ISO 17088:2021

Overview

ISO 17088:2021 - Plastics - Organic recycling - Specifications for compostable plastics is the third-edition international standard that defines how plastics and plastic products can be recovered by organic recycling. It sets out procedures and requirements to assess whether a plastic is compostable in industrial and municipal composting facilities (also referred to as organically recyclable). The standard is explicitly focused on well‑managed industrial composting and anaerobic digestion followed by composting; it does not cover biodegradability as litter or small-scale home composting.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 17088:2021 evaluates compostable plastics across four core aspects:

• Disintegration during composting - physical breakdown of the material under defined composting conditions (pilot/industrial scale).
• Ultimate aerobic biodegradation - conversion to CO2, water and biomass under controlled composting (and in some contexts anaerobic digestion plus composting); laboratory methods referenced include ISO 14855, ISO 14851, ISO 14852, ISO 17556 and ISO 14855-2.
• No adverse effects on terrestrial organisms (ecotoxicity) - mandatory plant-growth and earthworm tests plus optional soil nitrification tests to ensure compost quality is not harmed.
• Control of constituents - limits and analytical control for regulated metals, hazardous substances and per- and poly-fluorinated compounds (PFCs); annexes specify detection and reporting requirements.

The document describes detailed test methods, reporting requirements, and annexes for ecotoxicity test protocols (plants, earthworms), PFC detection, and regulatory element lists. It is intended as the technical basis for labeling and marketing claims of compostability.

Practical applications and users

ISO 17088:2021 is used by:

• Plastic product manufacturers and formulators aiming to design compostable packaging and goods.
• Certification and conformity assessment bodies that issue compostability labels and claims.
• Composting facility operators and waste managers who need to know which items are suitable for industrial composting streams.
• Regulators and procurement teams drafting specifications for compostable materials or green public procurement.
• R&D and quality teams performing biodegradation and ecotoxicity testing.

Practical benefits include clearer product claims, improved feedstock compatibility with industrial composting operations, and protection of compost quality and soil organisms.

Related standards (selected)

• ISO 14855 (comprehensive composting biodegradation testing)
• ISO 16929 (degree of disintegration under composting)
• ISO 17556, ISO 14851, ISO 14852 (laboratory biodegradability methods)
• ISO 11268, ISO 11269 (ecotoxicity tests for soil and earthworms)
• ISO 15685 (nitrification potential)

Keywords: ISO 17088, ISO 17088:2021, compostable plastics, organic recycling, industrial composting, biodegradability, disintegration, ecotoxicity, compostability certification.