The issue of climate change forms part of every day discussion today. Certified bioplastics as biobased, biodegradable or compostable packaging material, which is indispensable in some cases to protect food, is one of the key measures in waste management and resource management to contribute to the climate crisis.

TÜV AUSTRIA introduced a certification system associated with a logo, “OK compost” in May 1995, based on numerous quotations by bag manufacturers, followed by other marks like “OK compost HOME” or “OK biodegradable SOIL, WATER and MARINE”. In 2009 another mark was born: “OK biobased”. It should be noted that biobased and biodegradable are two completely different concepts. Biobased refers to the natural, contemporary and renewable origin of products (= of plant origin) and does not automatically imply biodegradability. Based on the experience TÜV AUSTRIA has made by the “simple” assessment of conformity, a certification & communication approach was developed to answer whether other types of products like T-Shirts, toys or electronic articles can be certified compostable, biodegradable or biobased as well.

This whitepaper gives insight into the numerous certification marks “OK compost”, “OK biodegradable” and “OK biobased” TÜV AUSTRIA offers as certification body for bioplastics. Referring to the actual climate crisis, it describes the history of packaging and waste and its necessity for certified bioplastics including other certification approaches.