With the increasing awareness of the environment, biodegradable and compostable plastics are in demand more than ever. But as the “green” marketing claims have increased, so too have the grey areas, leading to extensive cases of greenwashing in what should be an honest standard of environmentally friendly products. In this respect, ISO 16221 was created to provide a scientifically sound framework for statements claiming biodegradability. The regulation helps manufacturers, regulators, and consumers with criteria of clear labeling and enforcement, to some extent, that the biodegradability is based only on an applicable testing standard.
ISO 16221 Test Method
There are five methods in this ISO method for freshwater, which are altered to suit marine biodegradation.
| Test procedure for DOC die-away test. | Along with ISO 7827, this test evaluates the ready and ultimate aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds through the analysis of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). |
| Test procedure for Closed Bottle | This test is for the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds through biochemical oxygen demand analysis. |
| Test Procedure for Two-Phase Closed Bottle | This test determines the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds through the determination of biochemical oxygen demand in a two-phase closed bottle test. |
| Test procedure for CO2 Evolution | This test evaluates the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds by measuring the CO2 evolution. |
| Test procedure for the CO2 Headspace Test | This test evaluates the ultimate aerobic biodegradation of organic compounds by analyzing the inorganic carbon in sealed vessels. |
