ASTM_D_6868_-_11.pdf

Designation:D686811Standard Specification forLabeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics andPolymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and OtherSubstrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted inMunicipal or Industrial Facilities1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6868;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This specification covers end items that include plasticsor polymers where plastic film/sheet or polymers are incor-porated(either through lamination,extrusion or mixing)tosubstrates and the entire end item is designed to be compostedunder aerobic conditions in municipal and industrial compost-ing facilities,where thermophilic temperatures are achieved.1.2 This specification is intended to establish the require-ments for labeling of end items which use plastics or polymersas coatings or binders,as“compostable in aerobic municipaland industrial composting facilities.”1.3 The properties in this specification are those required todetermine if end items(including packaging)which useplastics and polymers as coatings or binders will compostsatisfactorily,in large scale aerobic municipal or industrialcomposting where maximum throughput is a high priority andwhere intermediate stages of plastic biodegradation should notbe visible to the end user for aesthetic reasons.1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the testmethods portion of this standard:This standard does notpurport to address all of the safety concerns,if any,associatedwith its use.It is the responsibility of the user of this standardto establish appropriate health and safety practices and todetermine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior touse.NOTE1There is no known ISO equivalent for this standard.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D883 Terminology Relating to PlasticsD3715/D3715M Practice for Quality Assurance of Pressure-Sensitive TapesD5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegrada-tion of Plastic Materials Under Controlled CompostingConditions,Incorporating Thermophilic TemperaturesD6002 Guide for Assessing the Compostability of Environ-mentally Degradable Plastics(Withdrawn 2011)3D6400 Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to beAerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facili-tiesD6866 Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Contentof Solid,Liquid,and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocar-bon Analysis2.2 Organization for Economic Development(OECD)Stan-dard:OECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plants,Growth Test42.3 Comite Europeen de Normalisation(CEN):EN 13432 Packaging-Requirements for Packaging Recover-able through Composting and Biodegradation-TestScheme and Evaluation Criteria for the Final Acceptanceof Packaging52.4ISO Standards:5ISO 14851 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegrad-ability of plastic materials in an aqueous mediumMethod by measuring the oxygen demand in a closedrespirometerISO 14852 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegrad-ability of plastic materials in an aqueous mediumMethod by analysis of evolved carbon dioxideISO 14855 Evaluation of the Ultimate Aerobic Biodegrad-ability and Disintegration of Plastics under ControlledComposting Conditions-Method by Analysis of EvolvedCarbon Dioxide1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 onPlastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen-tally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.Current edition approved Feb.1,2011.Published February 2011.Originallyapproved in 2003.Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D6868-03.DOI:10.1520/D6868-11.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.4Available from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD),2 rue Andr Pascal,F-75775,Paris Cedex 16,France,http:/www.oecd.org.5Available from American National Standards Institute(ANSI),25 W.43rd St.,4th Floor,New York,NY 10036,http:/www.ansi.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 ISO 16929 Determination of the degree of disintegration ofplastic materials under defined composting conditions in apilot-scale test2.5 Government Standard:40 CFR Part 503.13 Standards for the Use or Disposal ofSewage Sludge63.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions appearing in this specificationare found in Terminology D883,unless otherwise noted.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 materials of natural origin,nChemically unmodi-fied ligno-cellulosic packagi