Biodegradable Plastics Positive List (PL) Formulation
Standards(Includes Compostable Biodegradable Plastics)

April 2000

(1st Edition)

February 2013

(Revised)

November 2018 (Revised)

June 2021 (revised)
October 2022(revised)Japan BioPlastics Association

1. Tabulation Policy(1) This shall be a positive list (hereafter referred to as the PL) by usage classification of materials.
(2) The substances listed in the PL shall be limited to substances currently being used, the use of which has
become determined, and which it is reasonable to use as biodegradable plastics.
(3) The content of the PL shall conform to the following classification categories (see the appendix tables)
A: Biodegradable synthetic polymers and compostable synthetic polymers(Name, substance name andchemical structure to be specified. Includes copolymers and block copolymers.)
B: Additives that can be used (Substance name and, if necessary, restrictions on quality, usage andapplications to be specified.)
C: Other materials (This refers to raw materials consisting of biodegradable synthetic polymers orcompostable synthetic polymers to which additives have been added. Name (product name, etc.) and all
constituent elements to be specified. Includes biodegradable adhesives.)(4) The additives that can be used are listed according to the classification by effect given below.

(PL Classification Table)
Classification
Code

PL Category

１

PolymersＡ
２Compostable Synthetic
Polymers

Refers to biodegradable synthetic high-polymer materials with a molecular weight(Mn) of at least 1,000. This includes chemically modified starch- andpolyamino-acid-based biodegradable high-polymer materials.
The plastics in A-1 category and be successful in the degradability
tests and the reproduction inhibition tests

１

Stabilizers

Includes antioxidants, radical scavengers and ultraviolet absorbers, etc.

２

Surfactants

Includes antistatic agents, antifog additives, dispersants and emulsifiers, etc.

３

Lubricants

Includes mold release agents, organic antiblocking agents, plasticizers, waxes,
rosins, etc.

４

Inorganic Materials

Includes inorganic antiblocking agents and inorganic colored fillers, etc.

５

Blowing Agents

Includes auxiliary blowing agents.

６

Other (1) (Organic
Materials)

Includes food additives used under the Food Hygiene Law, etc.

７

Other (2) (Organic
Materials with Special
Functions)

Ｂ（Additives）

Biodegradable Synthetic

Remarks

Includes specified functional materials, functional non-biodegradable high-polymer
materials and non-biodegradable adhesives, etc. for exclusive use in biodegradable
plastics

８

Natural Organic Materials

Includes starch, cellulose, wood flour, etc.

９

Color Materials

Includes organic pigments, dyes, masking agents, food dyes and inorganic
pigments.

1

Semi-finished ProductsC

１(OtherMaterials)

２

Compostable
Semi-finished Products

３

Biodegradable Adhesives

Refers to raw materials where the total amount of biodegradable synthetic polymers(Category A) and natural organic materials (Category B-8) accounts for at least
50.0% of the weight (or volume) of the product and to which additives (CategoryB) have been added. However, this does not apply where the item itself does notconstitute a finished product, such as a master batch. Includes biodegradable inks.
Refers to raw materials where the total amount of compostable synthetic polymers(Category A) and natural organic materials (Category B-8) accounts for at least
50.0% of the weight (or volume) of the product and to which additives (CategoryB) have been added. However, this does not apply where the item itself does notconstitute a finished product, such as a master batch. Includes biodegradable inks.
Includes reactive biodegradable adhesives, etc.

(5) The standards for listings on, additions and revisions to, and deletions from the PL are stipulated2

