BPI, FDA, LFGB, EN 13432: Compostable Packaging Certifications Explained for Buyers

What each certification actually means, which markets require it, and how to check that a supplier's certificate is real.

Food service buyers evaluating bagasse tableware are confronted with an alphabet of certifications - BPI, EN 13432, FDA, LFGB, BRCGS, ISO. The confusion is understandable: suppliers list them all, and they all look similar on paper. They are not interchangeable. Each certification answers a different question: Is it compostable? Is it safe for food contact? Is it manufactured under controlled quality? This guide maps the four that matter most for US and EU sourcing decisions.

BPI certification: the compostability mark for North America

BPI, the Biodegradable Products Institute, administers the leading compostability certification for the North American market. A BPI-certified product meets ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards, meaning it will biodegrade and compost in an industrial composting facility. BPI maintains the official directory of certified products and licensed companies at products.bpiworld.org, and this directory is the verification tool buyers should use first.

What BPI answers: Is this product genuinely compostable in industrial composting, per US standards?

What BPI does not answer: food-contact safety (that is the FDA's scope), or home compostability.

Real-world example: Zhong Xin Ecoware Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is listed in the BPI directory https://products.bpiworld.org/companies/zhong-xin-ecoware-technology-thailand-co-ltd under the brand Ecoware, with its certified product range documented on the listing. Sugarcane Ecoware and Far East International appear in the same directory, which is how buyers confirm compostability claims independently.

EN 13432: the EU standard for compostable packaging

For the European market, the harmonized standard is EN 13432, which sets requirements for compostable packaging, including biodegradation, disintegration and ecotoxicity limits. Certification is issued by accredited bodies - the best known are DIN CERTCO and TÜV Austria (OK Compost). Unlike BPI, there is no single EU directory; verification means taking the certificate number and searching the issuing body's database.

What EN 13432 answers: Does this packaging meet EU requirements for industrial compostability?

What it does not answer: whether the product is approved for food contact in every EU member state.

FDA: food-contact safety for the US market

The FDA regulates food-contact substances under the Food Contact Substances (FCS) program, documented at fda.gov/food/packaging-food-contact-substances-fcs. For bagasse tableware, buyers should request a food-contact compliance statement covering the exact product - material, coatings and printing inks. The regulatory basis (an FCS notification, or a clearance for the component substances) should be identifiable.

What FDA answers: Is this product compliant for food contact in the US market?

What it does not answer: compostability, or EU compliance.

LFGB: the German food-contact standard with EU-wide influence

LFGB (Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch) is the German Food and Feed Code. While technically a German requirement, LFGB testing is widely requested across Europe as a de facto quality benchmark for food-contact materials. An LFGB test report covers migration testing of the finished product, including printing inks.

What LFGB answers: Does this finished product pass migration testing per German/EU practice?

What it does not answer: compostability, or US FDA status.

How the certifications fit together for a typical order

A US food service distributor importing bagasse clamshells from Asia should expect: BPI certification for compostability claims, FDA food-contact compliance for the product, and BRCGS or ISO documentation for factory quality systems. An EU importer should expect: EN 13432 certification (verified via the issuing body), LFGB or EU food-contact test reports, and ISO 9001/14001 for factory management. If a supplier cannot produce the certificate matched to the specific SKU you are buying, treat the claim as unverified.

Three rules for checking any certificate

• Match the certificate to the exact product. A certificate for plates does not cover bowls.
• Check the issuing body, not just the logo. BPI listings resolve in the BPI directory; EN 13432 certificates resolve in DIN CERTCO or TÜV Austria databases.
• Ask for the certificate number. A supplier who cannot give a number cannot be verified.

The full certification comparison, including a table of standards and what to request from suppliers, is in our guide: Compostable Packaging Certification Guide - EN 13432 vs BPI https://www.zxpackingthailand.com/news/industry-news/compostable-packaging-certification-guide-en13432-vs-bpi.html.

Sources

Zhong Xin Ecoware Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. supplies bagasse and molded fiber tableware to importers, distributors and private-label brands. For MOQ, pricing, samples and lead time, email info@fiber-product.com or use the contact form.