Home vs Commercially Compostable
"Compostable" is not one thing. A product certified to break down in an industrial facility will not necessarily break down in a backyard bin. Knowing which certification a product carries is how you match it to where it will actually be composted.
The core difference
What is the difference between home and commercial compostable?
The difference is temperature, time, and the conditions each claim is tested against. Commercially - or industrially - compostable products are certified to break down in a managed composting facility, where higher temperatures (typically well above ambient), controlled moisture, and active management drive fast disintegration. The recognized certifications are BPI Certified in North America, verified against ASTM D6400, and TUV OK Compost INDUSTRIAL in Europe, verified against EN 13432.
Home compostable products are certified to break down at the lower, more variable temperatures of a backyard compost pile, without industrial management. That is a tougher bar, so it has its own certification - TUV OK Compost HOME. A product that only carries an industrial certification should not be assumed to compost at home. For the underlying definitions, read compostable vs biodegradable.
Side by side
Home vs commercial compostable at a glance
| Attribute | Home compostable | Commercially compostable |
|---|---|---|
| Where it breaks down | Backyard compost pile | Managed industrial facility |
| Temperature | Ambient, variable | Elevated, controlled |
| Certification | TUV OK Compost HOME | BPI Certified; TUV OK Compost INDUSTRIAL |
| Underlying standard | Home-specific scheme criteria | ASTM D6400; EN 13432 |
| Consumer access | Works without special infrastructure | Needs access to industrial composting |
Choosing
Which certification should your product carry?
Match the certification to how the product will actually be discarded. If your customers will put it in a backyard bin - think a garden or direct-to-consumer product with no collection program - target TUV OK Compost HOME. If the product moves through a foodservice or municipal stream that reaches an industrial composter, BPI Certified (ASTM D6400) or TUV OK Compost INDUSTRIAL (EN 13432) is the right and more achievable bar. The failure mode to avoid is labeling something "compostable" with no scheme named, which invites greenwashing scrutiny. Keep the claim specific to the certification the finished product actually holds. For how mineral fillers and other formulation choices interact with these tests, see calcium carbonate bioplastic filler and the compostable bioplastics guide.
FAQ
Home vs commercial compostable questions
Is home compostable the same as commercially compostable?
No. Commercially compostable products are certified to break down in a managed industrial facility at elevated temperature under BPI Certified (ASTM D6400) or TUV OK Compost INDUSTRIAL (EN 13432). Home compostable products are certified to break down in a backyard pile at ambient temperature under TUV OK Compost HOME, which is a tougher requirement.
Will a commercially compostable product break down in my backyard?
Not necessarily. Industrial certification is tested at higher, controlled temperatures than a backyard pile provides, so a product carrying only an industrial certification may not fully break down at home. Look specifically for TUV OK Compost HOME if you need backyard composting.
Which compostable certification should I look for?
Match it to disposal. For backyard composting, look for TUV OK Compost HOME. For products that reach industrial composting through foodservice or municipal programs, look for BPI Certified (ASTM D6400) or TUV OK Compost INDUSTRIAL (EN 13432). Avoid products labeled compostable with no named certification.
Specifying compostable packaging?