Listing Standards(1) The PL shall be formulated in line with the Tabulation Policy.
(2) The selection method shall be as follows.
a) The substance on the PL that consists of the single component shall demonstrate a biodegradability of atleast 60% in biodegradability tests (OECD 301C, JIS K 6950, JIS K 6951, JIS K 6953, JIS K 6955)
designated by the Identification Committee of the JBPA. (The testing period is the testing period
stipulated for each testing method.)b) In oral acute toxicity tests, the LD50 shall be at least 2,000mg/kg.
c) The substance shall not be a Class 1 or Class 2 designated chemical substance in Clause 2 of the latest
version of the Law Concerning the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their
Manufacture, etc. (1973 Law No.117; abbreviated to ‘Chemical Substance Control Law’).
d) The substance shall not be a substance subject to a prohibition on its manufacture under the latest versionof the Industrial Safety and Health Law.
(3) Biodegradable synthetic high-polymer materials with a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 1,000 shall beclassified as biodegradable synthetic polymers (Category A-1).
Among A-1, the plastics that is successful in the degradability tests (ISO16929 or ISO 20200) and the
reproduction inhibition tests (OECD208 or ISO 11269-2) shall be classified as compostable synthetic
polymers (Category A-2).
Other substances shall be classified as additives (Category B (1-9)), according to the purpose of their use.
(4) With regard to item (2) a) above, if the substance on the PL consists of multiple components, or is a processed
plastic product (finished item), all components of which the substance subject to the PL consists must be
disclosed, and it must be shown that each component satisfies the PL listing standards of this Committee.
(5) Item (2) a) above does not apply to natural organic materials and inorganic materials (including natural
inorganic materials). However, these materials are restricted to those that are added to biodegradable synthetic
polymers (Category A). Moreover, the quantity of an inorganic material added (used) must be less than 50%of the total weight (the total of the biodegradable synthetic polymers and all additives).
(6) In lieu of item (2) b) above, if it can be confirmed that the LD50 is at least 300mg/kg, and that the values forall of the prescribed environmental and ecosystem toxicity tests (EC50 in the case of alga and daphnia, LC50 in
the case of orange Oryzias latipes) are at least 100mg/l, the substance will be acknowledged to comply withthis regulation.
(7) With regard to item (2) above, part of the requirements can be omitted if the substance satisfies the following
provisions.
① With regard to organic additives (Category B other than B-4 and B-8), if the total content by weight ofany additive components is less than 1% of the total weight (the total of the biodegradable plastic and all
additives), there shall be no need for that additive to comply with item (2) a), on condition that theadditive is added to a biodegradable synthetic polymers (Category A).
3② With regard to the total quantity of organic additives exempted from compliance in item (7) a), thecontent must represent less than 5% of the total weight (the total of the biodegradable synthetic polymers
and all additives),③ Substances recognized in Japan and the USA as (direct) food additives shall be acknowledged to be
substances with a safety level equivalent to item (2) b), and can be listed as long as they have a technicaleffect in manufacturing or processing.
④ Biodegradable synthetic polymers (Category A) have a molecular weight distribution, so if item (2) a) is
confirmed with regard to the substance with the greatest average molecular weight, the plastics with asmaller average molecular weight shall also be acknowledged to satisfy item (2) a).

（8） Assuming that biodegradable synthetic polymers (Category A) have decomposed in the natural environment,
findings that confirm the safety of the products (intermediates) that arise from the decomposition process
must be disclosed to this Committee.
（9） Color materials are limited to those that are not subject to NL restrictions in the latest version of the“Voluntary Restrictions on Printing Inks (NL restrictions)” issued by the Japan Printing Ink Makers
Association.
（10） With regard to other materials, semi-finished products (Category C-1) refers to raw materials where thebiodegradable synthetic polymers (Category A) satisfies items (2) and (8) above, and where the additives(Category B) that form accessory components comply with item (2) or item (7) ①, ② or ③; moreover, inthese raw materials, the total amount of biodegradable synthetic polymers (Category A) and natural organic
materials (Category B-8) shall account for at least 50.0% of the weight or 50.0% of the volume of the product.
However, this does not apply where the item itself does not constitute a final product, such as a master batch.
（11）With regard to other materials, semi-finished products (Category C-2) refers to raw materials where thecompostable synthetic polymers (Category A-2) satisfies items (2) and (8) above, and where the additives(Category B) that form accessory components comply with item (2) or item （7） ①, ② or ③;moreover, inthese raw materials, the total amount of compostable synthetic polymers (Category A-2) and natural organic
materials (Category B-8) shall account for at least 50.0% of the weight or 50.0% of the volume of the product.
However, this does not apply where the item itself does not constitute a final product, such as a master batch.
（12）Biodegradable adhesives shall be listed under Category C-3 and all raw materials prior to hardening must be
registered in accordance with the PL classification and standards. However, registration is not required if lessthan 1% by weight of the volatile solvent (including water) remains after hardening. Moreover, applicantsmust prove that the adhesive satisfies the biodegradability standard in item (2) a) in its post-hardening state,
and that the adhesive is not orally toxic (in oral acute toxicity tests, the LD50 shall be at least 2,000mg/kg).
（13）Non-biodegradable high-polymer materials shall be listed in Category B-7; applicants must prove that theaddition of a small quantity (less than 1% by weight of the final product) to biodegradable plastics has a usefulfunction, such as improving the physical properties of the plastic.

