Massachusetts-based PHA producer CJ Biomaterials, Inc., a division of South Korea's CJ CheilJedang, has obtained Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certification for its complete range of PHA masterbatches and compounds in the US market.
BPI is the leading certification organisation for compostable products in the United States, providing third-party verification that raw materials and products comply with ASTM standards for compostability in industrial composting settings. Their certification process tests for, amongst others, biodegradability, disintegration, heavy metals, and ecotoxicity. Moreover, as required, the certified products all meet BPI’s standard of prohibiting intentionally added fluorinated chemicals.
Calling it a ‘significant milestone for CJ Biomaterials’, Max Senechal, CCO at CJ Biomaterials pointed to the benefits of certification.
“BPI certification ensures that products sent to composters are safe, help capture more food scraps, and break down within expected timeframes. As demand for sustainable materials grows, BPI certification will allow us to partner with brands and converters looking to accelerate the development and adoption of new compostable products.”
Certification and the clear labelling of certified compostable products are increasingly important as composting infrastructure that accepts food scraps and compostable products expands in the US. To ensure that commercial composters can maintain manufacturing high-quality compost, BPI certification specifically requires that certified products facilitate the capture of food or green waste. The diversion of food scraps to compost and away from landfills has a measurable climate impact. In the US, food scraps degrading in landfills are the third largest source of human-generated methane emissions.
Utilising compostable products to divert more food scraps to compost reduces landfill methane emissions, while providing additional nutrients for compost: a valuable soil amendment that improves water management, soil biodiversity, and soil’s ability to sequester carbon dioxide.
In addition to satisfying the requirements of composting facilities, BPI certification ensures compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, which require that any compostability claims made by an organisation are supported by scientific evidence. BPI certification is also included within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing of environmentally preferable products.