QUÉBEC, July 4, 2024
/CNW/ - The Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) is now able to
certify all manufacturers of compostable products to two new
certification programs. These programs are based on the
requirements of two international standards and they provide a
framework for plastics or products made of plastic as well as other
products such as cardboards or packaging that can be certified as
"compostable".
What is a compostable product?
Products are said to be "compostable" when they have the
capacity to disintegrate and biodegrade via biological processes in
presence of oxygen, and which degradation generates carbonic
dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass. Depending on the
degradation conditions, these products decompose at a rate
consistent with other compostable materials such as food waste,
without leaving visible, distinguishable, or environmentally toxic
residues.
Among others, the international standards ISO 17088:2021
Plastics — Organic recycling — Specifications for compostable
plastics and ISO 18606:2013 Packaging and the environment — Organic
recycling set out requirements to be met by the products developed
by the manufacturers to be suitable for recovery through aerobic
composting. Thus, as interest in recovery for organic matters
via composting grows, it is necessary to correctly identify
products made of plastics or other products degrading
satisfactorily under industrial composting conditions without
leaving any persistent or toxic residues.
"The several uses of the terms "compostable" and "biodegradable"
on packagings often are the results of self claims that are not
verified by a third party; as a result, it definitely contributed
to confuse consumers. When obtaining a certification by the BNQ,
the manufacturers can declare that their products will be composted
in appropriate industrial installations."
- Isabelle Landry, Principal
Director at Bureau de normalisation du Québec
"The time should be over when claims for compostability can be
made without 3rd party verification. And for those who are making
compostable claims within the Canadian marketplace, these claims
must directly tie in with the compost quality standards regulated
by Canadian governments – both federal and provincial/territorial –
and managed through the processing dynamics of industrial-scale
composting facilities across Canada. We value our working partnership with
the BNQ which has existed for many decades, congratulating them on
the advances to their standard which has been done through
extensive consultation and deliberation by many."
- Susan Antler, Executive Director at The Compost Council of
Canada
BNQ's offer
The BNQ proposes to manufacturers of compostable packaging and
products to evaluate their conformity to standards ISO 17088:2021
and ISO 18606:2013.
As part of the certification process, the enterprise is
primarily responsible to have its products analyzed in accordance
with the requirements of the applicable standard by an independent
laboratory that is qualified to measure the disintegration level,
the aerobic biodegradation, the effects of the compost ability to
support plant growth as well as the maximum concentration of
regulated metals and other toxic substances in the product to be
certified. Then, as part of its certification process, the BNQ
analyzes the test reports, and products deemed to be in conformity
obtain the certification. To this end, a distinctive mark of
conformity, which is recognized in Canada, is issued to certified enterprises so
they can highlight this characteristic cross-checked by a third
party.
Enterprises who wish to obtain the certification shall conform
with the requirements of the ISO standard applying to their product
according to the methods and frequencies specified in the documents
Certification Requirements ISO 17088 or Certification
Requirements ISO 18606.
For more information on the requirements for the certification
of compostable plastics or compostable products made entirely from
plastics:
https://bnq.qc.ca/en/standardization/environment/compostable-plastics.html.
For more information on the requirements for the certification of
other compostable products (packaging, packaging materials and
other products):
https://bnq.qc.ca/en/standardization/environment/compostable-products.html.
These two new programs replace the program previously offered by
the BNQ that was based on the Canadian adoption of the
international ISO standard ISO 17088:2008, which is now
withdrawn. Transition procedures for enterprises already certified
or in the process of being certified are announced on our
website.
About the BNQ
The BNQ, an administrative unit of Investissement Québec, is the
reference organization for standardization and certification
in Quebec. It develops consensus-based standards and
certification protocols in accordance with the rules of the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The BNQ is
accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
For further information on the BNQ: bnq.qc.ca/en
SOURCE Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ)