Home versus industrial composting

Home versus industrial composting is largely a difference in heat and how that affects biodegradability of compostable packaging. In this article we will look at how packaging is verified for home and or industrial compostability, the tests, what they mean, and what those certifications actually mean in real-world environments. We also explain why PLA is less accepted by composters and why packaging certified home compostable is often suited to the current commercial composting environment.

All certified compostable products break down at controlled industrial facilities where conditions such as temperature, moisture and oxygen are met.

However, home composting is very different. Backyard compost systems typically involve smaller volumes of organic matter, lower temperatures, and inconsistent factors such as moisture. Therefore, the decomposition process is much slower so not all compostable materials and packaging can achieve biodegradability within the 6 month time frame seen in industrial facilities.

This is why industrial and home compostability are assessed separately.

Industrial compostability is defined by the European standard EN 13432, which requires a product to achieve 90% biodegradation within six months under industrial composting conditions.

However, home compostability applies stricter requirements at lower temperatures.

Based on a special process of EN 13432 at low temperatures, products certified for home composting must achieve 90% biodegradation within 12 months, reflecting the slower and more variable conditions found in home compost systems.

This distinction matters for packaging choices, because materials designed for industrial composting may not reliably biodegrade in home or community garden composting systems where temperatures are lower and conditions are less consistent.

What is industrial composting?

A variety of techniques are used to compost large volumes of organic matter at high temperatures. In most industrial composting facilities, temperatures in the composting heaps range between 50°C and 60°C, creating ideal conditions for rapid microbial activity and efficient biodegradation.

There are three main techniques used in industrial composting used globally.

Windrow composting

An open-air process where organic material is arranged into long piles (“windrows”), typically around 1.5 metres high. Piles are turned frequently to maintain oxygen levels, to add or remove moisture and to redistribute cooler and hotter portions—this way, all materials spend time in the warm, humid centre where active bacteria speed up decomposition.

In-vessel composting

Confines materials within a building or vessel. Aeration is mechanical, and humidity, temperature and bacterial activity are easily controlled. This approach can process a more diverse range of organic inputs, such as meat and animal manure. Once active composting is complete, materials are left in the vessel to cool and balance the pH before transfer to a maturation pad for the final composting stage.

Aerated static pile composting

Organic material is placed over a pipe network to produce airflow using air blowers that can be activated by a timer or temperature sensors to biodegrade organics without physical manipulation. Static pile can be in windrows, open or covered, or in closed systems.

How is industrial compostability assessed?

For packaging to claim industrial compostability, it must meet strict performance criteria set out in EN 13432, the European standard that underpins most global industrial compostability certifications.

The criteria for the industrial compostability of packaging are set out in the European standard EN 13432, which requires 4 tests:

biodegradation (chemical breakdown)
disintegration (physical falling apart of the product into small fragments)
ecotoxicity (that composted product does not exert negative effects on plants)
heavy metal content

What is home composting?

Home composting operates under very different conditions that are far less controlled and at much lower temperatures, typically below 30°C. As a result, home compostable packaging must break down more slowly, at lower heat, and without specialised management.

Because decomposition occurs more slowly, packaging certified to home compostable standards must be designed to break down at lower temperatures and without specialised management.

To account for this, home compostability standards apply longer timeframes and more stringent low-temperature testing.

How is home compostability certified?

TÜV AUSTRIA developed OK compost HOME* to guarantee 100% biodegradability in a garden compost. This certification forms the basis of AS 5810, the Australian Standard for Home Composting. To achieve home compostable certification, a product must:

1) 100% biodegrade into completely non-toxic by-products

2) disintegrate within 180 days. Not more than 10% of the original dry weight present in a > 2mm screen fraction

3) achieve ultimate biodegradability (90% absolute biodegradation) within 12 months.

Why this matters in practice

Most commercial composting infrastructure today operates with short cycle times and variable temperatures. This means that packaging certified for home composting or materials proven to perform at lower temperatures are often better aligned with real-world composting outcomes.

What certifications should you look for?

