Warranty Mark Statues - Verified-Compostable

STATUTES

The regulations define the Compostable Warranty Mark as suitable to specifically characterize the way and manner of products, therefore their composition and materials of origin, through quality, accuracy, or other properties. Warranted in this case: the ability of products to be naturally decomposed (100% compostable).
What product ever declared to be compostable should not lead to any harm of nature. 100% Compostable, in these undoubtable terms, means that no (micro-) plastic, nor toxins or any other unnatural, non-organic substance can take their way into products, labeled with “compostable” to keep the ground and waters clean. 100% certified compostable items are clearly defined and can fully decompose by natural process, greenwashing excluded.
The compostable Warranty Mark therefore sets an ecological standard that explicitly distinguishes it from those for which no such seal of quality exists (article 83 paragraph 1 UMV).

A. INTRODUCTION

Decaying Products, made from materials suitable to be naturally composted (decomposed), can only be certified, and labeled as compostable, if there is a guarantee for it, that has been tested and checked before. The warranty therefore arises if a product has been subjected to several internationally recognizable tests and guidelines. The compliances are clarified within these statutes, as amended.
The Statutes of the 100% compostable Warranty Mark refer primarily and directly applicable to single use of cutleries and tableware, as well as to various packaging, envelopes, papers, other eating aids, to hygiene auxiliary articles, to cosmetic products and clothing, as specified down below.

B. TEST PRINCIPLES

To use any “Compostable” Label the Warranty Mark is essential to assure that a proper quality is applied and given to the type and content of the so-called compostable items that require statutory guidelines.
The validity of the following tests is decisive for the proper issuance:

B.1. Test for Disintegration based on DIN EN 14045
(in possible conjunction with)
B.2. Biodegradability testing based on AS 5810
(in possible conjunction with)
B.3. Earthworm toxicity testing based on ASTM E 1676
(in possible conjunction with)
B.4. Terrestrial testing based on OECD 208
(in possible conjunction with)
B.5. Measurement of the absence of (micro-) plastics.

C. GUIDELINES

Before Labeling with any kind of “compostable” declaration, it is also relevant to declare a proper method of manufacturing as well as proper production materials.
The Guidelines that are leading to the Warranty Mark compliance do regard and implement various eventual derivations in denomination of labeling, such as: compostable, 100% compostable, 100% certified compostable, garden-compostable, naturally compostable, or -decomposing.

C 1. The primary materials to be used for production are natural, GMO-free and primarily processual, which means origin from so-called agricultural waste, generated while processing e.g. hemp, sugar cane (bagasse), grains, rice, corn (starch), barley or bamboo etc. as well as vegetal side parts as from branch cuttings, e.g.
C.2. No materials considered to be food are used in any circumstances for production purposes of compostable items. Only natural fibers considered non-food, secondary process-related plant parts such as husks, starch, recycled paper, chaffs, branches, bagasse, bark, e.g… are used to manufacture any items, to be labeled “compostable”.
C.3. Production Materials do not originate from naturally grown trees, nor from directly felled ones for the purpose of item production.
C.4. Compostable items are vegan (the direct or indirect use of any animal originated material and animal testing are excluded).
C.5. Base materials as well as printing contain no added chemicals or toxins.

D. USE

After successful examination of proper compliance with the Test Principle and Guidelines, the use of the 100% “compostable” Label, based on the Warranty Mark is legitimized in word and/or image:
Adapted to different cutleries, tableware, packages, as envelopes and parcels, paper, eating and hygiene aids, cosmetic products and clothing, the labeling (based on the Warranty Mark) may be only granted by the owner of this intellectual property right, in word and/or image, if the inspection of all guaranteed features (test principles and guidelines) led to a positive overall result and “Compostability Certification”, meaning 100% compostable.

E. TEST DECISION

After testing B.1 in possible conjunction to B.2.-B.5. and compliance to C.1 – C.5 the potential user of the “compostable” Label receives an official message, accredited by any internationally recognized laboratory able to test and certify Disintegration/Compostability, containing at least his name and/or company name, address, and specifications of the type of tested product/s (product class/es).

