World leader in determining biodegradability and compostability

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Degradation and Toxicity

The use of plastics is so widespread that they can be found everywhere, floating around in our rivers, oceans, and embedded into soil. Whenever plastic products end up in nature they should preferably degrade over time and not cause harm to the environment. At Normec OWS, we therefore offer degradation and toxicity testing under varying conditions to mimic how materials degrade and behave when they end up in different environments.

The environment in which the product is tested should primarily depend upon its expected end-of-life. Degradability is not only an inherent material characteristic, but also depends on environmental conditions such as the temperature, biological activity, and microbial diversity. For instance, the inactivity of fungi in landfills and aqueous environments has a major impact on the degradability of certain materials. Environments also differ in terms of aggressiveness; as a rule of thumb, industrial compost is considered most aggressive, followed by home compost, and soil. Aqueous environments are generally less aggressive.

Industrial composting

Industrial composting

Streams of biowaste can include a fraction of plastic products. These need to rapidly degrade without leaving harmful residues to ensure high-quality compost that can be used safely.
Home composting

Home composting

Manmade products, such as coffee pads or capsules, tea bags, or fruit stickers that end up in home composting should simply degrade without any negative effect on compost quality.
Anaerobic degradation

Anaerobic degradation

We offer anaerobic degradation testing to provide detailed insight into the biodegradation or disintegration of a material in an anaerobic environment.
Soil degradation

Soil degradation

Different kinds of man-made material can end up in soil either through unintended or intended use. Biodegradability offers big benefits for these products.
Fresh water degradation

Fresh water degradation

Consumer products, such as detergents or flushable wipes, can inevitably end up in a fresh water environment. Biodegradability of these products helps to prevent any kind of damage to the ecosystem.
Marine degradation

Marine degradation

Plastics used for products such as fishing nets and baits can inevitably end up in the ocean. Biodegradability of these materials offers enormous benefits to prevent damage to the environment.
Ecotoxicity

Ecotoxicity

Parent compounds, or metabolites and degradation residuals, should not cause harm to the environment in which they end up by having any kind of toxic effect.
Abiotic degradation

Abiotic degradation

As opposed to biodegradation, abiotic degradation is a non-microbial process that concerns the fragmentation of the material into many small pieces, influenced by UV light and/or heat.

Biodegradation testing

Biodegradation testing can be performed under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The characteristic of aerobic conditions is that organic material is converted in the presence of oxygen into CO₂, H₂O and biomass. Under anaerobic conditions, where there is no oxygen present, methane gas is also formed.

Lab testing is performed under optimized conditions in terms of pH-value, temperature, and moisture content to ensure the most efficient testing process, giving reproducible and scientifically reliable results.

Testing conditions

Normec OWS offers certification and screening testing conditions. For certification, testing is performed in strict accordance with the available standard(s), including complete extensive documentation and a high level of quality control. Simpler and therefore cheaper screening tests are ideal for (early) research purposes and provide reliable initial results which can be used as a baseline for eventual later testing under certification conditions.

Based on our extensive experience in the field of biodegradability & compostability testing, at Normec OWS we are able to provide assistance in the entire process of product development: from preliminary research studies and research & development through to certification and testing finished products from the market. There is no need to commit to an entire testing program at once. Volume discounts are offered when several samples are tested in parallel.

Correct interpretation of test results

Testing is essential to obtain reliable and independent data, as it is not possible to extrapolate (bio)degradation results from one environment to another, or beyond the actual testing period. Our full customer support includes a tailored test program, highly detailed report, and follow-up advice based on the results.

It is often very useful to discuss beforehand in detail the nature and composition of the sample(s) and the ultimate purpose, so we can check whether testing can be optimized and/or reduced. In this context, more than 95% of our work is covered by secrecy agreements.

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What makes Normec OWS unique?

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between biodegradability and compostability?

Compostability is a broader term than biodegradation. A product that is compostable is by definition biodegradable under composting conditions. A product that is biodegradable under composting conditions is not necessarily compostable, as the material characteristics, timely disintegration, and ecotoxicity must also be verified for full proof of compostability.

How does Normec OWS track biodegradation?

The only scientifically correct parameter to measure biodegradation is CO₂ and/or CH₄ production. We therefore track the production of one or both of these compounds and use this to calculate the rate of biodegradation.

Why is biodegradation tested in different environments?

Every environment is different with its own microorganisms, temperature, and other inherent characteristics. Therefore, products biodegrade differently from one environment to another. While a product may biodegrade rapidly in one environment, it could go very slowly or not work at all in another. Reliable, independent test data in these different environments is therefore important. The environment chosen depends on the typical end-of-life destination of the material to be tested.

Where can I go with Normec OWS reports?

As Normec OWS is accredited globally by all certification bodies, you can go to the certifying body of your choice. Alternatively, you could use the reports for research purpose, marketing, or legal claims, depending on the test conditions and the level of quality control.

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