Full-service for testing of biodegradable plastic films

Full-Service for Testing of Biodegradable Plastic Films for Global Compliance

As an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, we provide a dedicated full-service for testing of biodegradable plastic films that verifies compostability, biodegradation kinetics, disintegration behaviour, mechanical performance, and chemical safety. Our full-service for testing of biodegradable plastic films supports manufacturers and exporters of PLA, PBAT, PHA, starch-based, and cellulose-based films who must demonstrate conformity to ASTM D6400, EN 13432, ISO 17088, and regional packaging and waste management regulations across the European Union, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. Every test is performed under our CNAS-accredited quality system, producing reports accepted by notified bodies, certification programs, and procurement teams worldwide.

Product Samples We Regularly Test in Our Full-Service for Testing of Biodegradable Plastic Films

PLA and PLA-blend biodegradable films — for food packaging, agricultural mulch, and compostable bags
PBAT and PBAT-starch blend films — for flexible packaging, shopping bags, and organic waste liners
PHA and PHB biodegradable films — for high-performance compostable packaging and marine-degradable applications
Starch-based and thermoplastic starch films — for single-use tableware wrap, carrier bags, and agricultural films
Cellulose and regenerated cellulose films — for clear packaging, labels, and compostable barrier applications
Multi-layer biodegradable films with barrier coatings — for food shelf-life extension with full compostability claims
Oxo-degradable and additive-containing films under dispute — for verification against biodegradation and ecotoxicity requirements of EN 13432 and ASTM D6400

Biodegradation and Compostability Testing for Biodegradable Plastic Films

Aerobic biodegradation under controlled composting conditions per ISO 14855-1 and ASTM D5338 — the biodegradable plastic film is mixed with mature compost and incubated at 58 °C under continuous aeration. The carbon dioxide evolution is measured and compared to a reference material to determine the percentage of biodegradation, verifying that the film reaches at least 90% mineralization within the test period required by EN 13432.
Aerobic biodegradation in soil per ISO 17556 and ASTM D5988 — the film is incorporated into natural soil at defined temperature and moisture, and the CO2 production is monitored to quantify the degradation rate and to predict the persistence of the biodegradable plastic film after soil burial or agricultural mulch use.
Anaerobic biodegradation under high-solids digestion conditions per ISO 15985 and ASTM D5511 — the film is exposed to anaerobic inoculum under mesophilic or thermophilic conditions, and the biogas production and degree of disintegration are measured to verify the film's behaviour in anaerobic digesters and landfill environments.
Marine biodegradation per ASTM D6691 and ISO 22403 — the film is incubated in natural or synthetic seawater with marine microorganisms, and the CO2 evolution is measured to assess the marine degradability claim for biodegradable plastic films intended to reduce ocean plastic pollution.
Home compost biodegradation per EN 17427 and customer protocols — the film is tested at ambient home composting temperatures (20-30 °C) with a natural compost inoculum to verify it achieves the required degree of biodegradation under less controlled, lower-temperature home composting conditions.
Respirometric screening and inherent biodegradability per ISO 14852 and OECD 301B — an aqueous aerobic respirometric test quantifies the intrinsic biodegradability of the polymer and its components, providing a rapid screening tool for formulation development and quality control.

Disintegration and Physical Breakdown Testing for Biodegradable Plastic Films

Compost disintegration test per ISO 20200 and ISO 16929 — the biodegradable plastic film is mixed with synthetic organic waste and composted in a controlled reactor at 58 °C for 12 weeks. The remaining film fragments are sieved and weighed to verify that no more than 10% of the original dry mass remains on the 2 mm sieve, meeting the disintegration criterion of EN 13432 and ASTM D6400.
Pilot-scale and full-scale composting disintegration verification — the film is placed in a real or simulated industrial composting facility and the fragmentation and visual disappearance are monitored over the standard composting cycle, confirming that the biodegradable plastic film disintegrates under realistic waste treatment conditions.
Soil disintegration and fragmentation test per ISO 17556 and internal protocols — the film is buried in soil and the loss of physical integrity and the reduction in tensile strength are recorded over time to support claims of soil degradability for agricultural mulch films.
Anaerobic disintegration test per ISO 15985 — the film is subjected to anaerobic digestion conditions and the degree of disintegration and the formation of digestate residues are measured to verify the film does not cause clogging or contamination of anaerobic digestion facilities.
Marine disintegration and fragmentation assessment per ASTM D6691 and internal methods — the film is exposed to marine water and sediment, and the breakdown into micro-fragments and the subsequent biodegradation are monitored to evaluate the environmental fate of biodegradable plastic films entering the ocean.

