The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) in the US launches a new home composting certification program, effective December 1st
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) announced a new "Commercial and Home Compostable Certification" program in September 2025, which will officially launch on December 1, 2025.
BPI has designed a new, exclusive label for this integrated commercial and home compostable certification program.
To obtain the new certification, products must meet existing certification standards and, in addition, be able to completely degrade in the lower temperatures of a home composting environment.
BPI states that this new certification provides a rigorous scientific framework for clearly identifying products that can safely degrade in a home compost pile.
BPI further explains that limiting the content of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and heavy metals helps ensure that compost packaged in certified compostable packaging meets the highest standards.
Home composting thresholds have been validated through extensive field testing across diverse climates and composting practices in North America. The testing process has clearly defined the regulatory framework needed to set performance expectations.
Currently, BPI has certified over 51,000 commercially compostable products, covering food scrap collection bags, takeout containers, and consumer food packaging.
BPI states, "By integrating commercial and home composting certifications, professional composting organizations can be confident that their products are suitable for their systems, consumers can have confidence in sustainable packaging statements, and they receive clear end-of-life instructions. Home compost certification provides brands with a way to validate their packaging statements and avoid accusations of using language often associated with 'greenwashing.'"
