Our quality control team is in place to ensure products perform just as well in real-world conditions as they do in certified laboratory settings. We verify that compostable materials succeed in active composting systems, confirm that materials remain stable and safe throughout warehouse storage, and ensure products maintain their integrity during everyday handling. This approach helps us deliver reliable performance from testing through end use.
ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 require 90% biodegradation within 180 days and 90% disintegration within 84 days. Our products typically exceed these minimums. Composting conditions vary dramatically between facilities. We test beyond compliance because certification standards lag behind scientific understanding, and real-world performance often falls short of laboratory predictions.
Home composting operates at ambient temperatures with variable moisture and limited mixing. Products certified only for industrial composting can break down slowly in backyard bins. We test under home composting conditions because millions of people do not have access to commercial infrastructure. Our work focuses on designing for the real systems in use today, not idealized conditions.
Bio-based materials are not automatically safe. All inputs can carry trace elements from industrial production systems. We test for known contaminants while recognizing that some compounds may not yet be fully studied. We follow established standards for PFAS, heavy metals, and ecotoxicity to help ensure contaminants do not enter finished compost.
We test products beyond typical use cases, including double-capacity loads, temperature extremes, and extended exposure to acidic liquids. Some products fail during testing, which helps us identify performance boundaries under real conditions such as dropped plates, overheated containers, or extended storage. These results provide valuable insight for improvement rather than issues to avoid.