaluating eligible products.
For packaging buyers, this distinction matters: a material claim, a laboratory test report and a product certification are not interchangeable.
What Does EN 13432 Test?
EN 13432 evaluates more than whether a material can break down. The assessment covers four main areas.
| Test Area | What It Checks | Why Buyers Should Care |
|---|---|---|
| Biodegradation | Whether the material biodegrades under specified test conditions within the required period. | Helps establish that the material can biologically break down. |
| Disintegration | Whether the packaging physically breaks down during composting, leaving only an acceptable amount of residue above the specified size. | Checks the behaviour of the actual packaging structure, not just the raw material. |
| Ecotoxicity | Whether the resulting compost has an unacceptable negative effect on plant growth. | Helps assess the impact of the composted material on plants. |
| Heavy Metals and Regulated Elements | Whether the material stays within the standard's applicable limits. | Helps control potentially harmful substances entering the compost. |
These tests address different aspects of compostability. A material may biodegrade but still fail the disintegration or ecotoxicity requirements.
The final packaging structure is particularly important. Thickness, inks, adhesives, coatings and other components may affect the assessment. Buyers should therefore check whether the evidence covers the actual product configuration they intend to purchase.
Which Market Is EN 13432 Used For?
EN 13432 is primarily associated with industrially compostable packaging for the European market. It is also referenced by certification schemes and may be useful in international sourcing when a buyer specifically requests European-standard evidence.
However, EN 13432 should not be treated as a universal approval for every country or application.
European Union
EN 13432 has historically been an important reference for assessing compostable packaging in the EU. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Regulation (EU) 2025/40, began applying on 12 August 2026 and introduces requirements concerning packaging sustainability, recyclability, compostability, chemical safety and other aspects of packaging compliance.
Under PPWR Article 9, certain packaging applications—including permeable tea, coffee or other beverage bags, soft after-use single-serve units, and sticky labels attached to fruit and vegetables—are subject to specific compostability provisions and timelines. Other packaging is generally directed towards material recyclability, subject to the Regulation's rules and exceptions.
Important: The European Commission has stated that the current EN 13432 standard needs to be revised and cannot, in its current form, be relied on for a presumption of conformity with the new PPWR compostability requirements. Buyers should check the latest applicable rules, harmonised standards and technical documentation for their product and target market.
United Kingdom
EN 13432-based certification may be relevant when UK customers specify industrial compostability. However, buyers should confirm the applicable UK requirements and whether a particular certification scheme or label is accepted for their intended use.
United States, Australia and Other Markets
EN 13432 may be recognised by some international buyers, but it does not automatically replace other market-specific standards or certification programmes.
For example, US buyers may request evidence based on ASTM D6400 and certification through the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). Australian buyers may ask about AS 4736 for industrial compostability. The required evidence depends on the product, market, customer specification and applicable rules.
Before ordering, confirm the destination market and the exact standard or certification required by the buyer.
Which Products May Need EN 13432-Based Compostability Evidence?
EN 13432 is relevant to packaging designed for industrial composting. Whether certification is required depends on the product's intended use, market rules, customer requirements and the claims made on the packaging.
Examples of products for which buyers may request compostability evidence include:
- Compostable carrier and shopping bags — where the product is marketed for industrial composting and the relevant customer or market requires supporting evidence.
- Food waste and organic waste bags — where the bags are intended to be collected with organic waste and processed through suitable treatment systems.
- Compostable flexible packaging — including certain bags, films and packaging formats, subject to their structure and intended use.
- Tea bags, coffee bags and other beverage packaging — specific applications are addressed under PPWR Article 9.
- Fruit and vegetable sticky labels — compostability requirements may apply under the relevant PPWR provisions and timelines.
- Other compostable packaging formats — depending on their composition, function and destination market.
This list is not a statement that every product in these categories must carry an EN 13432 certificate. It is a guide to applications where buyers may need to verify compostability claims or provide supporting documentation.
Also, not every biodegradable product is industrially compostable, and EN 13432 does not establish that a product will break down in home compost, soil, freshwater or the marine environment.
What Do EN 13432 Certification Logos Look Like?
EN 13432 does not have one universal logo. Buyers may encounter different marks issued under separate certification programmes.
1. Seedling Logo
The Seedling is a recognisable mark used for products certified as industrially compostable under the relevant programme based on EN 13432. The logo is owned by European Bioplastics, and certification is carried out by authorised independent certification bodies, including DIN CERTCO and TÜV AUSTRIA.
Official reference: Seedling Logo Guidelines
2. OK compost INDUSTRIAL
This is TÜV AUSTRIA's certification mark for products assessed under its industrial compostability certification scheme. It is associated with controlled industrial composting conditions—not a general claim that a product composts in any environment.
Official reference: OK compost INDUSTRIAL
3. DIN CERTCO Industrially Compostable Mark
DIN CERTCO certifies eligible materials and products against DIN EN 13432 and other applicable standards. Its industrially compostable mark is another certification mark buyers may encounter.
Official reference: DIN CERTCO
How Should Buyers Check a Logo?
