May 16, 2025 14:27

The Spanish Plastics Technology Centre, Aimplas, has developed a pioneering methodology
that enables faster evaluation of a material’s biodegradation, allowing companies to optimize materials and products from the early stages of application development.

Traditional biodegradation tests required by current regulations are slow and costly, often misaligned with market demands.

The new accelerated biodegradation test subjects materials to simulated industrial composting conditions in order to measure the conversion of polymeric carbon into CO2.  According to the researchers, this pioneering methodology makes it possible to assess the biodegradability of plastic materials in just one-third of the time needed by standardized tests.

Of course, the accelerated test does not replace the standardized tests required for the certification of compostable products under UNI EN 13432, but it can serve as a screening tool for companies to identify the most promising samples. This helps reduce the risk of failing certification and shortens time to market.

In practical terms, designers of packaging or disposable items can obtain preliminary results much faster, identify the most promising formulations early on, and implement reengineering processes for additives and compounds before initiating official certification procedures.

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