What Does BPI Certified Mean?
The BPI Certified logo is the most recognized compostability mark in North America. It tells a buyer that a product was independently verified to break down in an industrial composting facility - to the ASTM D6400 or D6868 standard - rather than just labeled "compostable" by its maker.
The definition
What is BPI certification?
BPI stands for the Biodegradable Products Institute, a third-party certification body in North America. When a product is BPI Certified, it has been independently tested and verified to meet the requirements for industrial composting - that it will disintegrate and biodegrade in a managed commercial composting facility without leaving harmful residue. The certification is anchored to recognized standards: ASTM D6400 for compostable plastics and ASTM D6868 for compostable coatings on paper and fiber.
The value of the mark is that it is independent and evidence-based. Anyone can print the word "compostable" on a package; a BPI Certified logo means an outside body checked the product against a defined test and threshold. That is exactly the distinction between a certified claim and an undefined one covered in compostable vs biodegradable.
What it verifies
What BPI certification checks
| Requirement | What it confirms |
|---|---|
| Disintegration | The product physically breaks apart in composting conditions |
| Biodegradation | The material converts to CO2, water, and biomass within the test period |
| Eco-toxicity | The resulting compost supports plant growth and is not harmful |
| Standard basis | Verified against ASTM D6400 (plastics) or ASTM D6868 (fiber coatings) |
| Setting | Industrial / commercial composting, not backyard |
Note the last row: BPI certification is for industrial composting. It does not by itself mean a product is home compostable - that is a separate bar carried by TUV OK Compost HOME, as explained in home vs commercially compostable.
Why it matters
Why buyers and brands look for the BPI logo
For a buyer, the BPI Certified logo is a fast trust signal: it means a foodservice, packaging, or consumer product has documented, third-party evidence behind its compostable claim, which matters for procurement policies, municipal composting acceptance, and defensible marketing. For a brand, certification reduces greenwashing risk - the claim is tied to ASTM D6400 or D6868 rather than to an unverifiable adjective. When ECS supplies compostable materials, we keep the claim tied to the specific certification the finished product holds, whether that is BPI Certified, EN 13432 in Europe, or TUV OK Compost. See the compostable bioplastics guide for how the standards fit together.
FAQ
BPI certification questions
What does BPI Certified mean?
It means the Biodegradable Products Institute, an independent North American body, tested and verified that a product breaks down in an industrial composting facility to the ASTM D6400 (plastics) or ASTM D6868 (fiber coatings) standard. It is a third-party confirmation of a compostable claim, not a self-declared label.
Is BPI Certified the same as home compostable?
No. BPI certification verifies industrial, commercial composting under ASTM D6400 or D6868. Home compostability is a separate, tougher requirement certified under TUV OK Compost HOME. A BPI Certified product is not automatically home compostable.
Which standard does BPI use?
BPI certification is based on ASTM D6400 for compostable plastics and ASTM D6868 for compostable coatings on paper and fiber products. In Europe the equivalent industrial standard is EN 13432, verified through schemes such as TUV OK Compost INDUSTRIAL.
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