Biogroup is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory that can help assess the biodegradation potential of consumer products with the highest levels of confidence.

Many of the products that we have certified as Biodegradable have been on the market for quite some time, not only in our country but also abroad.

We work with official test methodologies such as ASTM, ISO, EPA and REACH. We also make sure that our recommendations and protocols align with those of the United States Federal Trade Commission, the agency responsible for regulating environmental marketing.
With increasing global environmental awareness, the importance of producing biodegradable plastics, papers, coatings and other consumable materials is driving manufacturers to stay ahead and gain future market share.

Biogroup offers its experience directly to its clients to guide them through the method selection process, and once the results have been obtained it advises its clients to see how they can proceed in the market to impose their product over those that have not been tested or they are not biodegradable.

Biodegradability Test according to OECD 301 Ready/Ultimate Biodegradability (includes OECD 310)

The OECD 301 series (OECD 301A, OECD 301B, OECD 301C, OECD 301D, OECD 301E, OECD 301F) allows direct and explicit certification of the biodegradability of a material. A material is considered readily biodegradable if 60% (or 70% for some tests) of the organic carbon in the material is converted to CO2 within 10 days and the full amount within 28 days.

The 10-day window is defined to begin when 10% of the organic carbon has been converted to CO2 and ends after 10 days from this point (but before the full 28 days of testing).

A material is considered ultimately biodegradable (under the inherent biodegradability subclassification) if 60% (or 70% for some tests) of the organic carbon in the material is converted to CO2 during the duration of the test. The trial can be extended beyond 28 days.

This is the series of methods most used by Biogroup for those who have products whose final destination is a wastewater treatment plant.

OECD 311 - Anaerobic Biodegradability of Organic Compounds in Digested Sludge

OECD 311 is used to assess the biodegradability of organic compounds under anaerobic digestion conditions. Waste chemicals that are not broken down in standard aerobic treatment often end up in anaerobic digesters as a last treatment option before being discharged into the environment. This test method can also be useful to evaluate the biodegradation of solids whose expected destination is a digestion system.

Biodegradability tests according to ASTM standards

ASTM D 5210: Standard Test Method for Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of Municipal Sewage Sludge

ASTM D5210 is very similar to OECD 311 and is used to assess the biodegradability of organic chemicals under anaerobic conditions. This test method simulates conditions similar to those of an anaerobic digester, which is a biological reactor typically used to digest sludge from treatment plants. Waste chemicals that do not break down in standard aerobic treatment tanks often end up in anaerobic digesters as the last treatment option before being discharged into the environment.

ASTM D 5338:
Standard test method to determine the aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions, incorporating thermophilic temperatures.

ASTM D 5338 standard evaluates the biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions. Controlled composting conditions are considered those conditions in which the oxygen, temperature, humidity and pH levels of the compost are maintained at optimal levels. Commercial composting facilities are the relevant disposal compartment for materials undergoing evaluations based on this type of test method. The duration of the trial can be up to 180 days.

ASTM D 5864:
Standard test method for determining aquatic aerobic biodegradation of lubricants or their components.

ASTM D 5864 evaluates the aerobic biodegradation of lubricants or lubricant components in aqueous solutions with low concentrations of inoculums. The objective of the test is to simulate the environmental exposure of the lubricants during their release in environments other than wastewater treatment. A variety of inoculum sources from soil, surface water, and other similar matrices are used. The duration of the test is