Do not rely on the logo alone. Ask for the certificate number, certificate holder, validity status and product scope. Confirm that the certified product matches the item being purchased—including its material formulation, thickness, dimensions, printing, coatings and other relevant components.
A logo should only be used when the product is covered by the applicable certification and the relevant mark-use rules have been followed. A supplier should not apply a certification logo simply because a raw material has been certified.
Does EN 13432 Certification Cover Raw Materials or Finished Products?
Not necessarily both.
A raw material may have supporting test data or a material-level certification, while the finished packaging may contain additional components or have a different thickness and structure. These differences can affect whether the final product falls within the certification scope.
When reviewing a supplier's documents, check which of the following is covered:
- Raw material: a resin, compound or material formulation.
- Intermediate material: for example, a film or sheet.
- Finished product: the actual bag, packaging item or other product being supplied.
- Product variations: the specific thicknesses, dimensions, colours, printing and components included in the certificate's scope.
If a certificate covers only a particular formulation or product configuration, it should not be assumed to cover every product made from a similar material.
For example, buyers can review Torise's EN 13432 Shopping Bag Certificate to check the documented certification scope for the relevant shopping bag product. Always confirm that the certificate details match the specific product being sourced.
Torise EN 13432 Shopping Bag Certificate
Torise's EN 13432 Shopping Bag Certificate Explained
Torise's shopping bag certificate was issued by DIN CERTCO, a certification body associated with TÜV Rheinland, for Henan Longdu Torise Biomaterials Co., Ltd. It identifies the certified product category, applicable testing basis and authorised use of the industrially compostable conformity mark.
- Certificate holder: Henan Longdu Torise Biomaterials Co., Ltd., China.
- Product scope: Products made of compostable materials, with the type/model identified as shopping bags TR-TS.
- Testing basis: DIN EN 13432:2000-12, ASTM D 6400:2023-03 and the certification scheme for products made of industrially compostable materials.
- Registration number: 7P0446.
- Validity shown on the certificate: Until 31 May 2029.
The certificate also grants the holder the right to use the conformity mark shown on the document, subject to the applicable regulations and trademark usage guidelines.
Important for buyers: The certificate applies to the product scope and conditions documented by DIN CERTCO. Buyers should confirm that the bag specification they intend to order is covered by the certificate. This certificate alone does not establish compliance with every packaging requirement in every market or automatically demonstrate full compliance with the EU PPWR.
How Can Torise Support EN 13432-Related Packaging Requirements?
Torise supplies compostable raw materials and finished compostable bag products for B2B customers. For buyers sourcing shopping bags, you can explore our EN 13432 certified compostable shopping bags for product information.
EN 13432 certified compostable shopping bags
Depending on the product, formulation and intended market, we can discuss relevant compostability certification and supporting documentation for qualified materials or finished products.
Our support may include:
- Certification and documentation review: helping buyers identify which documents are available and what product scope they cover.
- Product-specific checks: reviewing the requested material, thickness, size, printing and other configuration details before confirming document applicability.
- Market-oriented guidance: discussing whether the buyer's specification calls for EN 13432-based evidence or another standard or certification programme.
- Documentation on request: providing available certificates and supporting documents for the relevant qualified products, subject to their scope and validity.
Certification availability depends on the exact formulation, product configuration and certification scope. We do not assume that one certificate covers every material or finished product.
For an accurate review, buyers can share the intended application, destination market, product specifications and any required standard or certification with the Torise team. We can then check the relevant documentation before quotation or order confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EN 13432 a certification?
No. EN 13432 is a standard that sets out requirements and test criteria for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation. Independent certification programmes may use it as a basis for evaluating products and authorising certification marks.
Does EN 13432 mean a product is home compostable?
No. EN 13432 addresses packaging intended for industrial composting under controlled conditions. Home compostability requires separate evidence against the relevant requirements or certification scheme.
Is EN 13432 mandatory for every packaging product sold in the EU?
No. It is not a blanket requirement for every packaging product. Applicable requirements depend on the packaging type, intended use, claims and current EU and national rules. Under PPWR, certain packaging applications have specific compostability provisions, while other packaging is generally subject to material-recyclability requirements and relevant exceptions.
Can a supplier use an EN 13432 logo if only its raw material is certified?
Not automatically. The supplier must verify that the finished product is covered by the applicable certification and follow the certification programme's rules for logo use.
Is an EN 13432 certificate enough to demonstrate PPWR compliance?
Not necessarily. PPWR addresses multiple packaging requirements, and the European Commission has stated that the current EN 13432 standard needs revision for the new Regulation's compostability provisions. Buyers should check the latest applicable harmonised standards, technical documentation and other relevant compliance requirements.
What should I send Torise to check certification availability?
Please share the product type, intended market, material or formulation, thickness, dimensions, printing or other components, and the standard or certification requested by your customer. Torise can review the available documentation and confirm its applicability to the specified product.
Need Compostability Documentation for Your Packaging?
If you are sourcing compostable bags or packaging materials, contact Torise with your target market and product specifications. We can help review available certification documents and identify the next steps for your packaging requirements.
Contact: sales@torisegroup.com
