Compostability Certificates and Food Contact Tests to Ask a Supplier For
Key points
- A compostability certificate proves how a material breaks down; a food contact test proves what migrates into food. You need both, and they come from different documents.
- Check that the certificate holder, product name and maximum thickness on the certificate match the exact item you are buying, then look it up in the certifier's public database.
- Ask for recent third-party test reports in your own name or tied to your SKU, and budget time for new tests if the supplier cannot provide them.
Most buyers of compostable packaging meet the same problem on their first order. The supplier sends a PDF with a green logo, a lab report from a few years ago and a line in the quotation that says “100% biodegradable, food safe”. None of that is enough to put the product on a shelf in California, Germany or Japan, and none of it protects you if a retailer or regulator asks for proof.
This guide explains which documents actually matter, what each one proves and how to check them before you pay a deposit. It is written for brand owners and importers buying sugarcane bagasse, areca palm leaf, PLA-lined paper, bamboo fiber and similar items from Vietnamese manufacturers, but the logic applies to any origin.
One point up front: biopackvn.com does not verify or confirm that any manufacturer holds a compostability certificate. When we introduce a manufacturer, you are responsible for requesting the original certificate and test reports and checking them yourself. The rest of this article shows you how.
Two different questions: compostability and food safety
Buyers often treat “compostable” and “food safe” as one claim. They are separate, and they are proven by separate documents.
- Compostability answers: what happens to the packaging after use? It is proven by certification to a standard such as ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868 or EN 13432, issued by a certification body after lab testing.
- Food contact compliance answers: what moves from the packaging into the food during use? It is proven by migration and composition tests against the rules of your target market, such as US FDA regulations under 21 CFR or EU food contact law.
A bagasse clamshell can be certified compostable and still fail a food contact requirement, for example because of the grease-resistant additive used in the pulp. It can also pass migration tests and have no compostability certificate at all. You need evidence for both.
The main compostability standards and marks
| Standard or mark | Market | What it covers | Composting type | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM D6400 | US | Plastics and bioplastics, including PLA items | Industrial | BPI certified products catalog |
| ASTM D6868 | US | Plastic coatings or layers on paper and fiber | Industrial | BPI certified products catalog |
| BPI certification | US, Canada | Products tested to D6400 or D6868, plus BPI’s own fluorine rules | Industrial | bpiworld.org |
| EN 13432 | EU | Packaging recovered through composting | Industrial | Depends on certifier |
| TUV Austria OK compost INDUSTRIAL | EU and wider | Certification based on EN 13432 | Industrial | TUV Austria certificate database |
| TUV Austria OK compost HOME | EU and wider | Separate test scheme at lower temperatures | Home | TUV Austria certificate database |
| Seedling logo (DIN CERTCO or TUV Austria) | EU | EN 13432 based, licensed logo | Industrial | Certifier database |
A few points buyers often miss:
US certification is industrial only. The Biodegradable Products Institute certifies products for commercial composting facilities. The US has no national home-compost standard, so a US claim of “home compostable” needs extra care. BPI also requires that certified products contain no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals and stay under a total fluorine limit, which is relevant for molded fiber. You can read the current program rules at bpiworld.org.
EN 13432 is a test framework, not a logo. In broad terms it requires the material to break down physically within a set number of weeks in industrial composting conditions, to biodegrade to a set percentage within a set period, to stay under heavy metal limits and to show no harm to plant growth. A certifier such as TUV Austria tests against it and then issues a mark. See the TUV Austria green marks overview for how its OK compost schemes are split.
Home and industrial are different claims. OK compost HOME is a separate certification with its own tests. A product certified only for industrial composting cannot be sold as home compostable.
How to read a compostability certificate
When a supplier sends a certificate, check these fields one by one. Most problems show up here.
