“Compostable” is not one claim — it is a family of standards, each tied to a different composting environment and a different market. A desiccant that is certified for one may not satisfy another, and a generic “eco-friendly” claim satisfies none under modern scrutiny. For a brand building a compostable pack, choosing the right desiccant certification is a real decision. This guide maps the marks so QA and packaging teams can specify the one their market actually requires.
Industrial vs. home composting — the first fork
The single most important distinction is where the item is meant to break down. Industrial (or commercial) composting runs hot — typically 55–60°C — with managed moisture and turning. Home composting is cooler, slower, and uncontrolled. Home standards are therefore stricter: passing home composting is harder than passing industrial. Pick the wrong target and a technically “compostable” desiccant fails the disposal route your customer will actually use.
The standards that matter
EN 13432 (Europe). The reference industrial-compostability standard for packaging, testing disintegration, biodegradation, ecotoxicity, and heavy metals. Required context for EU markets and the incoming packaging rules discussed in our EU PPWR guide.
ASTM D6400 (US). The US industrial-compostability standard for plastics and products.
ASTM D6868 (US). Covers compostability of packaging where a compostable coating or film sits on a substrate such as paper — relevant to laminated or coated formats.
OK Compost INDUSTRIAL (TÜV Austria). A certification mark based on EN 13432 for industrial composting.
OK Compost HOME (TÜV Austria). Certification for home composting — the stricter, consumer-backyard claim.
BPI (US). A widely recognized US certification logo built on ASTM D6400 / D6868, used to prove industrial compostability to retailers and municipalities.
What ATMOSIScience fiber desiccant is certified to
ATMOSIScience fiber desiccant is certified compostable under ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 — the industrial-composting standards for the US and EU — and is built from plant-based lignocellulose fiber wrapped in food-grade paper rather than plastic. For a brand whose pack targets industrial composting or is navigating EU packaging rules, that certification stack aligns directly. If your program specifically requires an OK Compost HOME claim or a BPI logo on the component, request current certificate status for your format — our team will confirm exactly what is in date and what a given market will accept.
Don’t forget the ink
A printed desiccant card raises a question QA teams do ask: are the inks compost-compatible? A compostable substrate printed with non-compostable ink can compromise the claim. Specify compost-compatible inks when you order a printed card — the printing options are covered in our guide to custom-printed desiccant cards. This is also where greenwashing risk lives; the legal framing is in our guide to the Green Claims Directive.
How to choose in three questions
Ask: (1) Which market — EU points to EN 13432 / OK Compost; US retail often expects BPI. (2) Which disposal route does the customer use — municipal industrial composting (industrial standards) or backyard (OK Compost HOME)? (3) Does the whole pack, including the desiccant and its ink, meet the same target, so the claim holds for the assembled product? Answering these prevents a certified component from undermining an uncertified pack, or vice versa.
Frequently asked questions
Is EN 13432 the same as home compostable?
No — EN 13432 is industrial. Home composting requires the stricter OK Compost HOME.
Does a compostable desiccant make my whole pack compostable?
Only if every component and the inks meet the same standard. The desiccant is one part of the system.
Which certificates can you provide?
ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 for fiber desiccant; request the in-date certificates and, for HOME or BPI needs, current status for your format.
Get the right certificate for your market
ATMOSIScience provides compostability certificates by name and helps map them to your market’s disposal route. Explore ATMOSIScience desiccant solutions, request a sample of the Fiber Desiccant, or contact our team for the certificate pack.
Related reading: Compostable Desiccant & the Green Claims Directive · EU PPWR & Desiccant Sachets · Supplier Qualification Pack
Request compostability certificates for your market
Tell us your market and disposal route — industrial or home — and we return the in-date certificates and confirm what your retailer or region will accept.