F. CATEGORIES

The Warranty Mark covers 11 test classes:
F.1. clothing
F.2. consumption aids
F.3. cosmetic products
F.4. cutleries
F.5. envelopes
F.6. hygiene aids
F.7. packaging
F.8. papers
F.9. parcels
F.10. tableware
F.11. others

G. DURATION OF THE WARRANTY (monitoring & supplementary testing)

G.1 The Warranty`s duration unlimited, if the product characteristics (material, dimensions, composite type, and prints) of the once tested product have not changed.
G.2 Monitoring tests will be done at recurring, contractually agreed intervals and serve to determine whether the properties of the product (see above) continue to correspond to the product tested initially.
G.3 Replacement Warranty
This takes place when extensions, additions and changes are made to the product, so Warranty must be reconfirmed.
G.4 Complaints
If complaints arise during the tests, such as necessary modification of the specific wall thickness, the printing inks used, the base materials and/or other complaints/defects found, a replacement test is also indispensable and further, modified, newly designed samples must be tested, considering point H. and others.

H. TEST IMPLEMENTATION

First and foremost, the applicant must apply for certification in any given form to ask regarding the product to be checked in Warranty Mark compliance. Any potential “compostable” Item, must be basically described within this initial application, containing information of the applicant’s name, or company name, with registered private or office address and contact modality. The potential user of then receives an official offer for examination itself and the procedures after examination BEFORE using any “compostable” Label.

Once the quotation is confirmed officially, testing is carried out as follows:
H.1 Product samples (in quantity as previously agreed, usually at least 4 products of the same type) are sent to the authorized test laboratory for examination.
H.2 Tests are carried out on the base of the above-mentioned test principle/s B.
H.3 In order to identify the materials’ compliance, it may also be necessary to record and compare additional spectral analyses.
H.4 The Guidelines C. are checked for compliance. Manufacturer’s evidence may be researched and/or requested.
H.5 After review, the potential Label user will receive a positive or negative test report (named “100% certified compostable”), with the possibility of adjusting (see chapter E.).

I. PRODUCT UNITS

Products to be labeled “compostable” are divided into manually separable and non-separable units.
Manually separable units are, for example, cups with lids, are tested and certified separately, so that they can be labeled individually.
Non-separable units are tested as whole.

J. SPECIAL INSPECTION

Prints (in harmony with C.5.) may be inspected to assure the Label validation in full compliance with the Warranty Mark. Any types of closures, valves or other items inserted must be considered separately and tested separately. The same applies to adhesives and material connections that are not manual plug connections. These are subjects up to the necessity of a self-declaration by the party intending to use any “compostable” Label in compliance to the Law.

K. CONCLUSION

The use of environmentally harmful components ends with items marked being “100% compostable”. Non-circular, non-organic, non-natural, disastrous stuff such as (non-recycled) plastic, chemicals adhesives, fillers, or toxic prints, as well as particles that origin non-vegan, animal-related as products components can never be labeled “compostable”, in whatever various denomination, saying the same, because they are not in harmony and compliance with the actual stand of the art – lawfully described within these Warranty Mark STATUTES, made to guarantee the protection of our priceless nature, as well as to guarantee the consumers health.

The multitude of circulating labels that mark various types of products on the market to be so called “compostable” are de facto non-valid. This legislatively incorporated Warranty Mark STATUTES characterize the highest compostability standard worldwide.
The term „compostable“ originally means that something can be naturally decomposed. The word compost is derived from the Latin compositum, „that which is put together“ and refers to both the collection site (also „compost heap“), the material deposited into the (garden) compost, and the product produced by the natural decomposition („finished compost“). Composting (also rotting) refers to the part of the nutrient cycle in which purely organic material is naturally decomposed by soil organisms (heterotrophic) under the influence of atmospheric oxygen (aerobic) and fungi.
The use of environmentally compatible components in compliance to the Warranty Mark STATUTES, are essential being authorized to use this unique and remarkable Labeling.