1. Certificate holder
The holder is the company that owns the certificate. In Vietnam it is common for a converter to show a certificate held by its pulp supplier, a sister company or a trading company. That document may be genuine, but it does not cover the factory you are talking to unless the finished product is listed under a licensing arrangement. Ask directly: “Is your company, or my specific product, named on this certificate?”
2. Product name and scope
A certificate lists specific products, material grades or product families. A certificate for “molded bagasse plates” does not automatically cover a clamshell with a different coating. A certificate for a PLA resin does not certify a PLA-lined paper cup made from it. Match the listed items to your SKU list.
3. Maximum thickness or basis weight
Compostability depends on thickness. Certificates usually state the maximum wall thickness or grammage that passed the test. If your custom tray is thicker than that limit, the certificate does not cover it. Ask for the item specification sheet and compare.
4. Certificate number and validity
Every genuine certificate has a number and a validity period. Search that number, or the holder name, in the certifier’s public database. If the product is not there, or the certificate shows as expired or withdrawn, stop and ask why.
5. Consistency with the logo on the product
If you plan to print a certification mark on your packaging, you usually need the right to use it. Using a supplier’s certification number on your own brand often needs a separate license or a listing of your brand name. Confirm this with the certifier before printing artwork.
Food contact tests by market
Food contact rules differ by market, and suppliers who export mostly to one region may not have tests for another. The table below is a general guide. Confirm the exact requirements for your product with your compliance advisor or testing lab.
| Market | Typical requirement or reference | Common tests buyers ask for |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FDA food contact regulations in 21 CFR (for paper and paperboard, 21 CFR 176.170 and 176.180 are often cited) | Extraction or migration tests to the relevant 21 CFR section, heavy metals, total fluorine for PFAS |
| US states | Toxics in Packaging laws on lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium; several states, including California and New York, prohibit intentionally added PFAS in plant-fiber food packaging | Heavy metals screen, total fluorine, supplier declaration of no intentionally added PFAS |
| European Union | Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004; plastics Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for plastic layers such as PLA linings; national rules and German BfR recommendations are often used for paper and fiber | Overall and specific migration, Declaration of Compliance, LFGB tests often requested by German buyers |
| EU packaging rules | The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) restricts PFAS in food-contact packaging, with the restriction applying from August 2026 | Targeted PFAS analysis and total fluorine against the PPWR limits |
| Japan | Food Sanitation Act, including a positive list for synthetic resins | Tests to Japanese food sanitation standards, often through a Japanese importer’s lab |
| South Korea | Standards and specifications set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety | Tests to Korean specifications, usually coordinated by the importer |
What each test tells you
- Overall migration measures the total amount of material that transfers from the packaging into food simulants under set time and temperature conditions. It is central for plastic layers, including PLA.
- Specific migration looks for named substances with their own limits, such as certain monomers or additives.
- Heavy metals tests check lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium. They matter for both food contact and compostability standards.
- Total fluorine screens for PFAS. It is a cheap first check. A high result points to fluorinated grease-proofing agents, which are now restricted in several markets. A low result is a good sign but does not replace a targeted PFAS test if your market requires one.
- Condition-specific tests matter for use: hot fill, microwave, oven or frozen storage. A plate tested at room temperature says nothing about a bowl used for hot soup at 95 C.
If PFAS is a concern for your market, and for molded fiber it usually is, our article on comparing bagasse, areca leaf and rice or grass straws covers which materials tend to rely on grease-resistant additives and which do not.
How to verify a test report
A test report from an accredited lab is stronger than a supplier’s own declaration, but only if it applies to what you are buying.
- Check the lab. International testing groups such as SGS, Intertek and Bureau Veritas operate in Vietnam, as do local accredited labs. Look for the lab’s accreditation (for example ISO/IEC 17025) and the accreditation number on the report.
- Check the sample description. The report should describe the sample in a way that matches your item: material, color, dimensions, coating and ideally a photo.
- Check the date. Many importers ask for reports issued within the last 12 months. Ask for new tests after any change in pulp source, additive or coating.