4

(14) As for LD50 in (2)-b and (12), according to GHS classification, JBPA could regard that materials withacute toxicity estimate >2,000mg/Kg or acute toxicity hazard category 5 are equivalent to those with LD50
>2,000mg/Kg.
(15) As for LD50, EC50 and LC50 in (6), according to GHS classification, JBPA could regard that materials
with acute toxicity hazard category 4 and not classified in acute short time aquatic hazard are equivalent tothose with LD50 >2,000mg/Kg.

2. Criteria Concerning Amendments and Additions(1) The addition to or amendment of the PL will be conducted in line with the criteria listed herein.
(2) JBPA full members, supporting members and symbol members (including time-limited symbol members) canapply for the addition to or amendment of the PL in line with the following procedure. The members who areapproved to add or amend the PL should maintain the quality of the registered material.
However, applications concerning “biodegradable synthetic polymers” (Category A) as the key material can,as a general rule, only be made by full members and supporting members.
Moreover, applications concerning additives (Category B) may be accepted from non-members.
(3) Those who wish a new material not currently on the PL to be listed shall fill in the requisite sections of theapplication form in the format stipulated by this association and submit it to the Chairman of the
Identification Committee, along with the required documentation. In case that the appliers of the material are
not the manufacturer, they shall submit also documents about the qualification certification of the
manufacturer, the relationship with the manufacturer, etc. according to JBPA requests. Any change in those
documents should be applied to amend the PL to the Chairman of the Identification Committee, as soon as
possible.
i)Applications concerning biodegradable synthetic polymers (Category A-1)
Applicants shall complete the necessary sections of Application Form I-1 and append reports on
biodegradability tests, oral acute toxicity tests (LD50) and specified element analysis implemented by theprescribed institutions, as well as findings (test reports or copies of papers or review articles) concerning
the safety or lack of environmental persistence of the decomposition products (intermediates) that result
when the plastic degrades in the natural environment.
If the substance is not listed on the PL but is recognized as a biodegradable synthetic polymers byaccredited institutions in other countries, applicants shall complete the necessary sections of Form I-1
and, after appending the requisite documentation, shall complete and submit details of the accreditationin Section 6 “Accreditation Already Acquired” (accreditation name and accrediting country, date ofaccreditation and validity period), with details of the accreditation standards being given on Application
Form II-1.

ⅱ）Applications concerning compostable synthetic polymers (Category A-2)
Adding the degradability test report and the reproduction inhibition test report in addition to above 3(ⅰ)
5ⅲ）Applications concerning additives (Category B)
Applicants shall complete the necessary sections of Application Form I-1 or III-1 and append materials(LD50 oral acute toxicity data, product safety data sheet, content of specified elements, etc.) proving thesafety of the substance (material) for which the application is being submitted; in the case of substances(materials) that account for at least 1% by weight of the product, test reports proving thebiodegradability of the substance (material) or materials officially recognizing its degradability shallalso be provided.
ⅳ）Applications concerning other materials (Category C)
Applicants shall complete the necessary sections of Application Form III-1, such as filling in the name,content and PL number of all components (materials) of which the material consists in the raw materials
section of the form and content of specified elements.
(4) If requesting the amendment of the information on the original application with regard to a substance alreadyon the PL, the requisite information shall be completed on Application Form I-1 or III-1, and submitted to the
Chairman of the Identification Committee with required documents.
(5) For details of tests prescribed by this committee when applying for inclusion on the PL, please refer to theancillary document “Testing Methods Required for Inclusion on the PL”.

Deletion Criteria
In the following cases, the relevant substance will be deleted from the PL after implementing the proceduresprescribed separately.
(1) If the criteria for inclusion on the PL change as a result of revisions to the legislation to which it refers,
resulting in the substance in question no longer fulfilling the compatibility criteria.
(2) If the safety of the substance concerned is called into question and it is deemed that it should be deleted fromthe list due to the social conditions or other situation.
(3) In the event that it is deemed difficult to recognize the relevant product as a biodegradable product, because
the biodegradability of the substance does not control the overall biodegradability of the product that uses that
substance.
(4) If the properties of the substance concerned are found to differ from those listed in the PL application, and it
is deemed that the substance does not fulfill the criteria prescribed by this association for inclusion on the PL.
(5) Substances not granted a serial number based on the regulation concerning Outcomes of Judgments on New
Chemical Substances in Clause 4, Item 1 of the Law Concerning the Evaluation of Chemical Substances andRegulation of Their Manufacture, etc. (1973 Law No.117). However, this does not apply if proof ofconfirmation by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
under the provisions of Clause 4 of the Ministerial Decree Concerning Notification Regarding the6Manufacture or Import of New Chemical Substances (1974 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare andMinistry of Economy, Trade and Industry Ministerial Decree No.1) is submitted.
(6) In situations other than those listed above, if it emerges that the substance concerned is not actually being
used.

7

Appendix Tables: PL Classification Flow Charts
1. PL Framework Concept Diagram
PL
classification
The total amount of biodegradable plastic and natural organic
materials accounts for at least 50.0% of the weight (orvolume) of the product, to which a biodegradable adhesive orother material has been added as an additive.

Biodegradable synthetic high-polymer
material (molecular weight  1,000)

A: Biodegradable plastics

B: Additives

C: Other materials

Type ofmaterial

Natural organic materials

Note:

Organic materials

Inorganic materials

Even in the case of synthetic high-polymer materials with a molecular weight of at least 1,000,
non-biodegradable polymers are classified as additives.

82. Basic Flow of PL
Raw material that the applicant wishes to be listed on the PL(Except for Chemical Substance Control Law Specified Chemical Substances, substances subject to a ban on their
manufacture under the Industrial Safety and Health Law, restricted substances on the NL of the Japan Printing Ink
Makers Association, and chemical substances suspected of being environmental hormones)

Compositematerials

YES

C: Other materials

NO

Materials
consisting of inorganic
substances

YES

The total amount of biodegradable
plastic and natural organic materials
accounts for at least 50.0% of theweight (or volume) of the product, towhich a biodegradable adhesive orother material has been added as anadditive.

B: Additives(Inorganic materials)

Materials consisting of inorganic
substances(Including natural inorganic
substances)

B: Additives(Natural organic materials)

Organic materials existing naturally(Starch, cellulose, wood flour, etc.)

NO

Organic materials
existing naturally

YES

NO

Molecular weight  1,000(polymer structure)NO

YES

BiodegradabilityNO

B: Additives(Other additives)

YES

A: Biodegradable
plastics

See Flow
Chart Cbelow

See Flow
Chart Bbelow

See Flow
Chart Bbelow

See Flow
Chart A
below

See Flow
Chart Bbelow

9

3. Flow Chart A: Biodegradable Plastics

Synthetic high-polymer
material

Biodegradability
 60.0%Is it used asa functional material added
to the biodegradable plastic,
comprising less than 1% of
the product by weight?

NO

YES

NO

YES

To Flow Chart
B: Additives
Safety ofthe decompositionintermediatesNO* See the safety evaluation scheme on P14
YES

Food
additive

YES

NO

300mg/kg > LD50
2000mg/kg  LD50  300mg/kg

Oral acutetoxicity

LD50  2000mg/kg
LC50 < 100mg/l

Environmental
safetyLC50  100mg/l

Compatible with the PL (positive list)<Added to PL Category A (Biodegradable Plastics)>

10

: Incompatible with the PL(cannot be listed on the PL)4. Flow Chart B: Additives

B: Additive candidate
substance(Natural organic materials)

Food
additive

YES

NO

300mg/kg > LD50
2000mg/kg  LD50  300mg/kg

Oral acutetoxicity

LD50  2000mg/kg

LC50 < 100mg/l

Environmental
safetyLC50  100mg/l

Compatible with the PL (positive list)<Added to PL Category B-8(Natural organic materials)>11

: Incompatible with the PL(cannot be listed on the PL)

B: Additive (inorganic material)
candidate substance(Added to the product and comprising less than
50% of the product by weight)

YES

Food
additiveNO

300mg/kg > LD50
2000mg/kg  LD50  300mg/kg

Oral acutetoxicity

LD50  2000mg/kg
LC50 < 100mg/l

Environmental
safetyLC50  100mg/l

Compatible with the PL (positive list)<Added to PL Category B-4(inorganic material)>

12

: Incompatible with the PL(cannot be listed on the PL)

B: Additive candidate
substance(Other additives)Food
additive

YES

NO

300mg/kg > LD50
2000mg/kg  LD50  300mg/kg

Oral acutetoxicity

LD50  2000mg/kg
LC50 < 100mg/l

Environmental
safetyLC50  100mg/l

Compatible with the PL (positive list)<Added to PL Category B, other than B-4 or B-8>

Biodegradability
 60.0%YES

1% by weight or more can be
added to the product13

NO

: Incompatible with the PL(cannot be listed on the PL)

Quantity added comprises
less than 1% of the productby weight

5. Flow Chart C: Other Materials
Category C-1 Semi-finished Products
C-1: Semi-finished productcandidate material

A: Includes
biodegradable plastics

NO



YES
(Total with natural organic materials comprises at least
50.0% of the weight (or volume) of the product) (Note)

All components
listed on the PL

NO



YES

Non-biodegradableorganic additives each compriseless than 1.0% of the productby weight (Note)

NO



YES

Total non-biodegradableorganic additives comprise lessthan 5.0% of the product byweight (Note)

NO



YES

Compatible with the PL (positive list)<Added to PL Category C-1 (Semi-finished Products)>(Note) This does not apply where the item is not a finished product (such as a master batch)

14

: Incompatible with the PL(cannot be listed on the PL)

Category C-3 Biodegradable Adhesives
C-3: Biodegradable adhesive
candidate material

All components prior
to hardening listedon the PL

NO



YES

Biodegradability
in its post-hardening stateis  60.0%

NO



YES

LD50  2000mg/kg
in its post-hardening state

NO



YES

Compatible with the PL (positive list)<Added to PL Category C-2 (Biodegradable Adhesives)>15

: Incompatible with the PL(cannot be listed on the PL)

*TableSafety Evaluation Scheme for
Biodegradable High-polymer Materials(Concerning the safety of decomposition intermediates referred to in Flow Chart A on page 8)

Check the structure of
the high-polymer material

Test the biodegradability of thehigh-polymer materialNO

Degree ofmineralization> 60% ?

Degree ofnon-biodegradability

YES

Test the biodegradability of thedecomposition intermediates

Oligomers with a molecular weight of<1,000
Revised METI Law (OECD301C)

Degree ofmineralization> 60% ?

Degree of
persistence of eachcomponent< 30% ?
YESNONO

Test the safety of residues
Test the ecotoxicity of residues

YES

Safetynot confirmed

YES

Toxic
impact?
NO

Safe

16

Application Forms to be Used When Applying for Inclusion on the PL
In the following examples→ Use application form ____○ When adding a substance not listed on the PL→ Application Form I: circle “Addition”○ When changing the details regarding a substance already listed on the PL→ Application Form I: circle “Revision”○ When adding a substance that is not listed on the PL but has been accredited as a biodegradable plastic by anaccredited institution in another country→ Application Forms I & II
○ When adding biodegradable adhesives and semi-finished products, etc. consisting of biodegradable plastics andadditives listed on the PL→ Application Form III
For further details, refer to PL Formulation Standards section 3 (Criteria Concerning Revisions and Additions).

17