DIN CERTCO cutting the edge: DINplus Biowaste Bags

Bildschirmfoto 2020-09-11 um 14.14.54 — The “DINplus Biowaste Bags” mark

Since the Closed Substance Cycle and Waste Management Act (KrWG) came into effect, every household in Germany must be connected to a bio-waste collection facility, as the expected approx. 5 million tons of bio-waste per year would otherwise not be returned to or removed from the value chain. The substances allowed for disposal in the organic waste bin are regulated by the German Biowaste Ordinance (BioAbfV), which is currently being revised.

Consumers, trade and disposal companies, NGOs, local authorities and manufacturers have been collectively discussing for some time about bio-waste bags, which are approved under the BioAbfV for the collection of e.g. kitchen and canteen waste and regulated by EN 13432. This standard specifies a maximum residence time of 12 weeks in compost, however the actual composting plants usually allow for shorter rotting times. DIN CERTCO is certifying compostable products according to EN 13432 for more than 20 years and is the competent contact point for certification.

In order to reflect these shorter rotting times, DIN CERTCO has developed a certification system at the cutting edge of technology that requires a maximum rotting time of 6 weeks for the complete composting: “DINplus Biowaste Bags”. In the process, bio-waste bags that have already been certified or not are subjected to renewed testing with a maximum composting time of 6 weeks. If all requirements of EN 13432 and the 6-week test are fulfilled, bio-waste bags are marked with the “DINplus Biowaste Bags” mark.

This certification mark makes it possible to trace approved bio-waste bags throughout the chain from trade to consumer all the way to the waste management companies to thereby reflect the current state of the art.

More information can be found on https://www.dincertco.de/din-certco/en/main-navigation/products-and-services/certification-of-products/environmental-field/dinplus-biowaste-bags/