Biodegradability & Compostability
Automated biodegradability testing for plastics, packaging materials, chemicals and organic substances. BPC® Blue supports aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation workflows across aqueous, soil, seawater, sediment, sludge, digestion and compost related test environments.
- Aerobic and anaerobic testing
- ISO, ASTM and OECD workflows
- Automated respirometric data
Trusted by laboratories, research institutes and industrial customers worldwide.
Test biodegradable and compostable materials with confidence
As demand grows for biodegradable and compostable materials, so does the need for reliable data. Material developers, testing laboratories and brand owners need to understand how plastics, packaging materials and other substances behave under controlled biological conditions before claims are made or products move closer to market.
BPC® Blue helps laboratories follow biodegradation through automated gas volume and flow measurement. Depending on the configuration, it can be used for aerobic biodegradability, anaerobic biodegradability and compost related testing workflows.
Choose the right biodegradability workflow
Biodegradable plastics and packaging
Evaluate how plastic materials, films, packaging and other products break down under controlled test conditions.
Compostability
Measure aerobic biodegradation under composting conditions, including oxygen demand during the test period.
Anaerobic biodegradability
Study how materials degrade in anaerobic conditions, such as sludge, slurry digestion, high solids digestion and landfill.
Chemicals and organic substances
Assess the biodegradation behaviour of compounds or formulations where gas production is part of the test result.
Aerobic, anaerobic or compostability testing?
Biodegradability testing depends on the material, the intended environment and the standard being followed. Some tests are performed under aerobic conditions, where oxygen demand is measured and used to predict aerobic biodegradability. Others are performed under anaerobic conditions, where oxygen is absent and gas production from microbial degradation is monitored.
Aerobic biodegradability
Measure oxygen demand or CO₂ related biodegradation behaviour in aerobic aqueous, soil, seawater or sediment based test environments.
Anaerobic biodegradability
Monitor CH₄ and CO₂ production from materials tested under oxygen free conditions, including sludge, slurry digestion, high solids digestion and landfill related environments.
Compostability
Run controlled composting or home composting related workflows for plastics, packaging and polymer materials using automated respirometric measurement.
BPC® Blue
BPC® Blue is our automated laboratory system for aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability analysis. It helps laboratories evaluate plastics, packaging materials, chemicals and organic substances through controlled respirometric testing.
By measuring gas volume and flow throughout the test period, BPC Blue makes it easier to follow biodegradation behaviour over time, compare samples and reduce manual handling in routine and research based workflows.
Supported standards and workflows
BPC Blue supports a broad range of biodegradability and compostability workflows based on ISO, ASTM, AS and OECD methods. The relevant setup depends on the material, test environment and target standard.
Anaerobic Biodegradability Protocols
ISO 14853:2016
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in an aqueous system
ISO 13975:2019
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in controlled slurry digestion systems
ISO 15985:2004
Anaerobic biodegradation and disintegration under high-solids anaerobic digestion conditions
ISO 11734:1995
Anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in digested sludge
ASTM D5511-18
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic digestion
ASTM D5210-92
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in the presence of municipal sewage sludge
ASTM D5526-18
Anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under accelerated landfill conditions
OECD Guidelines 311
Anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in digested sludge
Aerobic Biodegradability Protocols
ISO 14851:2019
Aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials in an aqueous system
ISO 17556:2019
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in soil
ISO 18830:2016
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating plastic materials in a seawater/sandy sediment interface
ISO 22404:2019
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating materials exposed to marine sediment
ISO 19679:2020
Aerobic biodegradation of non-floating materials exposed to marine sediment
ISO 14852:2018
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium
ISO 23977-1:2020
Determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to seawater — Part 1
ISO 23977-2:2020
Determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials exposed to seawater — Part 2
OECD 301C & F
Ready biodegradability of chemical materials in aerobic aqueous medium
Compostability Protocols
ISO 14855-1:2012
Aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting thermophilic conditions
ASTM D5338-15 (2021)
Aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions, incorporating thermophilic temperatures
AS 5810-2010
Biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting
Common questions about bioderadability testing
Find answers to common questions relating to both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability testing, BPC Instruments’ services and usage of the BPC Blue.
Which biodegradability standards can BPC Blue support?
BPC Blue supports workflows based on several ISO, ASTM, AS and OECD methods for aerobic biodegradability, anaerobic biodegradability and compostability testing. Examples include ISO 14851, ISO 14853, ISO 14855, ISO 17556, ISO 15985, ASTM D5338, ASTM D5511, ASTM D5526, AS 5810, OECD 301 and OECD 311.
Can BPC Blue be used for both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability testing?
Yes. BPC Blue can be configured for both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability studies. In aerobic workflows, the system can measure oxygen demand or CO₂ related biodegradation behaviour. In anaerobic workflows, it can monitor released biogas, including CH₄ and CO₂.
Can BPC Blue be used for compostability testing?
Yes. BPC Blue can be configured for compostability related workflows, including controlled composting and home composting conditions. Relevant methods include ISO 14855, ASTM D5338, ASTM D5929 and AS 5810, depending on the setup and test objective.
Does BPC Blue support ISO 14855?
Yes. BPC Blue can be used for workflows related to ISO 14855, which determines the aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions. BPC Blue is a practical analytical tool for evaluating aerobic biodegradability of polymer samples using industrial compost as inoculum.
Do you offer biodegradability testing services?
Our laboratory is able to offer limited biodegradability testing services such as screening of novel materials. Please contact us to find out more.
Related news
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Related scientific references
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Changes in physical properties of growing media constituents according to biodegradation
Durand, S., Michel, J.-C.Frontiers in Horticulture (2026) 5
BiodegradabilityJournal article2026 -
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Algal Bioplastics and Polylactic Acid
Lin, M.-Y., Colwell, R. D., Campbell, I. R., Liao, K., Roumeli, E.ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (2026) 14:4
Biodegradability, BioplasticsJournal article2026 -
Lignin-Sourced Aromatics for Biodegradable Flexible Copolyesters Mimicking Poly(Butylene Adipate-co- Terephthalate)
Nguyen, T. T., Gonzalez, M. N. G., Engqvist, J., Wahlberg, J. Liu, G., Liu, J., Jannasch, P., Zhang, B. ChemSusChem (2025) 18
BiodegradabilityJournal article2025 -
Assessment of the biodegradability of polylactic acid (PLA) in freshwater using EN ISO 14851:2019: Challenges and outcomes
Poli, V., Lavagnolo, M. C., Basaglia, M., Bonato, T., Zanatta, S., Modesti, M.Journal of Hazardous Materials (2025) 491
BiodegradabilityJournal article2025
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