ASTM D6400 vs. D6868: Compostability Labels Explained
Two acronyms decide whether your packaging is legally compostable. Here's what each certification actually tests and which one matters for your brand.
Two standards, one confusion
When sustainability teams scan a packaging spec sheet and see "ASTM D6400" or "ASTM D6868," most assume they mean the same thing. They don't. Misreading them is the most common reason brands end up with greenwashing complaints filed by state attorneys general.
ASTM D6400
D6400 governs plastics designed to compost in industrial facilities. It requires:
- 90% biodegradation within 180 days
- No ecotoxicity to plants
- Visible disintegration within 84 days
This is the standard most PLA cups and bioplastic cutlery claim.
ASTM D6868
D6868 covers products where biodegradable plastic is coated onto a substrate like paper or fiber. The substrate plus coating must together meet the D6400 thresholds.
Where mycelium sits
Mycelium packaging from Cerda Mycelium meets D6400 and the stricter TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME standard, which tests degradation at ambient backyard temperatures (20–30°C) instead of the 58°C of an industrial facility.
For a brand selling to consumers who throw packaging in a yard pile or municipal green bin — both labels matter. D6400 alone means "compostable only if your city has an industrial facility," which excludes 96% of US zip codes.
What to put on your RFP
- Require ASTM D6400 + TÜV Home Compost for any consumer-facing protective packaging.
- Avoid suppliers who cite only D6868 without disclosing the substrate.
- Ask for the certification number and verify it on the BPI or TÜV registry.
Talk to Cerda
Every Cerda Mycelium production run ships with the compostability certificates pre-filed. Request a sample to see the certifications attached.
Replace foam in your next packaging run.
Free sample inserts grown for your product. Reno-based, ships nationwide.
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