- Check the test conditions. Temperature, time and food simulant should reflect your real use.
- Contact the lab if in doubt. Most labs will confirm whether a report number is genuine. Some offer online report verification.
For a first order, many buyers pay for tests on samples from the finished lot, with the report issued in their own name. It adds cost and some time, but gives you a document you control.
Red flags in supplier documents
- The certificate or report names a different company and the supplier cannot explain the relationship.
- The product is not in the certifier’s public database, or the certificate number returns nothing.
- Only one report covers dozens of SKUs with different shapes, thicknesses and coatings.
- The report is for “biodegradability” in soil or water with no reference to ASTM D6400, D6868 or EN 13432.
- The supplier offers to “add your logo” to an existing certificate without involving the certifier.
- Claims like “100% biodegradable in 90 days anywhere” appear without any standard reference.
None of these automatically mean the factory is dishonest. Many manufacturers sell mainly to distributors who handle certification themselves. But certification by a body such as BPI or TUV Austria often takes several months, so find the gaps before you commit.
Building compliance into your RFQ
The easiest way to avoid document problems is to state your requirements when you submit a sourcing request, not after the quotation. When we introduce manufacturers, we match them to what you ask for, and a clear compliance section helps you compare the replies. Our materials and certifications guide gives background on each material, and the overview of biodegradable packaging made in Vietnam explains which product types are widely produced.
In the RFQ, list:
- The compostability standard you need (ASTM D6400 or D6868 with BPI, EN 13432 with a named mark, or OK compost HOME).
- Whether the certificate must name the finished product or your brand.
- The food contact rules for each market you sell into.
- PFAS requirements, such as “no intentionally added PFAS, total fluorine test required”.
- Use conditions: hot fill, microwave, oven, freezer.
- Whether you will commission your own tests, and who pays.
When manufacturers reply, ask each one to send the certificate number and the latest test reports with the quotation, then verify them yourself as described above.
See also: EN 13432 explained, what a compost certificate covers, DIN CERTCO and the Seedling logo and ISO 17088 and EN 14995.
Next step
If you are ready to source, send an RFQ with the material, size or volume of each item, quantity per SKU, target market and the certifications and food contact tests you need, plus any artwork or specification file. We reply within 24 business hours and introduce up to three Vietnamese manufacturers that fit the request. You then request and check their documents directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is a BPI certificate valid for selling in the EU?
No. BPI certifies against US standards (ASTM D6400 and D6868) for industrial composting. EU buyers usually look for certification to EN 13432, for example the TUV Austria OK compost INDUSTRIAL mark or the Seedling logo. Some products hold both, but each has to be checked separately.
Can a factory use its raw material supplier's certificate?
Only in limited cases, and you should treat it with caution. A certificate for a pulp or resin grade shows the input can be compostable at a stated thickness, but it does not certify the finished plate, cup or lid made from it. Ask whether the finished product itself is listed, and under which company name.
How old can a food contact test report be?
There is no single legal age limit, but many importers ask for reports issued within the last 12 months and for new tests whenever the formula, coating or supplier of raw material changes. A report older than two years is weak evidence for a current production run.
Does biopackvn.com check certificates for me?
No. We introduce manufacturers that fit your RFQ, but we do not verify or confirm that any manufacturer holds a compostability certificate or has passed a food contact test. You should request the original documents from the manufacturer and check them yourself before ordering.
Is home compostable the same as compostable?
No. Home compostable claims need a separate certification, such as TUV Austria OK compost HOME, because backyard piles run cooler than industrial facilities. The US has no national home-compost standard, so a product certified only for industrial composting should not be marketed as home compostable.
BioPack VN is a matching service, not a manufacturer. Figures above are typical market ranges for planning, not quotes, and we do not confirm any manufacturer's certificates. Send an RFQ to be introduced to up to 3 Vietnamese manufacturers within 24 business hours.