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Is Your Baking Paper Really Compostable? How to Read the Certifications
“Compostable” is everywhere. But how do you know the claim is real?
When it comes to baking paper, being made from cellulose does not automatically make a product compostable. Nor a paper being biodegradable or recyclable does not automatically mean it is “certified compostable. While paper is inherently fiber-based, only a fraction of finished food-contact papers carries independent third-party compostability certification. A credible compostability claim should be supported by defined testing, recognized standards and independent certification.
Certified compostable: Still the Exception, not the rule
Certified compostability remains a product-level sustainability differentiator rather than an industry standard. The other important question is: compostable under what conditions ? That is where the certification matters.
The certifications behind compostability
There is no single universal compostability certification. Different certification systems use defined standards and testing protocols for different markets and composting environments.
For Primabake®, three certification systems are particularly relevant:
TÜV AUSTRIA – OK compost HOME and OK compost INDUSTRIAL
BPI – Biodegradable Products Institute
CMA – Compost Manufacturing Alliance
And behind many European industrial compostability certifications is EN 13432, which is a technical standard—not a certification itself.
TÜV AUSTRIA: OK compost HOME vs. INDUSTRIAL
This distinction is particularly important.
OK compost INDUSTRIAL
OK compost INDUSTRIAL certifies compostability under the controlled conditions of industrial composting facilities.
Testing assesses key criteria including:
Biodegradation – whether microorganisms break the material down;
Disintegration – whether it physically breaks apart sufficiently;
Ecotoxicity – whether the resulting compost has a negative effect on plants;
Material characteristics, including relevant regulated elements.
The certification scheme is based on the requirements of EN 13432, while extending its scope beyond packaging. (TÜV AUSTRIA)
OK compost HOME
Home composting is very different. Backyard compost piles generally reach lower and less consistent temperatures than industrial facilities.
OK compost HOME have similar testing categories to those used for industrial compostability, but they are evaluated under conditions representative of home composting, where biological activity and decomposition are generally slower.
This means:
OK compost INDUSTRIAL does not automatically mean OK compost HOME.
Primabake® holds both OK compost HOME and OK compost INDUSTRIAL certifications from TÜV AUSTRIA, meaning its compostability has been independently assessed for both environments. (Primabake®)
What is EN 13432 ?
EN 13432 is a European standard, not a certification.
It establishes requirements for packaging intended to be recoverable through industrial composting and biodegradation, including criteria for:
· biodegradation;
· disintegration;
· effects on the composting process;
· and the quality of the resulting compost.
It provides part of the technical framework behind industrial compostability certification in Europe.
BPI: North American commercial compostability
The BPI® Certification Mark is one of the leading third-party indicators of commercial and home compostability in North America.
BPI’s commercial and home compostability certification program uses standards developed by ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials). ASTM D6400 is the base standard and applies primarily to products made from compostable plastics, such as bags, films and utensils. Where applicable, ASTM D6868 covers finished products in which a compostable plastic or polymer is used as a coating, binder or laminate on paper or another compostable substrate.
To obtain BPI certification, a product must meet the applicable ASTM standard as well as BPI’s additional eligibility, chemical-content, testing and labeling requirements.
Testing evaluates factors including biodegradation and disintegration under controlled commercial composting conditions. For commercial certification, biodegradation testing is conducted at approximately 58 ± 2°C for six months, while disintegration is assessed for up to 84 days.
Primabake® holds BPI certification, providing independently verified compostability recognition for the North American market.
CMA: recognition within commercial composting
The Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) provides certification relevant to the commercial composting and compost manufacturing sector in North America.
BPI and CMA should not be viewed as competing certifications.
BPI provides third-party product certification based on ASTM standards and BPI requirements.
CMA provides recognition within the commercial composting ecosystem, bringing the perspective of compost manufacturers and commercial composting operations.
Primabake® holds CMA certifications alongside BPI, giving its North American compostability credentials complementary forms of independent recognition.
What should you look for?
When you see “compostable” on a baking paper, ask:
1. Is it independently certified?A recognized certification is stronger than an unverified environmental claim.
2. Under what conditions is it compostable?Industrial and home composting are different environments.
3. What standard or certification framework applies?Look for recognized systems such as OK compost, BPI or CMA, and standards such as EN 13432, ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868, where applicable.
Compostability certifications at a glance
Certification / Standard | What it establishes | Composting environment / relevance |
OK compost INDUSTRIAL – TÜV AUSTRIA | Independent certification of compostability under defined industrial conditions | Industrial composting |
OK compost HOME – TÜV AUSTRIA | Independent certification for compostability under home-composting conditions | Home composting |
BPI | Third-party certification based on ASTM standards and additional BPI requirements | North American commercial composting |
CMA | Certification relevant to commercial composting and compost manufacturing | North American commercial composting sector |
EN 13432 | European technical standard defining requirements and test criteria for compostable packaging | Industrial composting; underlying standard, not a certification |
ASTM D6400 / D6868 | North American technical standards used within compostability certification frameworks | Commercial composting; underlying standards, not certifications |
Primabake®: Compostability You Can Verify
Primabake® takes a certification-led approach to sustainability.
Its certification portfolio includes:
TÜV AUSTRIA
· OK compost HOME
· OK compost INDUSTRIAL
North America
· BPI certification
· CMA certifications
These certifications operate under defined requirements and testing protocols, providing independent verification rather than relying on a generic “compostable” claim.
Because compostable should be more than a promise.
It should be something you can verify.
Compostability and appropriate end-of-life disposal depend on the specific product, certification scope and local composting infrastructure. Always refer to the certification and disposal guidance applicable to the specific Primabake® product.
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