Compliance Guides
Compostable Packaging Compliance, Explained
Expert, buyer-focused explanations of every certification and packaging regulation Ecofy customers ask about. What each standard requires, who it applies to, what documentation buyers need from suppliers.
Looking for Ecofy's own certificates and lab reports? See our certifications and test reports.
BRCGS Packaging Materials Grade A
Grade A of the BRC Global Standard for Packaging Materials. What it covers, who it applies to, what audit teams check.
US Import Duty on Molded Fiber Tableware
US antidumping and countervailing duty orders on thermoformed molded fiber tableware from China and Vietnam: what the scope covers, what is excluded, and which origins are unaffected.
UAE Single-Use Plastic Ban
The UAE single-use plastic and Styrofoam ban for foodservice: Dubai and Abu Dhabi timeline, fines, and the compliant alternatives buyers can switch to.
PFAS-Free Compostable Tableware
How buyers verify PFAS-free bagasse tableware: US state bans (CA AB 1200, Maine LD 1503), EU REACH, and the total organic fluorine test to demand from suppliers.
FDA Food Contact Compliance
21 CFR food-contact compliance for U.S. shipments. What documentation FDA expects from importers.
ASTM D6400 Compostability
U.S. compostable standard. Required by California SB 54 and most state plastic-ban regulations.
UK Plastic Packaging Tax
£228.82/tonne (2026-27 rate) on plastic packaging with <30% recycled content. Compostable bagasse exempt.
EU Packaging Regulation 2025
The PPWR replaces the 1994 directive. Direct application across 27 member states. Reuse, recyclability, and SUP restrictions.
FSSAI Packaging Rules (India)
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India rules for packaging in foodservice and FMCG. SUP-ban context.
EN 13432 Compostability
European compostable certification standard. Required by EU Packaging Regulation 2025 and UK Plastic Tax compliance.
Compliance FAQ
Common questions about compostable packaging compliance
Cross-cutting answers for procurement teams. For a specific standard, open its guide above.
What certifications does compostable foodservice packaging need?
For food-contact use, look for compostability certification to ASTM D6400 / D6868 (US, via BPI) or EN 13432 (EU and UK, TUV Austria 'Seedling'), food-safety approval under FDA 21 CFR or FSSAI, and a manufacturing-facility standard such as BRCGS Grade A. Uncoated bagasse tableware is also expected to be PFAS-free. Ecofy's bagasse range carries ASTM D6868 (Intertek), FDA 21 CFR, FSSAI, BRCGS Grade A and a PFAS-free declaration.
Which compliance rules apply in the US, EU and India?
US: ASTM D6400 compostability, FDA 21 CFR food contact, California SB 54, and state PFAS bans. EU: EN 13432 and the EU PPWR. UK: the Plastic Packaging Tax. India: FSSAI packaging rules. Ecofy ships procurement-grade documentation for every one of these markets.
Is 'compostable' the same as home-compostable or PFAS-free?
No. Most certifications (ASTM D6400, EN 13432) cover industrial composting only; home-compostable is a separate, stricter certification. And compostable does not automatically mean PFAS-free, a product can pass a composting standard and still carry a fluorochemical coating, so verify PFAS separately. See our PFAS-free verification guide.
What documentation should I request from a compostable packaging supplier?
Ask for the actual certificate (not just a logo), with its certificate number, the exact registered company name, and the covered product category or SKU scope, plus the expiry date. Add migration and food-contact test reports and a PFAS test, and confirm no 'material drift' (coatings, glues or dyes changed since certification). Ecofy's full document set is on our certifications hub.