What is OK compost HOME, OK biodegradable SOIL and OK compost INDUSTRIAL?
Bioplastics are a good alternative to normal plastics. But how can you tell if a product is really good for the environment? This is where certifications like OK compost HOME, OK compost INDUSTRIAL and OK biodegradable SOIL can help.
What do the certificates mean?
OK compost HOMEThis certificate certifies that a product has been manufactured in accordance with natural conditions in home compost It is completely biodegradable – it doesn't need industrial facilities or controlled temperatures. It is perfect for products that people want to dispose of in an eco-friendly way in their everyday lives.
OK compost INDUSTRIAL: The focus here is on industrial composting,i.e. controlled decomposition under specific temperatures and humidity conditions. This works very well in composting plants, but not in domestic gardens.
OK biodegradable SOIL: This seal shows that a product can break down in the soil, for example if it is left on a field or in a garden. This is especially important for farming and gardening.
How to get certified
These seals are not given out easily. The products must undergo extensive testing:
Degradability under certain conditions,
Harmlessness of the resulting substances,
Residues and toxicity,
and Time limits for decomposition.
Only when all criteria are met will the corresponding certificate be issued. - product-specific.
Why we at Golden Compound focus on HOME and SOIL
For us, it's important to follow the natural cycle.That is why we focus on realistic scenarios:
What happens if you don't dispose of a product correctly?
How can a material be eco-friendly even when it ends up in nature?
This is exactly why our biodegradable materials in the GC green line are mostly certified for home composting (HOME) or biodegradable in soil (SOIL). These certificates make sure that, if the material does get into the environment, it will break down into water, CO₂ and biomass within a reasonable amount of time.
But certificates don't guarantee success.
Here's an example: Our NATURALpot is very eco-friendly, but if it breaks down in a humid greenhouse a few weeks before the plant is ready to eat, it will not work. It doesn't have a certificate for use before decomposition – and this doesn't exist yet. At the same time, the thickness of the product is important: the thicker the product, the slower it will rot.
Unrealistic expectations of bioplastics
We keep on seeing the same thing: everyone demands certificates, sustainable materials, and preferably even cheaper than conventional plastic – but no one is willingto pay fair prices or make compromises..
This is an unrealistic expectation. Biopolymers cannot be cheaper, better, more sustainable and have additional functions all at the same time. But they are often judged by the wrong standards .
Our appeal
If you really care about the environment, you have to think about the whole process, from how things are made to how they are used and then thrown away. Certificates help us understand the environmental impact, but only if they are understood correctly and and used responsibly .
