SOON : OK renewable carbon
The development of renewable carbon-based materials is a key concern for the future as it reduces reliance on virgin fossil resources.
This specification proposes an objective method, developed by the “Renewable Carbon Initiative”, for determining the renewable carbon share of raw materials, intermediates, additives and finished products, and a logo to communicate this value to the end users, whatever process is used to achieve this goal: bio-based, Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) or recycling.
This technical specification considers solely the renewable carbon share and does not give any judgement about the other sustainability aspects such as energy use, end-of-life treatment, water use, hazardous substances content, or any other green claims.
Compostable Materials Scheme (UK)
TÜV AUSTRIA has been appointed as a new certification body under Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL)’s Compostable Materials Certification Scheme (CMCS).
TUV AUSTRIA is tasked with the responsibility of conducting certification assessments for CMCS, which entails assessing products and test results against scheme documents to ensure the products comply with certification requirements.
These schemes only apply to finished products, and all the raw materials, components and constituents, and the finished products certified OK compost meet the requirements of this UK scheme, making it easier to obtain this new logo awarded by REAL.
OK compost INDUSTRIAL
Packaging or products bearing the OK compost INDUSTRIAL label are guaranteed to be biodegradable in an industrial composting plant. This applies to all of their components, inks and additives. The sole reference point for the certification program is the harmonized EN 13432: 2000 standard: in any event, any product bearing the OK compost INDUSTRIAL logo complies with the requirements of the EU Packaging Directive ( 94/62/EEC).
Seedling
TÜV AUSTRIA (formerly Vinçotte) is a certification body authorized by European Bioplastics and may therefore award the Seedling logo to products that are in compliance with EN 13432. By awarding both the OK compost INDUSTRIAL and the Seedling logo, TÜV AUSTRIA’s certificate holders are able to have their compostable products recognized throughout the entire European market.
OK compost HOME
On account of the comparatively small volume of waste involved, the temperature in a garden compost heap is clearly lower and less constant than in an industrial composting environment. Composting in the garden is therefore a more difficult, slower-paced process.
TÜV AUSTRIA’s innovative answer to this challenge is the OK compost HOME certification system to guarantee complete biodegradability in the light of specific requirements, even in your garden compost heap.
OK biodegradable SOIL
Biodegradability in the soil offers huge benefits for agricultural and horticultural products because they can be left to break down in situ after use. The OK biodegradable SOIL label guarantees that a product is completely biodegradable in the soil with no adverse effects on the environment.
OK biodegradable WATER
Products certified for OK Biodegradable WATER guarantee biodegradation in a natural, freshwater environment, and thus make a substantial contribution to the reduction of waste in rivers, lakes or any natural freshwater. Please note that this does not automatically guarantee biodegradation in marine waters.
OK biodegradable MARINE
In view of the fact that the majority of marine debris is land-based, marine biodegradability is an added value to any product or packaging, regardless of where it is consumed. There will always be a chance that it will eventually end up at sea. Any supplier who invests in adding this functionality to his product or packaging should have the opportunity of having this information verified according to international standards – though without encouraging the consumer to litter at sea or anywhere else.
OK biobased
Unlike an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), the investigation method behind the OK biobased certification is very simple and the exact value can be precisely and scientifically measured by the C14 method and calculated. This makes checks and re-checks very transparent and also allows “apples to be compared with apples” with the greatest of ease.
NEN BIO-BASED CONTENT
This certification system is based on the European standard EN 16785-1, which enables an independent assessment of claims related to the bio-based content of products.