The Italian Legislative Decree No. 116/2020, describes the requirements for the labeling of biodegradable and compostable packaging. The Decree has been in force since 1st January 2023.
Biodegradable and Compostable packaging
An item of packaging is considered to be biodegradable and compostable when it is certified by accredited bodies as compliant with technical standards UNI EN 13432.
UNI EN 13432
UNI EN 13432 is a European technical standard for compostable and biodegradable plastics. It specifies the requirements and test methods for materials and products that are claimed to be compostable in industrial composting facilities.
A product that meets the requirements of UNI EN 13432 can be certified and labeled as such, demonstrating its environmental sustainability and biodegradability. This certification helps consumers make informed choices about the environmental impact of their purchases and supports the efforts of businesses to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices.
The technical standard UNI EN 13432 states the requirements for packaging recoverable through composting:
- Packaging shall be designed, produced, and commercialised in such a way as to permit its reuse or recovery, including recycling, and to minimise its impact on the environment when packaging waste or residues from packaging waste management operations are disposed of;
- Packaging waste processed for the purpose of composting shall be of such a biodegradable nature that it should not hinder the separate collection and the composting process or activity into which it is introduced;
- Biodegradable packaging waste shall be of such a nature that it is capable of undergoing physical, chemical, thermal or biological decomposition such that most of the finished compost ultimately decomposes into carbon dioxide, biomass and water.
Labelling requirements for biodegradable and compostable packaging
The following elements must be added to the label:
- indication of compliance of the packaging with European standards (EN 13432 for packaging recoverable through composting or biodegradation)
- identification details of the producer and certifier;
- appropriate instructions for consumers to put such waste in the separate collection circuit and in organic waste recycling.
For packaging made from biodegradable and compostable polymers, under UNI EN 13432, it is recommended to use the term “compostable plastic” provided that no coding is foreseen for such polymers (eg., polylactic acid packaging may be identified as Compostable plastic 7).
Example
It is therefore clear that, for the purposes of collection and recycling of compostable items in organic household waste, all biodegradable and compostable packaging must be certified in accordance with UNI EN 13432.
Certification and "Accredia" mark
The certification is issued by a certification body that has been accredited by Accredia (i.e., a recognised association that operates on a non-profit basis under the supervision of the Ministry of Economic Development). Then, bodies and laboratories can issue certificates of conformity and calibration, declarations of verification, test, analysis, and inspection reports on the market with the "Accredia" accreditation mark.
Through the certification issued by the third-party accredited body, the producer or supplier can demonstrate to the market its ability to obtain and maintain the conformity of the products manufactured or services provided. To this end, the conformity mark is used, which is affixed to the product packaging or other external supports (the term “mark” refers exclusively to a graphic symbol attached to the packaging to distinguish products that obtained a specific certification. In essence, following the positive outcome of the audit and with the issue of certification, the third party grants the use of a logo/mark of conformity for a designated period of time). The mark, which certifies that the certification has been obtained, usually contains the licensee code, i.e. an alphanumeric code that makes it possible to trace the party that obtained the certification and the certified product.
Product Certification
The product certification can be issued only by product certification bodies that have been accredited according to ISO/IEC 17065. On the Accredia website, there is a database (https://www.accredia.it/banche-dati/) in which the accredited bodies and laboratories for issuing these certifications of compliance are listed.
These bodies or laboratories, in order to issue the conformity certificate, verify that the packaging in question possesses the characteristics established by the standard UNI EN 13432, i.e.:
- to biodegrade at least 90% in 6 months (i.e., at least 90% of the organic carbon constituting the material must be converted into carbon dioxide);
- if in contact with organic materials for three months, the mass of the material must consist of at least 90% of fragments smaller than 2 mm (to be verified according to EN 14045);
- the material must not have negative effects on the composting process;
- low concentration of heavy metals added to the material;
- pH values, salt content, volatile solids concentrations, and contractions of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium must be below established limits.