Sustainability and Accreditations
sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our cellulose-based films, beads and solutions are developed to meet the highest environmental standards, offering certified solutions to support the circular economy.
NatureFlex™
NatureFlex™ films are independently certified to internationally recognised industrial composting standards, including:
- EN 13432 (Europe)
- ISO 17088 (International)
- ASTM D6400 (USA)
- AS 4736 (Australia)
- Some grades are also certified by TÜV Austria to their ‘OK Compost Industrial’ protocol
These certifications have been awarded by leading bodies such as DIN CERTCO, the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), and the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA).
In addition to industrial compostability, all NatureFlex™ films are suitable for home composting and are certified to the ‘OK Compost Home’ protocol by TÜV Austria and / or the NF T51-800 (French) standard by DIN CERTCO. Additionally, most NatureFlex™ grades are also certified for home composting against the AS 5810 (Australian) standard by ABA. These strict standards ensure high performance in home composting environments.
All compostability certifications require stringent testing through accredited third-party laboratories. For industrial composting, this includes assessments for:
The requirements for home compostability are similar although the timeframes are longer and the temperatures are lower.
Compostability Explained
Industrial Composting
In industrial composting environments, conditions are optimised (around 58°C) to accelerate the breakdown of compostable materials. NatureFlex™ films meet the rigorous demands of standards such as EN 13432, ASTM D6400 and ISO 17088 with rapid biodegradation and safe compost outcomes.
Home Composting
Unlike industrial systems, home composting operates at lower, ambient temperatures. Some materials labelled as compostable fail to break down effectively in this setting. NatureFlex™ has been tested and certified for home composting according to the AS 5810 and NF T51-800 standards and the OK Compost Home protocols. NatureFlex™ films reliably break down in a matter of weeks in home compost systems.
For more information on the end of life options for NatureFlex™ visit End of life Disposal page
Biodegradation in Other Environments
Soil and Wastewater
NatureFlex™ NE has passed the ISO 14851 MITI test for aqueous biodegradation, confirming it can biodegrade in soil and wastewater, offering further disposal flexibility in environmental or accidental release scenarios.
Anaerobic Digestion
All NatureFlex™ product families have been tested according to ISO 15985 (high-solids anaerobic digestion at 52°C). Within just 15 days, all films exceeded the required biodegradation benchmarks.
Marine Biodegradability
Marine Biodegradability
The issue of marine plastic pollution has driven interest in truly marine-biodegradable materials. Futamura has proactively tested NatureFlex™ films under two recognised protocols:
- ASTM D7081 (withdrawn): NatureFlex™ met the criteria for biodegradation, disintegration, and toxicity in marine conditions according to this standard.
- OK Biodegradable Marine (TÜV Austria):
- NatureFlex™ NM and NVS films achieved:
- 90% biodegradation within 4 weeks (target: 6 months)
- Complete disintegration within 4 weeks (target: 12 weeks)
Uncoated NatureFlex film passed the very stringent daphnia ecotoxicity testing, but unfortunately the coated and metallised films did not quite meet the requirements stated in the OK Biodegradable Marine protocol. We believe this is due to the very high concentration level used in the test (1%) which is significantly higher than the concentration of NatureFlex that would ever be present in a marine environment.
Product Certification for Brands
Product Certification for Brands
Customers using NatureFlex™ can apply for product certification, enabling packaging to display relevant compostability logos. This enables end users to understand how to dispose of packaging in the most suitable way, where appropriate infrastructure exists.
Certification is available through:
- BPI
- DIN CERTCO
- TÜV Austria
- ABA
- REA (Renewable Energy Association)
We recommend consulting with your Futamura representative or one of the certifying agencies to understand specific testing and cost implications based on material usage and packaging complexity.
Our Commitment to Verified Sustainability
Our Commitment to Verified Sustainability
Futamura is committed to substantiating all environmental claims for our NatureFlex™ products through independent, globally recognised testing and certification. From biobased content to industrial and home composting, our films deliver proven environmental performance. We actively follow regulatory developments and commit to retesting and certification renewal to ensure ongoing compliance and credibility.