The term ‘biodegradable’ is widely used and misunderstood since almost all materials biodegrade eventually. Without clear conditions, timeframes, or standards, the claim alone is meaningless and misleading.

This is why certification to recognised compostability standards is important.

Independent certification provides assurance to composters that a finished product — including inks, coatings, labels, adhesives, and additives will safely break down under defined composting conditions without leaving harmful residues.

Who certifies compostable products?

Compostability is verified by independent third-party certification bodies against either industrial or home composting standards. The most recognised certification bodies globally include:

* TÜV Austria

* DIN CERTCO

* Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)

* Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA)

What do these certifications test?

EN 13432 is the reference standard for all certification bodies. The European Norm about compostability of packaging (EN 13432) requires packaging to pass four key tests:

Biodegradation — chemical breakdown by microorganisms
Disintegration — physical breakdown into fragments small enough to pass compost screening
Ecotoxicity — verification that resulting compost does not inhibit plant growth
Heavy metal content — ensuring contaminants remain within safe limits

The Australian industrial composting standard AS 4736 includes these requirements and adds an additional earthworm toxicity test, providing further assurance of compost safety.

Materials that work best in today’s composting environment

Compostability standards define how materials behave under test conditions. In practice, real-world composting outcomes depend on infrastructure, temperature consistency, contamination risk and composter acceptance.

In New Zealand’s current waste and composting system, materials that perform best tend to break down at lower temperatures, disintegrate reliably, and are well understood by composting operators. These materials are more likely to be accepted across both home composting and commercial composting systems.

Kraft paper and board packaging

Uncoated kraft paper and board break down easily in both home and industrial composting systems. When verified as fluorine-free, these materials present low contamination risk and are widely accepted by composters.

Moulded fibre (moulded pulp) packaging

Moulded fibre products compost reliably, particularly when they do not rely on chemical grease barriers. Their structure allows for fast disintegration even when composting temperatures are variable or lower than ideal.

Bamboo cutlery and fibre products

Bamboo-based disposable products are plant-derived, low in mass, and compost effectively in both home compost and commercial composting systems. They are commonly accepted where plastic alternatives are restricted.

Paper napkins and uncoated paper accessories

Paper napkins, serviettes and similar accessories compost easily when free from chemical treatments and problematic inks, making them well suited to food scraps collection and compost bins.

PHA-lined and PHA-based packaging

PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) is a newer biopolymer that biodegrades at lower temperatures than PLA, making it better aligned with today’s home and commercial composting environments. As acceptance grows, PHA is increasingly viewed as a compostable alternative that performs more reliably in real-world systems.

By comparison, materials such as PLA typically require consistently higher temperatures to break down. This is why some composting facilities choose to limit or exclude PLA packaging.

PFAS and compostable packaging: why material choice matters

Compostability alone does not guarantee environmental safety.

In New Zealand, PFAS content in food-contact packaging is largely unregulated, meaning products can be imported without consistent testing or disclosure. Research commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment has identified paper-based and moulded fibre packaging as potential sources of PFAS contamination, particularly where grease or moisture resistance is required.

PFAS do not degrade during composting and can accumulate in compost and soils, creating long-term environmental and health concerns. For composters and councils, this has shifted focus from whether packaging composts to what chemicals enter the compost stream.

Packaging that is:

compostable at lower temperatures, and
verified as fluorine-free or PFAS-tested

is increasingly preferred within composting systems.

Why this matters in practice

Designing packaging for composting isn’t just about meeting a standard. It’s about understanding how composting operates in the real world today.

Choosing materials that align with existing composting infrastructure, reduce contamination risk, and protect compost quality is critical to ensuring compostable packaging delivers real environmental benefits.

With specialist contracted service providers now diverting tonnes of food scraps and compostables from landfill, understanding how composting works in your region and choosing packaging materials accordingly has never been more important.

Learn more about how composting works in your region.

If you’re a business adopting compostable packaging — or already using it — and need help connecting your site(s) with a local compost collection partner, we’re happy to help. Get in touch at hello@ecoware.co.nz.

By Tracey Creed