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The trade association said that the scheme, which is set to
be officially launched next month, would ensure that
products and packaging certified as ‘home compostable' would
meet this criteria and would also help to counteract
"consumer confusion" around materials.
The certification scheme was developed with Belgian
certification body AIB Vinçotte and comes in the wake of
research by both the Association for Organics Recycling
(AfOR) and the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP)
into home compostability.
AfOR is advocating clear messages around home composting and
Europe-wide standardisation in terms of compostable logos.
At present, there is no specific international or European
standard for ‘home compostable' products or packaging.
David Tozer, technical officer for AfOR, said: "There are
some significant benefits to being able to home compost
certain products and packaging items. With fresh, short
shelf life and/or contaminated packaging the option to
dispose of them in a safe and flexible home composting
system will restrict the amount of packaging which will
normally be destined for landfill."
In order for packaging or a product to meet the AfOR
accreditation it will need to meet similar requirements to
those laid out in EN 13432 - which indicates the industrial
compostability of plastic products. This is achieved through
tests for biodegradability, disintegration, eco-toxicity and
also a chemical analysis.
However, AfOR highlights that any product that only obtains
an ‘industrial' compostability rating should not be viewed
as home compostable. This is because the temperature in home
composting bins is likely to be lower than the temperature
needed for it to biodegrade or disintegrate.
The trade association said that the scheme is not intended
to divert from existing recycling streams but act as a
viable alternative.
AfOR claimed that work by both WRAP and Bristol-based
consultancy Eunomia on‘fit-for-purpose' packaging - such as
that certified for home composting - would have a positive
impact on the behaviour of residents. WRAP claims that 1.6
million householders had been encouraged to compost at home
in some form as a result of the Recycle Now composting
programme.
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