Does this Bag Come in Organic? TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost Provides the Answer.
- 08/21/2018
- Created by Alexander Mück
A recurring phenomenon is that of fruit bags from supermarkets, because they are often disposed of together with organic waste. Or plastic bags lined with polyethylene (PE) used to collect organic waste that are then disposed of along with it in organic waste containers. Hardly anyone is aware of the resulting consequences, or they are dismissed as negligible. However, that disposable packaging presents an inconceivable environmental stress, often having to be laboriously sorted out by hand.
Biodegradable packaging materials offer the solution here. These are tested for sustainability by TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost and if all requirements are met, they are awarded the OK compost certification. The various OK compost logos show at first glance whether a packaging material is actually sustainable.
In addition, the OK biobased certificate provides information on the composition of the basic material. To this end, the percentage of renewable hydrocarbons in the basic material is shown by a labeling system that gives a maximum of four stars, a minimum of 80% being required for it.
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OK compost-certified products are already available in numerous countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, the National Trust ships its magazines in compostable plastic with an OK compost certificate.
“Being an organization dedicated to preserving and creating a healthy and more beautiful natural environment, we take every opportunity to minimize our use of non-renewable resources and minimize the creation of waste,” as Lizzy Carlyle, Head of Environmental Practices at the National Trust, explained their motivation.
The issue of biodegradable plastics is now also finding its way into legislation. For example, in Italy, where packaging manufacturers’ products are to have compostable material content of at least 60% by 2021. Spain and France are the next major markets. In Spain, for example, only compostable bags will be permitted from 2020 onwards.
“TÜV AUSTRIA is a competent partner for efficient environmental and resources management. The challenge of the future lies in new, integrated solutions that conserve the environment and resources sustainably while increasing technological and economic competitiveness,” explained Rob Bekkers, CEO of TÜV AUSTRIA Group’s Life, Training & Certification Division.
Does this Bag Come in Organic? TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost Provides the Answer. Shutterstock, Emilija Miljkovic.
TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost - Zertifizierungsverfahren | Certification procedure (C) TÜV AUSTRIA
TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost: “Being an organization dedicated to preserving and creating a healthy and more beautiful natural environment, we take every opportunity to minimize our use of non-renewable resources and minimize the creation of waste,” says Lizzy Carlyle, National Trust. Photo: James Dobson.
TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost: “Being an organization dedicated to preserving and creating a healthy and more beautiful natural environment, we take every opportunity to minimize our use of non-renewable resources and minimize the creation of waste,” says Lizzy Carlyle, National Trust. Photo: James Dobson.