Charo Pascual AIMPLAS
The plastics industry is moving towards a more sustainable model, driven by circular economy principles and innovation in biodegradable and compostable materials. However, conventional biodegradation tests, as required by current regulations, are time-consuming and costly, limiting companies’ ability to explore new formulations from the early stages of development.
To address this challenge, AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, has developed a pioneering methodology that enables the biodegradability of plastic materials to be evaluated in just one third of the time needed for standardised tests. This innovation represents a strategic breakthrough for companies, enabling faster and more efficient industrial and commercial decision-making.
The new accelerated biodegradation test subjects materials to simulated industrial composting conditions in order to measure the conversion of polymeric carbon into CO₂. Thanks to this approach, companies can obtain preliminary results in significantly shorter timeframes, allowing them to identify the most promising formulations early on, implement re-engineering processes in formulation and additive development, and optimise resources before entering official certification procedures.
This cutting-edge solution positions AIMPLAS as a leader in the development of advanced tools to drive sustainability in the plastics sector, while providing real value to companies committed to innovation and environmental responsibility.
A strategic pre-certification tool
Although this test does not replace the standardised tests required for compostable product certification (as defined by UNE-EN 13432 and related standards), it serves as a technical and strategic filter to identify the most promising samples. This reduces risk and accelerates the path to certification in line with international standards such as EN-ISO 14855, among others.