ASTM D6400-23
Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities

Standard No.

ASTM D6400-23

Release Date

2023

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM D6400-23

Scope

1.1 This specification covers plastics and products made from plastics that are designed to be composted under aerobic conditions in municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities, where thermophilic conditions are achieved. 1.2 This specification is intended to establish the requirements for labeling of materials and products, including packaging made from plastics, as “compostable in aerobic municipal and industrial composting facilities.” 1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to determine if end items (including packaging), which use plastics and polymers as coatings or binders will compost satisfactorily, in large scale aerobic municipal or industrial composting facilities. Maximum throughput is a high priority to composters and the intermediate stages of plastic disintegration and biodegradation not be visible to the end user for aesthetic reasons. 1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test methods portion of this standard: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 17088. 1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

ASTM D6400-23 Referenced Document

• ASTM D5338 Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions
• ASTM D6866 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis*， 2024-02-01 Update
• ASTM D6868 Standard Specification for Biodegradable Plastics Used as Coatings on Paper and Other Compostable Substrates*， 2024-04-20 Update
• ASTM D883 Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics*， 2024-02-01 Update
• ISO 16929 Plastics — Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under defined composting conditions in a pilot-scale test
• ISO 17088 Specifications for compostable plastics
• ISO 20200 Plastics — Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under composting conditions in a laboratory-scale test*， 2023-08-01 Update

ASTM D6400-23 history

• 2023 ASTM D6400-23 Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
• 2022 ASTM D6400-22 Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
• 2021 ASTM D6400-21 Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics
• 2019 ASTM D6400-19 Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
• 2012 ASTM D6400-12 Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
• 2004 ASTM D6400-04 Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics
• 1999 ASTM D6400-99e1 Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics