Terms / Standards for industrial biodegradability and compostability The EN 13432 and ASTM D 6400 are the European and American industry standards for industrial biodegradability and compostability respectively. It is necessary to pass 4 tests to meet accreditations requirements. 1) Heavy metal content – The heavy metal content of the particular material should be within a pre-defined level. The level is explained in the standards. 2) Disintegration – The material should disintegrate into pieces <2mm within 3 months period when it is placed in the correct composting environment. 3) Biodegradation – The material must biodegrade within 6 months to at least 90% (when compared to a reference cellulose sample.) 4) Plant eco-toxicity – The resulting compost produced from Part 3 above is used to grow a selection of plants for testing purposes. These plants are monitored during their own biodegrading process to ensure that any products produced are not harmful to the environment.