Ecotoxicity and Chemical Safety Testing in Our Full-Service for Testing of Biodegradable Plastic Films

Plant growth and germination ecotoxicity test per OECD 208 and EN 13432 Annex E — the compost produced from the disintegration test is mixed with reference soil, and the germination rate and plant biomass of two higher plant species are measured and compared to a control compost to verify that the biodegradable plastic film does not release toxic substances that would inhibit plant growth.
Aquatic toxicity testing of film leachates per OECD 202 and OECD 203 — the water-soluble extracts of the biodegradable plastic film are tested on Daphnia magna and fish to determine the acute toxicity, ensuring the film and its degradation products do not pose a risk to aquatic ecosystems.
Heavy metals and toxic elements per EU Directive 94/62/EC and EN 13432 — ICP-OES analysis quantifies lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and other regulated metals in the biodegradable plastic film, verifying that the total concentration is below the maximum permitted limits for compostable packaging.
Fluorinated compounds and perfluorinated substances screening per ASTM D7359 and internal methods — the film is analyzed for PFAS and other persistent organic pollutants to ensure the biodegradable plastic film does not contain substances that would compromise the safety of compost or soil.
Phthalates and restricted plasticizers per CPSC-CH-C1001-09.4 and EN 14372 — GC-MS determination of the six restricted phthalates in the biodegradable plastic film to confirm compliance with children's product and food contact safety regulations.
Volatile organic compound and formaldehyde emission per ISO 16000-3 — chamber emission testing verifies that the biodegradable plastic film does not release harmful VOCs or formaldehyde during composting, storage, or use in food packaging.

Physical and Mechanical Property Testing of Biodegradable Plastic Films

Tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of elasticity per ISO 527-3 and ASTM D882 — the film is stretched to failure in machine and transverse directions to measure the breaking force and stretch, ensuring the biodegradable plastic film withstands the mechanical stresses of packaging, sealing, and handling while maintaining its compostability.
Tear resistance by Elmendorf method per ISO 6383-2 and ASTM D1922 — the force required to propagate a tear from an initial slit is measured to verify the biodegradable plastic film resists damage from sharp edges and handling during the packaging process.
Dart drop impact resistance per ASTM D1709 and ISO 7765-1 — a weighted dart is dropped onto the film to measure the energy required to cause failure, simulating the impact of product corners and sudden shock loads on the biodegradable plastic film package.
Heat seal strength and hot tack per ASTM F88 and ASTM F1921 — the force required to peel a heat seal and the strength of the seal while still hot are measured to validate the sealing performance of the biodegradable plastic film on high-speed form-fill-seal machines.
Coefficient of friction per ISO 8295 and ASTM D1894 — the static and dynamic friction of the film surface are measured to control slip behaviour on automatic filling lines and to prevent blocking or misfeeding during the packaging process.
Stiffness and secant modulus per ASTM D882 — the film's resistance to bending and initial stretching is quantified for predicting web handling, die-cutting, and lay-flat performance.

Thermal, Processing, and Barrier Performance Testing for Biodegradable Plastic Films

Differential scanning calorimetry for melting point, glass transition, and crystallinity per ISO 11357-3 and ASTM D3418 — the thermal transitions of the biodegradable plastic film are measured to define the processing window for extrusion, heat sealing, and thermoforming, and to verify the polymer grade and blend composition.
Thermogravimetric analysis for composition and thermal stability per ASTM E1131 — the mass loss profile quantifies the organic content, filler, and volatile fraction of the biodegradable plastic film, ensuring thermal stability during melt processing and providing data for quality control.
Oxygen transmission rate per ASTM D3985 and ISO 15105-2 — the oxygen permeability of the biodegradable plastic film is measured to verify the barrier performance for food packaging applications requiring modified atmosphere or shelf-life extension.
Water vapor transmission rate per ASTM F1249 and ISO 15106-2 — the moisture vapor permeability is measured to confirm the biodegradable plastic film provides the required moisture barrier for the packaged product.
Heat sealability and seal strength after aging per ASTM F88 and ASTM F1921 — the biodegradable plastic film is heat-sealed and the seal strength is measured before and after accelerated aging to verify the seals remain intact during distribution and storage.

Report Recognition and ISO/IEC 17025 Compliance

All test methods described in this full-service for testing of biodegradable plastic films are included within our ISO/IEC 17025 scope of accreditation. Our test reports are accepted by European notified bodies and certification organizations for compostability marks, by North American compostability certification programs referencing ASTM D6400, and by customs and regulatory authorities across the Middle East, Australia, and Asia. Whether you require a complete qualification dossier for a new biodegradable plastic film, a batch release inspection for an export shipment, or a root cause failure analysis of a compostability claim, our laboratory provides the measurement accuracy and polymer science expertise that the global biodegradable packaging industry demands.